Page 1 of 1
Ask DS about aluminum pirogue manufacturing?
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 12:13 pm
by Barq's
Ok guys....I want to make my own pirogue out of aluminum....What would be the prefered method used to cut, say 1/8" aluminum once I have my template laid out on the sheet?
Is there anywhere that you know of that would cut it out once I have it laid out?
Thanks,
Barq's
Re: Ask DS about aluminum pirogue manufacturing?
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 12:18 pm
by Barq's
and check out "ambush" skiffs......you will see why I am inquiring about this topic....
http://www.pelicanflatsboats.com/#!ambush/ca4p
Re: Ask DS about aluminum pirogue manufacturing?
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 12:40 pm
by fireplug
Aluminum is a soft metal and can be cut easiest with a course cutting blades. If you had an old skill saw you didn't
mind taking the chance of messing the bearings up in, you can cut aluminum with a skill saw blade. Small tooth blades will gall up on you
fast. Jig saw with a wood cutting blade would work good for any turns or radius cuts. If you have access to a
shear, that would be your safest option for straight cuts. Skill saw will throw some chips so wear glasses.
Re: Ask DS about aluminum pirogue manufacturing?
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 7:49 pm
by DuckBoat
1/8" is way overkill.
Re: Ask DS about aluminum pirogue manufacturing?
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 9:06 pm
by teul2
Re: Ask DS about aluminum pirogue manufacturing?
Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 6:17 am
by jdbuckshot
you'll never cut 1/8" with sheet metal shears.
set your skill saw to cut a fraction thicker than the material and you can cut curves - nothing to it.
buy a new carbide blade and get some ear plugs and safety glasses and a safety shield
set the aluminum on a piece of plywood and it will cut better.
I'm not a boat builder but I have a lot of fabrication experience and have built two boats from aluminum.
Re: Ask DS about aluminum pirogue manufacturing?
Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 7:49 am
by teul2
Yea, I didn't do the 1/4in to .250 conversion in my head. That's like 2 gauge sheets. Most tough mud boats are .125 (8 gauge).
1/4in seems like it would be WAY over kill and heavy.
Re: Ask DS about aluminum pirogue manufacturing?
Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2014 9:35 am
by MudHog
teul2 wrote:Yea, I didn't do the 1/4in to .250 conversion in my head. That's like 2 gauge sheets. Most tough mud boats are .125 (8 gauge).
1/4in seems like it would be WAY over kill and heavy.
and 1/8" on the bottom only.
Most big name brands like Hanko, Gatortrax, Go-Devil are 0.090" (13ga) on 14' and 0.080" (14ga) on 12'. This thickness you could cut with some long handle snips.
Re: Ask DS about aluminum pirogue manufacturing?
Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2014 12:01 pm
by slayem
MudHog wrote:teul2 wrote:Yea, I didn't do the 1/4in to .250 conversion in my head. That's like 2 gauge sheets. Most tough mud boats are .125 (8 gauge).
1/4in seems like it would be WAY over kill and heavy.
and 1/8" on the bottom only.
Most big name brands like Hanko, Gatortrax, Go-Devil are 0.090" (13ga) on 14' and 0.080" (14ga) on 12'. This thickness you could cut with some long handle snips.
You might could, but I'd be borrowing some air shears or electric! .50 will wear you out pretty quick, sure wouldn't wanna do .80 or
.90
Re: Ask DS about aluminum pirogue manufacturing?
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2014 1:51 pm
by southernfire97
I always cut my 1/8" aluminum with a jig saw. I just finished the floor in my boat and it was all cut with it. It's easy to do.
Re: Ask DS about aluminum pirogue manufacturing?
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 12:40 pm
by Barq's
what blade works best in the jigsaw?
Re: Ask DS about aluminum pirogue manufacturing?
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 2:00 pm
by southernfire97
I use the "thick metal" ( thats how they are labeled, thin or thick metal) blades in mine. It will cut good and smooth untill the blade starts getting dull, then the aluminum will start bouncing. That means its time to change the blade. Make sure that as your cutting, you hold the plate as close to the cut as safely possible.