Aluminum cutting- wet or dry?

[markba633csi]

Do you all use cutting fluid when you cut thick chunks of aluminum on your 4x6? I imagine the blade life is longer wet? Messier to clean up though
Mark

 

[mikey]

I use a wax stick lubricant to cut everything except plastic - cuts fast, cool, very little mess.

 

[Bob Korves]

I have used cutting oil, which really needs blade wipers to keep the chips out of the guide bearings and the wheels. I also have used some left over cross country ski wax, those _wood_ x/c skis with cable bindings have not seen use in decades, nor the bamboo poles and the leather boots. The ski wax is soft and works well, and I have at least half a dozen tubes of different ones with varying hardness for different snow conditions, will probably last me a life time on my saw. Klister waxes might turn out to be a mess, about like very thick honey at room temperature

 

[Eddyde]

+1 On the wax stick, I use it on the band, table and chop saws.

 

[markba633csi]

Wax stick- of course

 

[Ulma Doctor]

i have used candles in a pinch to provide wax in the field
but i usually use CRL tube wax
https://www.amazon.com/C-R-Laurence-WS140-Tube-Lubricant/dp/B00QL52T7U
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...529&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6-CL4ZGs2QIVC2d-Ch2OIwR

 

[Tozguy]

This is what I use, should last forever, easy to clean up too.

 

[cathead]

I bought a 4 inch carbide saw blade at Menard's and it works great as a slitting saw or for 3/4 inch or less material on aluminum.
I have been sawing with it dry. Blade thickness is about .050 I think. Price about $9. I have been
using 100 rpm or so and it seems to do fine with a slow feed rate. I havn't tried it on mild steel yet and probably won't.

 

[markba633csi]

Toz: On that Walter product is that Alucut or Coolcut?
Mark
ps I hear some people like to use bar soap

 

[EmilioG]

Amen on the Wax stick. I use it on the band saw, hole saws, and pretty much anything with saw teeth., including hack saws.
I like DoAll, Castrol and Walter Tech. wax sticks.