I need to know a good, safe ( ) way to cut diamond plate. I don't have access to a plasma cutter. Any ideas out there?

 

I use a good jig saw (dewalt variable speed) with the correct blade, take it slow and easy.

How thick is the plate you working with?

 

Haven't purchased it yet, so I could get whatever. Thinner is better in this case.

 

They make a wax crayon for cutting AL that lubes the blade and helps keep the teeth from getting clogged. Buy a couple and use them. They make using a jig or circular saw much easier/quicker.

After the cutting you'll be left with some pretty rough edges. Getting them smooth, if they need to look finished, can be a bit of a chore.

 

Depends on material thickness and length of cut and if there are any radius cuts.

Like mentioned the best all around cutter is the jig saw. But if you are doing long strait cuts on thin material I would look into a skill saw with carbide tip blade.

 

R U cutting steel or aluminum??? (U didn't say) I use a carbide-tipped blade in a regular circular saw for aluminum. I've also used an abrasive cutting wheel in that same saw on steel.

 

Not sure of which I will go with, whatever I can find cheapest. There will be some radius cuts so looks like jigsaw is the winner. Now to get blades and the actual material. Thanks for the help guys.

 

What are you making?????

I roughed this out with a jig saw then used a belt sander to smooth the edges and get good curves.

 

Dammit, that's exactly what I am planning. Okay, so please do tell, did you do front, back and barn doors? Give me all the knowledge that you got out of your mod and will one day return the favor...

 

I thought that might have been what you were wanting....I think I posted about this a good while ago let me see if I can dig it up.

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...fter-pics.html

 

Much appreciated, as they say "great minds"...

 

Do you happen to have pics of the barn doors???

 

It would be cool to bend up and weld together some boxes out of the diamond plate for the barn doors.