Large Model Association Forum

Can anyone tell me the best way to cut slots in Ali cowls. Some people use coping saws but Although I have tried them I get no success. I need to cut 3 slots approx 3/4" wide and 6" long in the bottom of a 10" Ali radial cowl. Any ideas folks?

Drill a series of holes round the cut outs, cut through the holes with a file, trim to shape, basic metalwork,

Get yourself a Dremel ,or even one of the cheap copies. You will wonder why you never had one before.

Mike, Dremel every time for me!!
Cary

Thanks Alan I do agree that seems possible but I assume I need to use a small drill only ? and to all you other nice guys trying to help me, I have a Dremel 3000 and lots of cutting disks BUT the disks shatter after a few seconds lol The thicker ones that clip onto the special shaft wont actually cut the cowl either, even with the dremel going flat out lol what cutters do you think I should be using?

Very thin metal cutting disks used very carefully.

Aluminium is not the best stuff to cut with a grinder as it tends to block up the abrasive, but the Dremel should cut it easy enough. I've dome it with the metal cutting disks that clip onto the arbour quite happily before.

Mike
You need resin reinforced cutting discs for your dremel..
The reinforced discs have a crisis cross weave of fibre in them that is clearly visible on the outside of the discs.. This stops them shattering, they will easily cut your cowl without breaking and cut piano wire and cut just about anything for that matter!
Search resin reinforced cutting disc on eBay there are loads for sale and they are really cheap they are usually around 32mm diameter.. Don't get the ones that look smooth on the outside.. They shatter.
Hope this helps
David

Well I,ve sent for 3 different types of metal cutting tools for my Dremel that's about 55 pieces in all !!
I will let all you good people know how things progress when I have the cutters. Thanks to you all.

Use a 4 mm ish drill, ally clogs up any wheeled abrasive, and could cause you eye damage, and ally gets very. Hit, chain drill it, its safer

I use the reinforced ones. The normal disks are a bit pathetic. Alan, even a drill can chuck bits of swarf around. Wear eye protection. Also a bit of lubrication with turps helps.

Ya don't say!

Yep, Eye imagine youve been there...

Just a bit

now lads !! I,m glad of all the help that everyone's given me lol
I'm still waiting for my lorry load of various cutters to arrive ,and in the meantime trying to work out how to install and set Ali rivets with a 3mm head and a 1.5mm shank !! Another " basic metalwork " job that I,m struggling with !!!!!!!

i could have had the thing done ten times over by now

Oh what it must be like to be good at everything lol

Its my job, its what I am good at, its simple enough

Thats great Alan!!

It would be nice if we were all as good as you lol, still I'm pretty good at what I do even though its not metalwork,but perhaps even you wouldn't know where to start if you knew what it is that I do lol
However if you or anyone did ask I would gladly help them and not deride them for not being as good as me lol
You are welcome to come over, all found , and show me your expertise as I do admire a craftsman.

best of luck with it, bye

Have fun !!