What's the best way to cut diamond plate?

[KC10Chief]

I am wanting to cut some diamond plate into some triangles to make some teeth for the grille on my bus. What's the best way to do this without discoloring the metal? I don't have a cutting torch or anything. I do have a chop saw, and an angle grinder. I was planning on just getting a piece of chrome diamond plate and cutting a strip out if it with my angle grinder and a cutting wheel. Then use my chop saw to cut the teeth out with. Any other suggestions? Thanks!

[Joe H]

The BEST way? Plasma if done by hand IMO.


With what you've mentioned, I would skip the chop saw and just cut the teeth out with the angle grinder (probably my favorite tool ever).

[denrep]

If your buying new, maybe they will shear it for you?

[DDA52]

You can go to TSC and get one of the metal cuting saws for a hundred bucks or so. HF has them as well. They cut sheet like it is plywood. I have a Milwaukee 8" and it is great.

[littlefuzz]

Shear But I do like DDA52's idea.

[aczeller]

if you wanted to pony up and contract it out... get a hold of someone with a water jet. no discoloration (from heat), no warping (from heat), no bending at the edges (from shears). the only problem may be cost. i have no idea what a local shop would charge to cut it. however, it is the cleanest cut i ahve ever seen. it beats the under-water plasma cam that my shop had a few years ago. the PC was over $750,000 (i was told), and the 100,000 water jet beat it every time... the waterjet had a smaller capacity tho.

later,
Andy

[DDA52]

As long as the blade is good, there wouldn't be any heat or warping from the saw either. Cut it and it will be cool enough to touch to your face instantly. Might be a tiniest bit warm, but not hot by any means. Tons cheaper and the fun can continue later on.

[MoonRise]

How thick and what material diamond plate, steel or aluminum?

Several choices. Do it yourself: plasma, jig saw or sawzall with correct blade, circular saw with correct blade if material is up to 1/8 inch thick. A shop: plasma, waterjet, laser, mill, saws of many types.

If you are going to cut individual triangle 'teeth' out of a strip of material and the strip is within your chop saw's size capabilities, you can do it that way.

I still think plasma would be about the quickest and cleanest way though.

It's just that if you don't have one, it would cost about $1k, give or take, to get one. If the material thickness is 1/8 inch or less, then a metal-cutting circular saw blade shold be able to do the job pretty well for about $50 or so for the blade. You'll obviously need a circular saw to do that. Note: Make -sure- you get the correct blade for the saw and material you are trying to cut. Check the blade's recommended rpm and make sure it matches with the saw you are going to use, also check the blade's max material thickness it can cut, and also make sure it is the right blade for the material (steel and aluminum use different blades).

[sn0border88]

just use a circ saw and a reg wood blade will work if you take it slow.

If your buying the plate new it shouldnt be much more to have them shear it to what you want.

Water jet and plas cam are completely over the top for what you need. Angle grinder, circ saw or shear.

The heat from the angle grinder shouldnt discolor it, but the circ saw is cold to the touch.

[turboblown]

We use the ESAB 650 plasma cutter and it does a nice job with minimum cleanup. If it's very critical, we have it waterjet or laser cut.