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Will a plasma cutter work on aluminum?

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Old Jul 15, 2004 | 03:46 AM
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Russ-So Cal's Avatar
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Will a plasma cutter work on aluminum?

Just curious, I have an after market sterio to install in the Firebird, and I don't want it to protrude from the dash. Also the locating stud in the back of the new radio is centered while the stock unit is off center. I have a section of aluminum channel to use to mount the radio with, and I plan to cut out a small section of the support for the radio and epoxy & pop rivet the aluminum in place. I want to make some cutouts in the back of the channel to allow for the plugins in the back of the stereo. I can do it with a cutting disc, but I would prefer to use the plasma cutter if it will work with aluminum.
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Old Jul 15, 2004 | 06:29 AM
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Yes
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Old Jul 15, 2004 | 07:38 PM
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Thanks for the info, FBodesigner. We have one at work that I've used to cut up steel with, but I didn't know if it would work on aluminum as well.
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Old Jul 16, 2004 | 03:35 AM
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Aluminum is a softer metal than steel so your Plasma cutter should have no broblem with it, the trick is welding Aluminum...for some reason when you weld aluminum the inside of the metal heats up and melts before the outside. Let me know if you have any problems...
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Old Jul 16, 2004 | 10:43 PM
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I just need to cut the aluminum. I know that to weld it you need to use inert gas like heliarc or argon, but I just wasn't sure about the plasma cutter. I have used a cutting torch to melt aluminum in the past, but it just suddenly melts and blows out with no warning and almost no control.
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