"Bob Engelhardt" wrote in message
...
I have a C6 steel-cutting blade in a (small) dedicated table saw. A
couple of times it was so convenient that I used it on aluminum. But
reluctantly. I kept wondering whether it was a Bad Idea. The only bad
thing that I could think of was that I might get aluminum welded to the
tips. But that hasn't happened (yet). Is it OK or not?


It's OK with caveats.

1) cut very slowly, and let the saw do the work (*where* have you heard
THAT beforeG)
2) use a lubricant, like paraffin (or even oil), to prevent false edges
from building up on the teeth.
3) Wear both full-face AND upper-body/arm protection, and a hat. Cutting a
aluminum plate on a table saw is just plain PAINFUL unless you're properly
garbed. The chips fly fast and are HOT!
4) keep out of the line of work -- aluminum is prone to kickback, for
whatever reason...
5) for #4 above, chamfer or file or debur all edges and corners that might
bite you if kickback occurs.

LLoyd