Aluminum.. and the Inventables $9 '2 Flute Upcut Spiral' bit

Projects
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Howdy,

When i bought my X-Carve last year i also picked up a few of Inventables el-cheap-o $9 1/4 end mills (HSS Upcut 2 Flute - 1/4 in Cutting x 1/4 in Shank | Inventables). I used one for my first test cuts then moved on to better bits…

However, Now I need to cut a simple ‘notch’ in some aluminum tooling plate (ATP5) but I have broken all my ‘nice/spiffy’ bits I’ve used with aluminum in the past.

So here i am… looking at my box of bits wondering if these ‘cheap’ bits will cut my aluminum plate? i just need a 1/4" bit to put a small 1/2" notch 4" long on the side of 1/4" cast aluminum.

Sure, i could order a new bit but im impatient and don’t want to wait for it to arive!!

Should i risk it? :slight_smile:

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The way I would look at this is, if you have broken all your nice/spendy bits already, you do not have much to loose trying a cheap one. It might just surprise you.

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To answer my own question… Yes, the cheap $9 ‘kit-bit’ does cut aluminum.

2016-09-02 23.29.29-1.jpg4160×3120 2.07 MB

It actually didn’t do a half bad job.