My 65 Mercury has what looks to be a pot metal dash bezel and would like to cut it out to fit a modern stereo,I picked up one from the junkyard to try first and if it does not work will hide the stereo.
I would drillthe corners then use a hacksaw blade or similar. A die grinder or cut off wheel will work but when you make a mistake it will be permenant.
I keep a bar of soap handy when using a die grinder on pot metal or aluminum. It helps some to slow down clogging, and slow speeds.
WD40 on cutting tools in aluminum works great... but need to reapply fairly often. Get yourself a stick of wax, doesn’t have to be any special cutting tool wax either. It’ll work on cutting tools and abrasive tools as well. Stays where you put it and lasts longer than WD40 too And the aluminum file is called a “vixen” file. They come in several thicknesses and tooth spacings
I have used a cut-off disk in a Dremel on die cast, just have to be careful as they disintegrate easily.
Learn sumpin new every day... https://www.crescenttool.com/MagentoShare/media/documents/nicholson-catalog.pdf
It would help a lot if you post a picture and show us what you are trying to cut in order to make it work. Might be a better way if I can see just what you are trying to remove. Since you said cut it "out", I assume you want to enlarge the opening. Trying to do so by hand may make it difficult to cut a straight line and look bad later.
NO!!!!! I almost lost a good friend who did that- aerosol/spray lubricants become toxic (a form of cyanide gas) when they heat up! Please use cutting oil, 3-in-1, etc
I think brake cleaner is what you're referring to Budget36. Very toxic gases arise from heating. Never use to clean areas prior to welding. Instead use Acetone as it evaporates almost immediately. WD40 is used by many machinists on aluminum as a lubricant where the heat generated does not cause it to change the basic chemical composition through rapid oxidation.
Worked in a company years ago and our machinist used something called "Door Ease", it was a waxy stick in a metal tube about an inch in diameter and 4 or 5 inches long. Pushed it out from the bottom kinda like a lipstick and he used it on bandsaw blades and all sorts of other cutting tools as a lubricant. Got it at the hardware store.
The wax seals that are used under toilets are a good source for lubricating saw blades and such. I prefer to use only new ones.........
No, not brake kleener, I said WD40, WD40 keeps the cutter from balling up with Al., if potmetal has the same effect it should work for that too.
I was referring to something inside my head. Something everyone should know. Death or feeling like you're going to die follows welding when brake cleaner has been used. And, as to using W(ater)D(isplacing formula) 40 to clean metal before welding, never thought it would be effective as any lubricant tends to make welding metal a pain in the arse and weakens the weld.
Dad always had an old broken candle and a bar of soap in the basement: - the bar of soap for screws going into wood - the candle to run a saw blade through to make the cutting easier In regard to the cyanide gas- a friend was using his drill press and sprayed either WD40 or PB Blaster as cutting oil. The liquid quickly turned to gas, he caught a wiff, and woke up later on the floor, barely able to breathe. Was in the hospital for two weeks, lucky to be alive.