ironpyre Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 I've been given the glorious task of cutting radiator cores for scrap at work. Since everything in the locomotive industry is super-sized, I've been cutting these monsters with a 12" sawsall blade. Quite grueling work, but it gets the job done. The cuts are generally through copper tubing and aluminun fins, which is pretty soft metal, however, there is lots of it. I'm gonna try a long handled cutting chisel for some of the hard to get section today. Has anyone ever done this before? Is there a more efficient or easier way? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfootnampa Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 Well at the scrapyard where I once worked we would have used our giant alligator shears for such work... or we might have compressed it with our baler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 Got a plasma cutter available? Most scrapper use a honking big hydraulic shear for such items Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCal Dave Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 A circular saw with a combo blade, not a composite blade, that is designed to cut through various metals. I've seen these used by Fire Dept's since they have to use them for a variety of metals. It looks like a wood cutting blade but will cut through alum., steel, rebar, copper, etc. They may be expensive but should do the job. The only issues might be the size of the blade is limited 7 1/2" and access is better with a sawsall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockstar.esq Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 Just thinking out loud but could an aircraft cable be wrapped around the area to be cut and winched down like a garrote? Assuming the cable didn't get stuck, it'd at least reduce the area to be sawzalled to a minimum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JNewman Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 I would think a handled hot cut (used cold) driven though the cores with a sledge would make short work of them. Or even an axe with the poll softened driven with a sledge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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