sore hands from filing

[signed off]

Hi, after filing down the edges of 80 sheets of aluma panel 33" x 44" ( cut by Grimco) and another 25 - 30 coming this week, just wondering if anyone has ever used a skate sharpener ( the tube style with the stone on either side)
the edges aren't bad but still need to be tweaked and just looking for a faster way to smooth them down

 

[Z SIGNS]

set up a router table or file each one and next time have em laser cut

 

[Gino]

Or hire temp help. How hard would it be to teach someone to remove burrs from 410 edges ?? :Big Laugh

 

[James Burke]

This is what you need. It's made specifically for sheet metal, and it deburrs both the top and bottom edge at the same time...essentially cutting your workload in half.

http://www.mscdirect.com/product/de...gle-PLA+-+Test&CS_003=7867724&CS_010=05751300

 

[thewvsignguy]

THIS!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcjjoOXHISs

 

[derekw13029]

We use Alupanel all the time, cut with a panel saw. I usually file the burred edges, because I can be obsessive over details and hand filing gives me great control over beveling the edge (yes, I hand bevel each edge.).

Can't say I've ever done 80 panels in one go, but I do know that some people use a heavy brass bar to simply press down the edges. I'm not sure if that is any better or worse than filing, but as someone suggested you could definitely use a table router, though I have no experience attempting that so I'm not sure if the edge would be favorably contoured or not. You might still have some tear-out or excessive heat build-up regarding the PVC layers in the middle. Especially doing 80 panels, I would imagine the bit would heat up quickly and you would have to really slow down the feed rate.

Otherwise, maybe a disc sander? I dunno, hand filing sucks no doubt, but I prefer it.

 

[bob]

I shudder when people talk of filing, scraping, and/or sanding the edges of aluminum composite panels.

There's nothing wrong with the edge, it just need to be re-formed, it doesn't need to have any material removed. The edge is fine, it's just temporarily in the wrong shape. Simply run something like a screwdriver shank, a rolling pin, I use a brass bar, down the edge at an angle. You'll reform the edge to a state indistinguishable from the factory edge and not have to cut, grind, scrape make a mess, and ruin your body.

 

[boxerbay]

we roll an iron dowel about 1.5 diameter along the edge. that knocks the edge down pretty good and no particles.

 

[derekw13029]

I shudder when people talk of filing, scraping, and/or sanding the edges of aluminum composite panels.

There's nothing wrong with the edge, it just need to be re-formed, it doesn't need to have any material removed. The edge is fine, it's just temporarily in the wrong shape. Simply run something like a screwdriver shank, a rolling pin, I use a brass bar, down the edge at an angle. You'll reform the edge to a state indistinguishable from the factory edge and not have to cut, grind, scrape make a mess, and ruin your body.

I agree with ya, Bob *for the most part.* Sometimes the blade in the panel saw leaves some really bad burrs if someone pushes the feed rate too quick. If the blade moves quickly through the material, it will eat it up, and those burrs just about have to removed by filing. I've tried using a flat surface to knock them down, and I agree that it usually works great. But sometimes I get gnarly edges, and there's just no alternative. Luckily for me, it isn't something I have to do a ton of, and sometimes I enjoy filing.

 

[iraney]

We usually get ours sheered we have no cleanup at all.

 

[TimToad]

We use a Fletcher cutter for all of our straight cuts, but when we do need to clean up the edge of a routed panel or shaped panel we cut with the scroll saw, we take a sheetrock hand sanding frame with some 200 grit and it takes the drudgery and pain out of the job. The big handle gives you a lot of control.

http://www.all-wall.com/Categories/Drywall-Hand-Sanders/WalBoard-Hand-Sander.html

 

[signed off]

I shudder when people talk of filing, scraping, and/or sanding the edges of aluminum composite panels.

There's nothing wrong with the edge, it just need to be re-formed, it doesn't need to have any material removed. The edge is fine, it's just temporarily in the wrong shape. Simply run something like a screwdriver shank, a rolling pin, I use a brass bar, down the edge at an angle. You'll reform the edge to a state indistinguishable from the factory edge and not have to cut, grind, scrape make a mess, and ruin your body.

You ROCK, this has got to be the greatest news since sliced bread. This was me before this is me now what a great tip. A huge thank you

 

[Baz]

Hand held sander works real well also.

Just had my employee smooth out 118 pieces 14"x10"

 

[S'N'S]

If your going to be cutting lots more ACM, buy a metal Guillotine, don't have to touch the edge at all.