Can You Machine Metal With A Wood Router? 

It’s obvious why so many people tune in to watch your videos. No flashy editing, no jumpcuts, no silly graphics or text or animations. Just simple charisma and good story telling. Keep it up!

Camera Girl's laugh at your 'Extra, extra sharp cheddar' dad joke was the highlight of the video for me.

Investigate climb milling versus conventional milling, because milling is what you are actually doing. Also a spritz of WD40 makes a good cutting fluid for cutting aluminum.

Steel bits will work on aluminum, and carbide will do steel too. For aluminum wd40 dose wonders at keeping the aluminum from sticking to the bit

Wait I thought this was a carburetor channel.

Always a good day when The Carburetor Channel posts a new video.

Jenn,your foot looks like it's all better,I have a bunion on big toe left foot,but just had two toes fixed two weeks ago,foot surgery sucks ,then gets better.glade too see you guys back around.and that funny husband of yours.you guys are Great!!!!

Your Videos are Always Teaching Me new Things. I Used A Skill Saw To Trim My Tree.

I appreciate the no BS approach to your videos.

I cut aluminum up to 1/2" thick with my table saw regularly. I use carbide blades and it doesn't dull the blade at all.

I would love to see some videos where you shop around your area on CL or FBM and acquire a small mill/lathe combo for a good price. It's going to cost more than a router bit, but you can start making your custom parts the "right" way. You know, metal tools for working metal, correct screwdriver tips, etc.

front turn signals

Camera girl does a darn good job. Give some likes for camera girl!

that's called man glitter. btw they do make bits that fit on routers specifically for machining. if you'd like to see one in use look up router jigs for 80% lowers...

Is it possible you were going the wrong direction in the passes?

You two make the silliest stuff entertaining. Can't wait to see what they are for.

Been watching for 5+ years, love your videos!

Sweet an upload from one of my favorite channels! Your adventures wrenching on machines makes my day.

I say it every time, but I love you guys.

Love your content! Always a great day when a JG video is released. Thanks!

Nice work with few materials... Can't wait to see where they go...

In addition to eye protection - I hope the camera operator had safety glasses on too - both of you need HEARING PROTECTION! Either foam push into your ears or the big ear muffs. But seriously, protect your ears when routing something. Other than that, this was an interesting video.

You 2 are the best!

Climb cut!! The rotation of the bit was pulling you away from your guide! Also, a spiral carbide bit would give you a smoother cut.

Love y’all!! 😊

Keep them coming!

Keep the content comin'

Nothing is all that interesting watching someone with the right tools. What is interesting is watching someone with the wrong tools do the job. Sometimes, we have to use the things we have available.

I'm guessing that the reason for the brackets will be somewhat illuminating, then not, then illuminating, then not, then illuminating, then not........ :P

Extra sharp cheese, Terminator with a skin condition. 🤣

I LOVE your content... but your drywall screws solution scared the crap out of me. Seen those screw heads pop off the screw just by looking at them funny.

So basically Jake it is a poor man's marching machine! Maybe look into a machining tool instead of a wood bit tooling! I don't think you can get one with a bearing but you always could go with a different method of running it! Like putting a straight edge using a steel Flat bar say 1 inch by 3/16 and running the router directly on the wood and using the outer circumference of the router along the straight edge. But regardless It worked and that is the main thing! Always remember the main thing will always be the main thing. Happy Spring!!!

I’ve seen people mill out motorcycle engine cases with a router….so yeah, it’ll work.

I spent $90 on tools, to remove a broken, stuck die tap. The alternative was to replace the swing arm it was stuck in, for $800. Good tools cost money, but they also save you money, and can save you! It's worth spending a bit more on good tools, so you get the results you want. In the end, you save money.

Two suggestions for aluminum. Always keep the area you’re cutting covered with wd-40. Aluminum generates heat so quickly and is so soft it will tear more than cut and the removed material can stick back to itself if not lubricated. Also on your final pass, climb cut (move router in the same direction as the rotation as your cutter)

Ex machinist here, if you go a little slower and in opposite direction pushing away from you (i assume the blade spins clockwise) , the finish will come out a lot better

Yes you can. 80 percent lowers count on it. A carbide tipped circular saw bench or handheld is great for aluminum up to half inch thick (thickest I have tried)

They make skil saw blades that cut awesome. Also very affordable.

i have cut soft metals in numerous ways, never used one of my router bits and now I just won't. I mean i probably would try if I messed one up real bad doing something, but I would use one in general because of the cost of the experiment. I do have an old drill press though and making tiny holes is fun, the i cut it with my miter box! if it's a dig in i have used the press and then the dremmel diamond cut off wheel

Lemme see dat Shasta!

Interesting project, and some very useful comments! You both should have eye and ear protection though. If that piece had let go when camera girl was filming from below, yikes! A few clamps in your arsenal could come in handy, and screwing into particle board like that is skating on thin ice, imo... Otherwise, you both survived, we all learned stuff. Thanks for posting. 👍

I used the same method to put a chamfer on some aluminium bar some years ago. I think you need to reduce the router spindle speed to get a clean result, i.e. to avoid welding the aluminium.

It is quite well know, in the woodworking community anyway, that wood tools can generally speaking be used for aluminium too. I say generally speaking because you probably would not wan to use your expensive and beautifully sharpened wood chisels on aluminium, but for your power tools there is no problem whatsoever as long as you adjust the feed rate accordingly.

I may or may not have used a wood router on a rear wheel to sink the sprocket deeper in😅😂 worked pretty damn good though

Yes, you can use wood cutting tools to cut aluminum, but it’s best to use carbide blades and bits. If you have variable speed, slow your speed down. I’ve used my table saw to cut aluminum tread plate, as well as aluminum angle and plate.

You must have considered grinding too. Interesting!

fyi you can cut aluminium with a cut off saw and a table saw as well

You need to do a climb cut (you have to cut in the other direction)

Climb milling leaves a better finish. Climb milling is when you go in the reverse direction as you went.

Sounds like brackets for the dog house.

Should have just hit up the edges a couple of times with a file while the piece was still screwed to the bench

Fortunately everything went well and equally fortunate this isn't the most dangerous way I've ever seen to cut aluminum, the most dangerous way was at work 30 years ago using a table saw on pipe, fortunately EMS was not needed at least while I was there

keep it up.

The only question I have is where is the video of you two framing out the end of your garage 😂

Saving money on clamps by just screwing stuff into the table is a smart move.

Those end cuts could be done on a power miter saw.

9:32 nice save dude. loool

Super cool!! I just bought a router from Facebook Marketplace for the same thing...

From what i can see, you are "conventional milling" if you are looking for a better finish with less passes, consider climb milling.(feed the tool from the other side of the part). I was expecting way worse of a finish. As always, great videos!

You can def use woodworking tools on aluminum. But 2 things... 1 go much much slower and 2 use cutting oil

Next time use a end mill bit and not a router bit. There are end mills that fit routers.

I was hoping to see you leave the jig set up, and just swap out the piece to be cut. 😎

Trans fluid, or any light lube will help that cut

Start with a lathe then get a small milling machine. Or lathe with milling attachment

Great video, good advice! Thanks, and I thought I seen you at prairie City, on your bike. But I didn't want to disturb your footage in case you were filming, just wanted to say hello... Good job camera girl!. Keep the videos coming.... 🤘

🤣 great video!!! needs more carbs lol

Seems to me you could have done this with a grinding wheel or even an angle grinder but it probably wouldn't have been as entertaining. 👍

I’m thinking either turn signals or a headlight

I use my chop saw w a wood blade to cut aluminium deck rails and ballusters all the time.

Cup holders?

You'd be amazed at what you'll get away with in aluminium, I've cut big aluminium castings apart with a circular saw before

Head light mounts ?

Watch the cheese, GREAT video

@MatthiasWandel would probably like this

Could have saved yourself time and left the white table in places and just remove the aluminum bracket. Then place a shim in there for your first pass, then remove the shim for your finish pass. As others have said, use WD-40 for your finish pass when milling aluminum. -Former machinist.

I wonder how it would look if you pushed it faster

You asked if there was another way to make those brackets... How about 3D print? Looks complictaed and daunting at first but one you've got the gist of the software it's not hard.

Will it work? I wouldn't use particle board. I would also fixture it differently with wood. I'd also use a spiral upcut bit and a bushing. Before I see you try, I think your method will work but the finish may not be as nice as machined. This is just supposition.

I'm expecting tin snips

👍👍👍😁

👍🏼

Try running the router the other way next time. Look up climb milling vs conventional milling! Also, use a bit of WD40 as well.

License plate brackets for Jorge?

Woohoo!

Headlight bracket.

I think I would have just invested in an inexpensive band saw

i reckon they are indicator light holders because you want to make it road legal?

Quicker to use hacksaw and file

Turn signals?

If it works is it really a dumb idea lol love the videos

I believe you need to push the router the other direction unless the video is backwards. The sharp edge should throw the particles away from you. The sharp edge should hit against the mark first.

Long time follower... love your videos... he is slowly morphing into Rick Sanchez

Brackets for a number plate??

I don’t have a router so was wondering does it matter which way you are going ?. I only ask because I thought you was going to push away with it but you traveled towards yourself

Milling machine? I dont need no stinking milling machine!

You need a end mill

Local man discovers milling machine

You can’t put a price on a nice smooth cut. Uhh, I think the price totals up to $59 😉

WD, and hold it off the guide a bit then final pass it.

Yup, generally speaking, wood cutting tools can be use with aluminum. Don't overload it, and it should be fine. Push too much and you'll gum up your blades with aluminum shmutz.