Aluminum & Non-Ferrous Metals
Cold saw blade guide to cutting aluminum & non-ferrous metals
Soft metals like aluminum require a different blade setup than steel — especially when it comes to tooth geometry, coating, and kerf thickness. Whether you’re cutting window frames, downspouts, or a solid bar, we’ll help you achieve the cleanest cuts with the longest blade life — tailored to your machine and material.
Bestselling Blades
What Type of Saw Are You Using?
🛠 Manual Cold Saw (Under 120 RPM)
For cutting aluminum on a manual cold saw, we recommend only one blade type:- TiN Coated M2 Cold Saw Blades for Aluminum
These blades are perfect for the job when paired with the correct grind geometry — which we configure at the time of manufacture. When you select “aluminum” at checkout, we’ll grind the blade to 25° rake / 12° relief, which is ideal for clean cuts and chip evacuation in non-ferrous metals.
Note: Upgrading to M35 or TIALN for aluminum isn’t necessary on a manual saw. Blade life improvement is minor, and performance differences are rarely noticeable.
Optional Add-On: If you’re using a manual saw without flood coolant or mist lubrication, we recommend applying a wax stick lubricant directly to the blade before cutting. This helps prevent aluminum from gumming up the blade and improves cut quality and blade life.
⚙️ Semi-Automatic Cold Saw (Under 120 RPM)
- TiN Coated M2 Cold Saw Blades for Aluminum
Tooth Count Tip: If you’re using our Tooth Count Calculator, reduce the result by 30% for aluminum. A lower tooth count means larger gullets, better chip flow, and less clogging.
🪚 Woodworking Saws (Chop, Miter, Table, Radial Arm)
- Carbide-Tipped Non-Ferrous Metal Blades (TCG)
These blades feature Triple Chip Grind (TCG) with hook angles of 5°, 0°, or +5°, depending on the application. They provide clean, burr-free cuts in extrusions, bar stock, and profiles.
Pro Tip: For woodworking and dry-cut saws without misting systems, we recommend using a non-ferrous cutting wax stick to reduce heat, minimize burrs, and extend the life of both carbide-tipped and bright finish blades.
Double Miter & Up-Cut Aluminum Saws
- Carbide-Tipped TCG Blades
These saws are common in aluminum window and door frame shops. Carbide-tipped blades are the go-to choice in nearly all of these high-output applications. We stock carbide-tipped blades for cutting aluminum in diameters from 3 inches up to 30 inches with all sorts of arbor holes, pinholes, and numbers of teeth to fit different machines and applications.
✨ HSS “Bright” Blades for Thin-Gauge Extrusions & Fragile Shapes
- Bright Finish M2 HSS Blades (58 HRC)
These blades have a thinner kerf and are only hardened to around 58 HRC to reduce brittleness. Ideal for fragile aluminum and copper shapes like:
- Screen door frames
- Window extrusions
- Downspouts
- Roll-formed aluminum profiles
- Thin copper tubing
These blades work great on woodworking saws like chop, table, radial arm, and double miter saws.
🧴 Lubrication Tip for Aluminum Cutting
If your saw doesn’t have mist or flood lubrication, use our aluminum cutting wax stick to:
- ✅ Improve surface finish
- ✅ Reduce gumming and loading
- ✅ Extend blade life for both carbide-tipped and bright finish HSS blades
Blade Selection Summary
| Saw Type | Recommended Blade | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Manual Cold Saw | TiN Coated M2 (25°/12° grind) | Use wax if no coolant system |
| Semi-Auto Cold Saw | TiN Coated M2 (25°/12° grind) | Reduce tooth count by 30% |
| Woodworking Saws | Carbide-Tipped Non-Ferrous Blades (TCG) | Use wax to reduce gumming |
| Double Miter / Up-Cut Saws | Carbide-Tipped TCG Blades | Ideal for aluminum profile production |
| Thin & Fragile Profiles | Bright Finish M2 HSS Blades (58 HRC) | Thinner kerf for delicate applications |