Cutting the ULE body

[thecroatiansensation]

Hello guys, I have been on this site for 2 or 3 years and this is my first tech post.

So previously I owned a ule body that had the front "lip" on the bottom chopped so that the front was evenly flat and circular (not the oval that the stock bodies are).

I am getting a ule body in soon and I would like to do this mod myself in my workshop. I have enough tools and machines to do almost anything to almost any material (saws, air tools, welders, etc). Would a metal chop saw (or a mitre saw with a metal blade) be the best bet to do this modification accurately? I know the bodies are aluminum, so there shouldn't be much of a problem getting through it, I just wanted to check with you folks first to know if anyone has done this before. I don't need to ruin a good ule body (they are way too expensive).

Thank you guys,
TCS

[river031403]

Probably a dremel with a cutting wheel would be fine.Just lay it out so it is symmetrical and go slow

[Nobody]

a chop saw will do a very quick job of it, BUT it will leave a lot of slag and not give you the cleanest cut. leave that for steel.

now, i don't know why people think you need specialized tools for cutting or working on aluminium. you can literally take sand paper and enough time(and cleaning out the paper from the aluminium) to do this. the one thing is that with aluminium, it does heat up quickly, but with some application of water, its fine. so a dremel or even a band saw(with a metal blade) is fine for the initial cut, but leave a 1/16th or so and use files to shape and sand paper to finish the work. as long as you remember that you can't put back any material that you took off. you should be fine.

[OPBN]

Ive cut a couple of bodies using a hacksaw and finishing with files/sandpaper. Having a bench sander also helps. I always suggest using masking tape to mark your lines and make sure everything is where it needs to be before cutting. And agreed, you can always take more off, you can't put it back on so cut carefully. If you're doing a straight cut, it's really pretty simple. Gets more complicated if you're cutting the front at an angle.

[BTAutoMag]

did Nobody actually post the words chop saw in this thread?!

[captian pinky]

use a mill it will be clean and straight.

[Nobody]

did Nobody actually post the words chop saw in this thread?!

yes, but if was in reference to the OP.

Would a metal chop saw (or a mitre saw with a metal blade) be the best bet to do this modification accurately?

in metal working, a chop saw is this.