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Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 145,793 times. (To cut anything but a straight line, opt for a jigsaw.). If you're a do-it-yourself-er, you've likely needed to use acrylic sheeting in a project. Probably will be fine. To finish, hold the scribed line to the edge of your work surface, and secure the plexiglass in place with a clamp. by davidproctor | Jul 2, 2017 | Acrylic, Polycarbonate | 0 comments. There are special blades designed expressly for acrylic, but any metal-cutting blade with carbide tips can do the trick. "I experienced difficulty finding an acrylic box the size I needed, but I didn't know how to cut a sheet to my. This will reduce the sanding time significantly. Finally, place the line you scored over the edge of a table and press down on the part of the acrylic that's hanging off of the table to break it off. Whichever cutting method you choose, you may find that the cut plexiglass edge doesnt look terribly attractive. Encapsulated with glass-like clarity, strength and resistance, working with acrylic sheets (a guide to which plastic should you choose) does not demand specialised skills and techniques. It is one of the easiest methods to cut acrylic table tops. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together.

Coloured acrylic comes in a variety of styles and clear acrylic sheets offer comparable optical clarity as glass. You can use a regular blade, but the cut will be more jagged.

If your project requires a clean edge, expect to devote energy to smoothing the finish. Once you are satisfied with the appearance of the edge, move on to buffing. CO2 to cut "Duraplex" High Impact Acrylic? Copyright 2017 Cut My Plastic. For a thin sheet of plexiglassthat is, material up to about 3/16-inch thickuse a scoring method not dissimilar from a technique used to cut actual glass. However, if you intend to cut acrylic into a nonlinear fashion, a jigsaw is the right option for you. Place the sheet over a hard edge with groove-side up. Copyright 2022 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. Approved. Otherwise, you'll need to use a saw to cut it. In a range of applications, from picture frames to tabletops, plexiglass (also known as acrylic) serves as a cost-effective, shatterproof substitute for glass. All rights reserved. I want to round the edges of 1/4" Plexiglas for a tabletop. These sheets can be cut with standard workshop tools including: Over the years, many do-it-yourself projects have used perspex sheetsto enhance their design and durability. Most people prefer to cut acrylic using a hand saw. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. Bending will result in the separation of two pieces (. It is a small handheld tool that can cut the sheet with the straight blade by function up and down in fast motion. Outfit your electric drill with a buffing pad and, after applying a polishing compound formulated for plastic, bring the plexiglass edge to a perfect polish. Every building material comes with a set of quirks and nuances that you can master with practice. Fortunately, it doesnt take long for do-it-yourselfers with woodworking experience to learn how to cut plexiglass. Next, repeat on the opposite side of the acrylic sheet over the same line. Research source. MSDS says its just acrylic with some styrene: https://www.acplasticsinc.com/media/Duraplex%20Safety%20Data%20Sheet.pdf When using 360 grit, start wet-sanding. A band saw works best with a thickness greater than 0.472 inches. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. It helps to achieve precise results by cutting the edges into curves and angular form. X If your sheet is relatively thin--less than 316 inch (0.48cm)--you can use the scoring method. Versatile and tough though it may be, plexiglass isnt perfect.

With the foam block and sand paper, cup the edge to smooth it round. Hi all. If you don't have a buffing edge, you can stop with fine sandpaper. To achieve the best result it is advisable to use a saw that has uniform teeth. Thats why sheets of the material come covered in a thin layer of protective film. By using our site, you agree to our. Flip over the plexiglass, and score the opposite side in the same manner. Develop the tech skills you need for work and life. As the plexiglass becomes smoother, transition to successively finer grits.

", http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/how-to/acrylic/cutting-acrylic, https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-cut-plexiglass/#.WehX5jBGnIU, https://makezine.com/2015/10/29/skill-builder-acrylic/, https://www.hunker.com/13402629/how-to-cut-acrylic-sheet, https://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to/jigsaw-101-how-to-cut-shapes. This article has been viewed 145,793 times. However, it is advisable to experiment with the setting and positioning of the machine to gauge desired results. Laser systems are designed to achieve complex and defined cutting of acrylic. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Whether youre a DIY enthusiast or a professional builder, acrylic perspex is becoming one of the constructors preferred options especially as its so readily available from local and national perspex cutters. To cut acrylic sheets, start by marking the line you want to cut using a ruler and a permanent marker. Start the process with 120- or 180-grit waterproof sandpaper, in combination with a wood or rubber sanding block. The process doesnt demand the use of a power saw or any other heavy-duty electrical equipment. Score again and again, as many as 10 or 12 times, until you have made a deep groove in the plexiglass. They have some 0.093" stuff that might work for a 3D printer build enclosure. In this case, 88% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. To learn how to cut acrylic by sawing it, scroll down!

Placing masking tape over your cut line can help you make a cleaner edge with a jigsaw. specifications and suppliers charged too much to do it for me. Connected to a computer, the laser cutter works as a printer to translate the design/image onto the piece of acrylic. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled. Continue reading for details on how to cut plexiglassthe right way. References All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Now I can customize my own sheets. Bend the overhang side of the sheet with quick and even motion. For one thing, it scratches easily. It helps to achieve clean and clear edges by retaining the sharpness of the material. Namely, the Duraplex brand found at Home Depot. Switch to fine, then finer paper (360 and 600 grit) to get a satin finish. When cutting plexiglass, leave the film in place as long as possible to avoid marring the surface. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. The other downside? Then, score the line using a plastic scoring blade, using the ruler as a guide so your line is straight. % of people told us that this article helped them. Homeowners who dont know how to cut plexiglass can be intimidated by the material at firstbut were here to help! For thicker sheets of plexiglass, cut with a power sawbe it a circular saw, saber saw, or table saw. This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. the step on scoring another line at the. However, if you are a DIY enthusiast and are finding it difficult to cut acrylic at home, then have a look at several ways (listed below) to cut acrylic to size (also sold as perspex and plexiglass), achieving the highest degree of precision. Mark the area of the sheet you want to cut. Just wondering if anyone has any experience cutting High Impact Acrylic with a CO2 laser cutter. As the sheet bends, the groove will deepen as the crack propagates throughout the sheet. Acrylic sheets are fairly simple to cut. I know its not Lexan but, not normal acrylic.

While using a band saw, it is important to carefully select the blade and feed rate of the machine to minimise the risk of melting or chipping the sheet. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. However, the process requires the following steps: A jigsaw is one preferred tool for cutting acrylic sheets. However, this technique demands more concentration when compared with electrical saws. Lay the sheet on a flat surface and, using a yardstick and a permanent marker (or a grease marker), measure and draw the line you wish to cut. Scoring preferably works on sheets less than (6.35mm)in thickness. That might be extruded, as opposed to cast, acrylic. Then, with sharp downward pressure, snap off the portion of the plexiglass that extends beyond the work surface.

Although for the time being, you may only need to cut a piece of acrylic down to size, learning to work with this versatile, transparent material opens up a new universe of DIY possibilities that you can explore in myriad projects for years to come. https://www.acplasticsinc.com/media/Duraplex%20Safety%20Data%20Sheet.pdf. Sand until the edge is uniform and relatively smooth. No matter which type of saw you choose for the task, its critically important to use the right blade. I had a lot of problems with crazing and brittleness on the panels I made from extruded acrylic for my Zortrax printer. By Bob Vila | Updated Apr 30, 2021 1:20 PM. "The specific steps on scoring an acrylic sheet for a straight cut, esp. Any suggestions? If you need to create complex, intricate and creative shapes with acrylic, a laser is probably the better option. Bob Vila, 11 Ways to Make the Most of Your Towns Curbside Cleanup Day. If the cut edge would be visible in your application, take the extra time to sand and buff out the imperfections. Before committing to one blade or another, double-check that its teeth are evenly spaced, with no rake, and of uniform height and shape. Second, bear in mind that even if youre careful, it can be difficult to cut plexiglass without leaving a rough, irregular edge.

Put on safety glasses before doing any kind of cutting, and wear ear plugs if you use an electric saw. Use a scoring knife to cut a narrow groove in the acrylic sheeting. Though plexiglass is a durable material, its not unbreakable. Make the original cut as clean as possible. [1] wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Note: You can use a handheld power sander, but manual wet-sanding typically achieves the best results.

Proceed accordingly, water-cooling the blade or pausing your work for a few minutes as needed. A band saw is best for cutting intricate shapes and curves. Purchase waterproof sandpaper designed for plastic. Start with rough paper ~180 grit and a foam sanding block. Simply cutting plexiglass to size is easy by comparison.

Keep the following tips in mind when learning how to cut plexiglass to prevent irreversible damages. Once you've scored the initial line, go over it a few times with the blade until a groove forms. After readying your tool, measure and mark the plexiglass, then cut as you would any other material, clamping if appropriate. Last Updated: April 18, 2022 {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/01\/Cut-Acrylic-Sheets-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Cut-Acrylic-Sheets-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/01\/Cut-Acrylic-Sheets-Step-1.jpg\/aid9420717-v4-728px-Cut-Acrylic-Sheets-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"