Table of Contents
For thicker sheets of plexiglass, cut with a power saw—be it a circular saw, saber saw, or table saw. (To cut anything but a straight line, opt for a jigsaw.) No matter which type of saw you choose for the task, it’s critically important to use the right blade.
What should you cut plexiglass with?
What is the best jigsaw blade for cutting plexiglass? To cut plexiglass neatly, you should use jigsaw blades that are bi-metal and have ten teeth per inch (10 TPI). You can also use blades that are hollow ground and very sharp. Avoid blades that are very fine because they can melt the plastic and may clog it.
How do you cut plexiglass without breaking it?
Fit a circular saw or table saw with a fine blade with crosscut teeth to prevent chipping the piece during the cut. Line the plexiglass sheet along the cut line. Use the saw at a slower speed, or keep the material cool by spraying water over the cut point during the saw operation.
Can I cut plexiglass with a utility knife?
Thicker plexiglass, strangely enough, allows for the simplest of the cutting processes. First, grab a metal ruler and a utility knife (preferably one with a brand new blade). The plexiglass will break cleanly; be sure to have something soft for it to land on so as to prevent scratching.
What is the easiest way to cut plastic?
The best tool for cutting thin plastic (¼ inches or less) is a utility knife. Examples of thin plastic are plastic banding, plastic packaging, and plastic sheets. A utility knife is the best option because it provides a good grip and control. A utility knife works in a similar way to scoring glass.
Can I cut plexiglass with a jigsaw?
For thicker sheets of plexiglass, cut with a power saw—be it a circular saw, saber saw, or table saw. (To cut anything but a straight line, opt for a jigsaw.) There are special blades designed expressly for acrylic, but any metal-cutting blade with carbide tips can do the trick.
Can you cut plexiglass with a box cutter?
Plexiglass can be cut with the typical tools that are found in a woodworking studio. Use a glass cutter, or the dull end of a box cutter to begin to score the line that you want to cut. You will need to score each line several times, and the deeper the score, the better the easier it will be to break off the piece.
How do you smooth rough edges on plexiglass?
How to Finish the Rough Edges of Cut Plexiglass Using Sandpaper. Sand the cut edges of the plexiglass with 100-grit sandpaper. Graduate to the 200-grit sandpaper and sand until the plexiglass is nearly smooth to the touch. Finish by using 400-grit sandpaper in the sanding block if you are using one.
Can you cut plexiglass with a Dremel?
A Dremel is commonly used for many applications, including cutting glass. Acrylic is a clear plastic also commonly called plexiglass. Using a Dremel is one of the best options when cutting acrylic, and it’s an easy enough task for most homeowner to take on.
Can you break plexiglass with a hammer?
If they were all the same thickness, a small rock could break a sheet of glass, a hammer could break acrylic, and — unless it was swung by Thor — the hammer would bounce off a sheet of polycarbonate.
Can you drill holes in plexiglass?
Drilling holes in plexiglass can be challenging. Often the traditional drill bits, used for metal and wood, chip and crack the plexiglass while drilling through its surface. Specialty drill bits prevent the cracking and chipping. You can also alter traditional drill bits to work better with plexiglass.
Can Lowes cut plexiglass for you?
Unfortunately, Lowe’s does not cut plexiglass within their stores as they do not have the equipment. However, competitor stores such as Ace Hardware are able to cut Plexiglass, or you can purchase tools from Lowe’s to cut plexiglass yourself.
Can a box cutter cut plastic?
Using only a box cutter and a ruler (and a clamp if you need one) you too can cut plastic. You should never take the protective film off of your plastic until the last possible minute to avoid scratches.
How do you cut plastic without cracking it?
You can use a hacksaw, fine-toothed saw, circular saw, or jigsaw to cut plastic. What is this? If you use a hacksaw or circular saw, you’ll also need a plastic cutting blade. Avoid using saws or blades with large teeth because they will chip or break the plastic and create rough edges.
How do you cut PVC sheets at home?
A good shop knife can cut thicknesses up to 3 mm. Up to 6 mm thick sheets can be scored and snapped on the score line. For speed and a very smooth edge, expanded PVC can be cut with a circular saw, table saw, band saw, or router. After cutting, edges can be smoothed with a file or a medium grit sand paper.
What kind of jigsaw blade should I use to cut plexiglass?
A good choice for cutting plexiglass with a jigsaw is a 10 TPI (teeth per inch) bi-metal jigsaw blade. Another recommended choice is a really sharp hollow ground wood blade. Avoid very fine metal blades, as they can clog while cutting, melting the plastic in the plexi.
How do you cut plexiglass with a hacksaw?
Cut along the plexiglass until the hacksaw goes through the piece and continue moving along just like you are cutting molding or another type of wood. Move the hacksaw back and forth down the piece until the cut is complete and the piece is in two.
What’s the best saw blade for cutting plexiglass?
For best results with Plexiglas® MC acrylic sheet, circular saw blades should be the largest diameter possible and contain 60 carbide-tipped teeth with a triple-chip-tooth design. Teeth should be shaped with a 5° to 10° positive rake angle and have sharp cutting edges with adequate clearance.
Do you need a special drill bit for plexiglass?
Regular or traditional high speed bits can drill plexiglass if you modify them. To modify regular bits, grind the small flats on the bit’s cutting edges. This will help the bit scrape away the plexiglass as opposed to grabbing and fragmenting the material.
Can you use screws on plexiglass?
Remember that the wood screws should be used to hold the plexi in place, not so much to secure it. If you tighten the screw too much, it will crack the plexi.
