Cutting plexiglass
 

I had a bear of a time cutting some plexiglass without cracking it.

It was 3/16 inch thick.

Using a very fine toothed sabre saw did not work.

I tried scoring it with a sheet rock knife.

I finally made some progress using a hack saw and going REAL slow.

Any tips ?

Andy

Cutting plexiglass
 

They make a special plexiglass scoring knife.

Cutting plexiglass
 

On 3/8/2014 12:31 AM, Andy wrote:
I had a bear of a time cutting some plexiglass without cracking it.
It was 3/16 inch thick.
Using a very fine toothed sabre saw did not work.
I tried scoring it with a sheet rock knife.
I finally made some progress using a hack saw and going REAL slow.
Any tips ?

Andy

Most people score the surface with a straight
edge and razor knife. Then, flex the plexi across
a corner, until it snaps.

--
..
Christopher A. Young
Learn about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

Cutting plexiglass
 

I'd second the table saw method. I've never
had much luck with other methods. (I don't
switch blades. I just use a fine-cut carbibe
blade (60+teeth) for everything. One caveat,
though: The saw blade will melt the plastic a
bit and release fumes. I really don't know how
toxic those fumes might be. Best to have ventilation.

Cutting plexiglass
 

On Saturday, March 8, 2014 8:54:35 AM UTC-5, Mayayana wrote:
I'd second the table saw method. I've never

had much luck with other methods. (I don't

switch blades. I just use a fine-cut carbibe

blade (60+teeth) for everything. One caveat,

though: The saw blade will melt the plastic a

bit and release fumes. I really don't know how

toxic those fumes might be. Best to have ventilation.

The score method works ok if you score both sides at the same spot.

Cutting plexiglass
 

On Fri, 07 Mar 2014 22:31:11 -0700, Andy
wrote:

I had a bear of a time cutting some plexiglass without cracking it.

It was 3/16 inch thick.

Using a very fine toothed sabre saw did not work.

I tried scoring it with a sheet rock knife.

I finally made some progress using a hack saw and going REAL slow.

Any tips ?

Andy


These people are EXPERTS in plastic.

San Leandro HQ 510 357 3755

TAP Plastics (408) 292 8685
1212 The Alameda
San Jose, CA 95125

TAP Plastics Inc (408) 265-6400
1008 Blossom Hill Rd # F
San Jose, CA 95123

TAP Plastics Inc (650) 962-8430
312 Castro St
Mtn View, CA 94041

http://www.tapplastics.com

Cutting plexiglass
 

On Friday, March 7, 2014 11:31:11 PM UTC-6, Andy wrote:
I had a bear of a time cutting some plexiglass without cracking it.



It was 3/16 inch thick.



Using a very fine toothed sabre saw did not work.



I tried scoring it with a sheet rock knife.



I finally made some progress using a hack saw and going REAL slow.



Any tips ?



Andy

If the local hardware store cuts glass...most likely they will cut it for you.
On the thicker type (3/16 and 1/4) they score both sides and break it similar to glass. (I worked at a Tru-Valu)

Cutting plexiglass
 

"Mayayana" wrote in message
...
I'd second the table saw method. I've never
had much luck with other methods. (I don't
switch blades. I just use a fine-cut carbibe
blade (60+teeth) for everything. One caveat,
though: The saw blade will melt the plastic a
bit and release fumes. I really don't know how
toxic those fumes might be. Best to have ventilation.



I second carbide tip blade - but fewer teeth. More teeth means more
melting - just cut at slow pace when feeding the Plexiglas. I used to keep
a sharp blade that had never met wood just for plastic and kept the blade
lower so it was cutting forward instead of down.

Cutting plexiglass
 

RobertMacy writes:

On Fri, 07 Mar 2014 22:31:11 -0700, Andy
wrote:

I had a bear of a time cutting some plexiglass without cracking it.

It was 3/16 inch thick.

Using a very fine toothed sabre saw did not work.

I tried scoring it with a sheet rock knife.

I finally made some progress using a hack saw and going REAL slow.

Any tips ?

Andy


These people are EXPERTS in plastic.

San Leandro HQ 510 357 3755

TAP Plastics (408) 292 8685
1212 The Alameda
San Jose, CA 95125

TAP Plastics Inc (408) 265-6400
1008 Blossom Hill Rd # F
San Jose, CA 95123

TAP Plastics Inc (650) 962-8430
312 Castro St
Mtn View, CA 94041

http://www.tapplastics.com

Indeed. Some friends needed a shelf in their kitchen window.
I bought a piece of lucite from Tap. They accept orders for
almost any size and will cut and polish to your specifications.

With lucite you really want all the edges polished.
The end result looks fantastic.

--
Dan Espen

Cutting plexiglass
 

On Saturday, March 8, 2014 9:33:01 AM UTC-6, Stumpy wrote:

I second carbide tip blade - but fewer teeth. More teeth means more

melting - just cut at slow pace when feeding the Plexiglas. I used to keep

a sharp blade that had never met wood just for plastic and kept the blade

lower so it was cutting forward instead of down.

I agree with all the points you make! I will attempt to remember them!

Cutting plexiglass
 

On Fri, 7 Mar 2014 21:31:11 -0800 (PST), Andy
wrote:

I had a bear of a time cutting some plexiglass without cracking it.

It was 3/16 inch thick.

Using a very fine toothed sabre saw did not work.

I tried scoring it with a sheet rock knife.

I finally made some progress using a hack saw and going REAL slow.

Any tips ?

Andy

I cut two sides of a piece a few months ago, for a window pane.
Used a straight edge to score it with a plexiglass knife.
Had to score it pretty deeply, but it cracked off cleanly.

Cutting plexiglass
 

Using a table saw with the blade set so low it only partially cuts thru on the first pass, then set the blade a little higher for a second pass, then repeat until you are all the way thru. Taking just a little plastic each pass keeps the melted plastic from building up so much.

Cutting plexiglass
 

In article ,
Andy wrote:

I had a bear of a time cutting some plexiglass without cracking it.

It was 3/16 inch thick.

Using a very fine toothed sabre saw did not work.

I tried scoring it with a sheet rock knife.

I finally made some progress using a hack saw and going REAL slow.

Any tips ?

Andy-

Many years ago in shop class, I used a band saw to cut out the plastic
letter opener I made!

Another possibility might be using a cutting tip for a Weller Soldering
Gun. I have such a tip, but have never tried it. I suspect it would be
a slow process.
http://www.apexhandtools.com/brands/...cfm?upc=037103
480415

Reading the other suggestions, I prefer the scoring and snapping
approach. I think it would be the fastest method.

Fred

Cutting plexiglass
 

Cutting plexiglass
 

On Saturday, March 8, 2014 12:31:11 AM UTC-5, Andy wrote:
I had a bear of a time cutting some plexiglass without cracking it.



It was 3/16 inch thick.



Using a very fine toothed sabre saw did not work.



I tried scoring it with a sheet rock knife.



I finally made some progress using a hack saw and going REAL slow.



Any tips ?



Andy

120 teeth per inch cut on the backside with the blade cuting through about one half inch. that side would be facing out the backside will be chipped slightly. let the blade cut the material. Sand or buff out the chipped side if desired.

Cutting plexiglass
 

On Saturday, March 8, 2014 12:31:11 AM UTC-5, Andy wrote:
I had a bear of a time cutting some plexiglass without cracking it.



It was 3/16 inch thick.



Using a very fine toothed sabre saw did not work.



I tried scoring it with a sheet rock knife.



I finally made some progress using a hack saw and going REAL slow.



Any tips ?



Andy

120 teeth per 12 inch blade. Cut on the backside with the blade cuting through about one half inch. That side would be facing out the backside will be chipped slightly. Let the blade cut the material. Sand or buff out the chipped side if desired.

Cutting plexiglass
 

On Saturday, March 8, 2014 12:43:26 AM UTC-5, wrote:
They make a special plexiglass scoring knife.

3/16?

Cutting plexiglass
 

On Saturday, March 8, 2014 1:52:50 AM UTC-5, wrote:
On Fri, 7 Mar 2014 21:31:11 -0800 (PST), Andy

wrote:



I had a bear of a time cutting some plexiglass without cracking it.



It was 3/16 inch thick.



Using a very fine toothed sabre saw did not work.



I tried scoring it with a sheet rock knife.



I finally made some progress using a hack saw and going REAL slow.



Any tips ?



Andy



I cut it on my table saw with a plywood blade.

A frame will hide it

Cutting plexiglass
 

"Andy Rand" wrote in message
...
On Saturday, March 8, 2014 12:31:11 AM UTC-5, Andy wrote:
I had a bear of a time cutting some plexiglass without cracking it.



It was 3/16 inch thick.



Using a very fine toothed sabre saw did not work.



I tried scoring it with a sheet rock knife.



I finally made some progress using a hack saw and going REAL slow.



Any tips ?



Andy

120 teeth per 12 inch blade. Cut on the backside with the blade cuting
through about one half inch. That side would be facing out the backside
will be chipped slightly. Let the blade cut the material. Sand or buff out
the chipped side if desired.

Last time I cut 1/4" Plexiglas I was using 28 carbide teeth on a 10" blade.
That's about 1 tooth/inch. With the top of the blade ~1/2" above the work
there was no white melted crud or any chips missing. Used a paint scraper
to smooth off the cut edge. I have no idea what RPM my tablesaw runs at.