Cutting acrylic sheet

[Gragson]

I need to cut some 3.5mm acrylic sheet tomorrow. I don't have an upright bandsaw anymore which worked fine slow last time I cut sheet, so left with jigsaw.... bouncy bouncy.

Should I just sandwich it between some ply and slow speed with hss blade? Any tips?

 

[brightspark]

lay in on ply and use downward cutting fine jigsaw blades

 

[ronan]

Get someone to hold the sheet down for you too.

 

[tom2207]

I used to put a straight edge on it and score it with a screw driver ,,, then snap it , but that was Styrene , be handy if you had a wee bit to practice on first ,,

 

[8ob]

Leave it in a warm place before you cut it or it will crack/splinter, ask me how I know

Bob

 

[pedrobedro]

Run your saw as slow as possible or it melts the cut back together.

 

[Gragson]

Cheers Fellas, all noted and in the airing cupboard for the night

 

[Ton-up]

Grind a Stanley blade so it's a hook shape. Make it zero rake when it's in your hand being pulled back. Score it a couple of times both sides using a straight edge as guide. Hold straight edge on top and lift up sheet to snap it.

 

[mtt.tr]

Ive cut 3 kitchens worth which included socket outlets.

Router is the best tool

 

[mtt.tr]

I used to put a straight edge on it and score it with a screw driver ,,, then snap it , but that was Styrene , be handy if you had a wee bit to practice on first ,,

Acrylic blows apart.

 

[tom2207]

Acrylic blows apart.

hence the practice ,,,, i did a window in an aircraft tug , just a temp job and used a 115mm angle grinder and cutting disc ,,, wouldnt recommend it , but cutting makralon used a big tooth blade in a jig saw and it worked better than a small tooth one , it didnt clog and over heat as it had a larger set on it ,, totally contrary to hack saw wisdom.

 

[Paul.]

My neighbours at work are plastics specialists, all their basic cutting of sheet is done on a table saw, then they use cnc routers and cnc lasers for finishing, non of the machines run slowly though.

 

[mtt.tr]

My neighbours at work are plastics specialists, all their basic cutting of sheet is done on a table saw, then they use cnc routers and cnc lasers for finishing, non of the machines run slowly though.

Tablesaw works really well, long rips that's how i do it with a zero clearance insert

 

[Gragson]

Grind a Stanley blade so it's a hook shape. Make it zero rake when it's in your hand being pulled back. Score it a couple of times both sides using a straight edge as guide. Hold straight edge on top and lift up sheet to snap it.

Pretty sure I had an old stanley with the hook blades on oiled paper inside, remember those? - Might have a go at that with some scrap, another technique!

Ive cut 3 kitchens worth which included socket outlets.

Router is the best tool

View attachment 235826

Only router I have is BT dsl fibre, I'm pretty sure I won't get the desired result twatting it with that
But seriously, why would you do that over tiling?

 

[mtt.tr]

Pretty sure I had an old stanley with the hook blades on oiled paper inside, remember those? - Might have a go at that with some scrap, another technique!



Only router I have is BT dsl fibre, I'm pretty sure I won't get the desired result twatting it with that
But seriously, why would you do that over tiling?

Cleaner look, low maintenance.

 

[Barking Mat]

Medium teeth, slow speed. I covered it in masking tape to prevent scratches.

Was a perspex protection screen.

2m20 x 1m , 5mm 100 odd quid....

 

[8ob]

Medium teeth, slow speed. I covered it in masking tape to prevent scratches.

Was a perspex protection screen.

2m20 x 1m , 5mm 100 odd quid....

The right gear can be expensive, my stump grinder screen takes a hammering from stones etc and anything other than Lexan wont last five minutes.Even that stuff cracks.

Bob

 

[Barking Mat]

Stump grinder, ooooh!

No, protective screen, for boss at the desk at work.

Only projectiles from clients.

 

[mtt.tr]

The right gear can be expensive, my stump grinder screen takes a hammering from stones etc and anything other than Lexan wont last five minutes.Even that stuff cracks.

Bob

Bit nicer than the rayco i used to use

Certainly nicer than the manual machines.

 

[grim_d]

Cleaner look, low maintenance.

Until someone cleans it with a green scrubby!