Easy Way To Cut Acrylic Sheets

If you want a straight cut in a thin acrylic or polycarbonate plastic sheet up to inch thick reach for a simple utility knife then follow these steps.

Easy way to cut acrylic sheets.

To cut anything but a straight line opt for a jigsaw no matter which type of saw you. Encapsulated with glass like clarity strength and resistance working with acrylic sheets guide to which. Coloured acrylic comes in a variety of styles and clear acrylic sheets offer comparable optical clarity as class. Make sure the surface is clean and clear of any objects that could impede your work or potentially mark or.

Place the sheet down flat on a table or a work station so you can measure and cut on a stable surface. Cutting thin sheets of plastic. Be sure to use a compressor to keep the sheet in position to avoid chipping and more time needed to polish the cut. Push the acrylic through the table saw at a steady pace being sure to keep your fingers out of the way of the saw.

Lay the plexiglass flat on a work surface. Clamp down the straight edge on the cut line. Cutting acrylic by hand is the easiest way to go for a beginner who isn t familiar with power tools. Start at one edge of the mark you made.

For thin sheets of plexiglass that are up to 3 16 inch 0 48 cm thick scoring the sheet and then snapping it is an easy way to cut it. Routers can be used to cut acrylic for both curved and straight cuts. Plexiglass may appear dull but the edges can get sharp particularly if they are freshly cut. Whether you re a diy enthusiast or a professional builder acrylic perspex is becoming one of the preferred options for most of the constructors.

Don t move too quickly as you ll create a rougher edge but don t go too slowly as you can melt the plastic. All you need is a thin acrylic sheet a straight edge that is longer than your cut clamps and a scoring knife. Easier to cut than glass or wood plexiglass still requires some safety measures before you begin to cut the sturdy sheets. Push the acrylic through a table saw for a straight cut.

For best results use another tool like the earlier mentioned table saw to cut your acrylic roughly before getting a more exact finish with the router.