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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Queensland
    Posts
    34

    Question How to Cut Perspex

    What has other members found to be the best way to cut perspex acrylic sheet ?
    I have a variable speed jigsaw but do I need a particular blade ? I know I need to use a slow speed.
    Can the perspex be scored with a Stanley blade and snapped ?
    Thanks for helping...

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    tasmania
    Age
    60
    Posts
    387

    Default

    i often cut plastc for the kids , mostly just on the saw table with the blade low , sometimes on the compound mitre saw and sometimes on the bandsaw . no problems . i doubt you could score it and snap it.

    as scoot says , leave the paper on as long as possible .

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Location
    Mildura Vic.
    Age
    57
    Posts
    135

    Default Bandsaw!

    The Bandsaw!
    Iv'e recently cut quite a bit of perspex on the bandsaw (not too coarse a blade) with great results. Not a single drama.
    Probably wouldn't consider any other method now.
    regards Sandman.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Pakenham, outer Melb SE suburb, Vic
    Age
    54
    Posts
    4,158

    Default

    Gday pest, jigsaw with sharp fine blade on slow speed (less melting) as you said will do, as will wot rick sed. If jigsawing, ensure workpiece is held down well so it doesn't snag on blade and chatter (with consequences )

    Main thing if jigsawing or hand saw is not to rush the cut, or you can get small stress cracks radiating from the cut line.

    Leave paper on the plastic as long as possible.


    Cheers................Sean


    The beatings will continue until morale improves.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Moo, G'day from CASINO NSW the real home of Beef.
    Age
    58
    Posts
    1,336

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by rick_rine
    as scoot says , leave the paper on as long as possible .


    This statement was made 10 minutes before Scooter said it, :eek:

    Al, Grunt calling all foilies, quick quick the aliens are here.
    Bruce C.
    catchy catchphrase needed here, apply in writing to the above .

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    tasmania
    Age
    60
    Posts
    387

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by E. maculata

    This statement was made 10 minutes before Scooter said it, :eek:

    Al, Grunt calling all foilies, quick quick the aliens are here.
    What can I say , I'm a mind reader and lets face it , it doesn't take much to read a mind a small as scoots

  8. #7
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Pakenham, outer Melb SE suburb, Vic
    Age
    54
    Posts
    4,158

    Default

    Never a truer word, etc...


    Cheers..............Sean, micro mind


    The beatings will continue until morale improves.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Between a rock & a hard place (vic)
    Posts
    898

    Default

    I recently cut some on a scms (wih an 80t blade with monimal rake) as I was too lazy to go out to the shed or cut it by hand. The first two cuts went fine - the third cut shattered the sheet and sent three pieces flying, each about the size of an open palm. One hit the blade guard and fractured it, another hit me on the hand causing an insignificant cut and the other I'm piece I'm yet to find. Not something I'll try again soon.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Posts
    431

    Default

    On the rare occasions I've had to cut perspex, I've used a diamond blade in a 4" angle grinder, the same blade I use for ceramic tiles and all manner of other things and then cleaned up the edge of the perspex with my router.
    I wanted to become a brickie but my old man said "No son, learn a trade."

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Romsey Victoria
    Age
    63
    Posts
    3,854

    Default

    If you want really smooth edges of your perspex, get one of them butaine blow torches, light her up and run it down the edge.
    Photo Gallery

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Queensland
    Posts
    34

    Thumbs up

    Well, I don't have a bandsaw, but I do have a triton saw table, but I would of thought the speed would of melted the perspex ??

    Looks like the slow jigsaw with a new fine blade will do it. I intend to stick some broad packing tape to the base of the jigsaw so as not to mark the plastic sheet or the perspex.

    Thanks to all who replied, this bulletin board has to be the most friendly I have come across in internet land. Cheers

    PestMaster

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Sunbury, Victoria, Au.
    Posts
    1,133

    Default Cutting Perspex/Plexiglas

    As a part of my work I often have to cut perspex/plexiglas.

    For small peices I use the table saw or for larger sheets I use a circular saw on a table.

    Melting is minimal and not a real problem and it is easily filed or broken off. Both saws have multi purpose hack-saw blades normally used to cut aluminium.

    The trick is to make sure the sheet does not lift which will cause it to shatter and to feed it slowly and steadily.
    Russell (aka Mulgabill)
    "It is as it is"

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    5,773

    Default

    My choice would be table saw with a fine blade preferably negative rake ( i would mount up an aluminium cutting blade).
    Allways with plastic controll of the cut is important, it will bite soon as look at you. Make sure the job is flat on the table the fence is straight with the blade and the sheet runs tight to the fence and the feed is smooth. I would run the blade at full height to minimise the posibility of kick back.
    Better still get it cut to size.
    Band saw would be my second choice unless the piece was small or curved then it would be #1.
    You will have to be real carefull with the jigsaw.
    sharp blades always.
    Be very carefull with this stuff, if it breaks up & gets thrown around its worse than glass on some ways.
    cheers
    Any thing with sharp teeth eats meat.
    Most powertools have sharp teeth.
    People are made of meat.
    Abrasives can be just as dangerous as a blade.....and 10 times more painfull.

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    tasmania
    Age
    60
    Posts
    387

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by soundman
    My choice would be table saw with a fine blade preferably negative rake ( i would mount up an aluminium cutting blade).
    Allways with plastic controll of the cut is important, it will bite soon as look at you. Make sure the job is flat on the table the fence is straight with the blade and the sheet runs tight to the fence and the feed is smooth. I would run the blade at full height to minimise the posibility of kick back.

    cheers
    What is negative rake ? Are the teeth facing inwards ? Good point about the saw blade height , I'll take that on , I always did it low but your idea makes more sense and it will also help "pull" the material down onto the bench I assume .
    Where are my pancakes ?

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Castlemaine Vic
    Age
    72
    Posts
    120

    Default

    Another trick is to use a non tiped blade, put in reversed, if you know what I meen

    Normell
    Every day above ground is a good day

    Still drinking & driving, but not at the same time

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