Thread: Any tips for cutting perspex

Have done quite a few perspex patterns, mainly decorations but no real probs with it. Medium speed good blade and put masking tape both sides ...or the paper that comes with it. The other trick is to go slow
Pete

Originally Posted by windybreeches

Hi all
Has anyone got any tips for cutting perspex/acrylic, i found some laying around in the shed and gave it a test cut, only to find it had fused back together behind the cut
i've tried various speeds but still fusing behind the blade.

thanks in advance

mark

I've never tried it but I've heard about placing masking tape over the area or line to be cut and cutting through the tape reduces the amount or refusion. If you tape both sides you get even less fusion. It may be something to do with the masking tape fibres getting mixed up with the swarf and not sticking together as much.

Thanks guys, i'll give the masking tape a go

Also dont use a reverse tooth blade when cutting it

I used to set up this for high school students doing "design & tech" classes and from memory we used double cut blades so it effectively cut the same area twice.
Apoligises if my memory is wrong.
Cheers, Crowie

Masking tape does the trick.

I have been using all sorts of plastic including perspex. This has come as offcuts from glass people. The stuff I have used has a front and back covering and there has been no fusing. I have used a slow speed and fine blade.

I did try some perspex with no covering and it did fuse. I think perhaps the people who have been putting masking tape front and back are doing the same as the covering I'm talking about.

good luck

Red Gum

Oges a reverse blade is better as it cuts the fused bit on the way back. With the exception of my metal cutting blades mine are all reverse blades

Pete