Plexiglass is a cheap and durable material that you can use for a variety of projects like picture frames, tabletops, or as a shatterproof substitute for glass. With a circular saw, table saw, or saber saw, you can cut a straight line. Well... it ain't that simple. Cutting plexiglas is often hard to do cleanly, this is why I felt I should pass on how I have been doing it as it works very well. Most scale models won't need bends in acrylic more than 1/16 inch thick. Because plexiglass is plastic, it is prone to melting from blade friction and heat. Apr 25, 2016 - How to Cut Plexiglass. Cutting curves in tiles is one of those methods, and you can now cut smooth decorative curves and cut outs in ceramic and porcelain tiles with ease. Cutting Acrylic with a Dremel. A moderate, steady, and careful speed will earn the best results. It's very solid, was easy to cut and drill through, and is crystal clear which is nice! When to Use a Jigsaw for Cutting Plexiglass, When to Use Other Saws to Cut Plexiglass, When to Use a Table Saw to Cut Plexiglass, a great cordless jigsaw can come in handy, sand the areas with a fine grit of sandpaper, band saw uses a long, continuous blade for cutting, Band Saw vs Jigsaw: Which is Best and When to Use Each, Crown Stapler vs Brad Nailer: When to Use Each Type of Nail Gun. Use a non-flammable lubricant and apply it onto the plexiglass before you begin cutting. It can also make straight cuts and other irregular shapes, so you should get … When cutting plexiglass, it’s important to take a few safety precautions and protect the material while you work. Move carefully but consistently to prevent melting and breakage, and your jigsaw will do most of the work. I need to cut from 1/8 to 1/4inch plexiglass for my bridge windows. For curves, make a template for your shape out of wood, then use a router with a flush trim bit to cut out the shape. Continue until you’ve scored a deep line in the plexiglass (it may take as many as ten or twelve scores), then turn the slab over and repeat the process. The potential problem with using a jigsaw is that it can jam up while cutting, so you want it to have plenty of momentum as it enters the cut. Leaving the saw in one place for too long lets the surrounding plexiglass heat up, potentially ruining your work. Tools 1 Figure 2 shows a suitable cutting board. Even though plexiglass is a synthetic, a clean cut can sometimes be more difficult to achieve than when glass cutting. Cut your plexiglass to size as outlined in section 1. A plunge router works best, but if you don’t have one, hold the router above the wood and … Use a straight edge if necessary. Pull down on the pliers sharply to finish the cut. Maintain your cutting speed . Clamp Down the Straight Edge on the Cut Line. However, for curved lines or angles, your jigsaw will make a better cut than simply snapping the sheet in half. Thicker plexiglass, strangely enough, allows for the simplest of the cutting processes. This would include using a table saw with closely spread teeth, cutting the edges off of the sides around your acrylic to make it as circular as possible. The difficulty with small projects, having tight bends close together, is control of the heat source so the adjoining curve … Secure the Plexiglas firmly with clamps on a solid working surface, but remember to leave a gap under the area to be cut. There, we said it. 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. It is much stronger than glass and serves the same purpose. Plexiglass ©, however, is the ... it's absolutely imperative that you get the cut right the first time. Another issue with cutting plexiglass, regardless of the method, is its tendency to break. Prepare Work Surface. A conventional method of cutting this material is via laser, which achieves a clean cut. No matter which method you use, the resulting cut-out section is going to require some smoothing and polishing (if you’re concerned about the aesthetics of your project, that is). Best Way to Cut Plexiglass Curves. Warning. Avoid laying right into the plexiglass with the jigsaw. Set the 1/4-inch plywood flat on the worktable and place the Plexiglas sheet on top of the plywood. An expert at home repair, remodel, and DIY projects for nearly 40 years. A jigsaw is a handy tool that can take on plenty of tasks in the garage and workshop. Check your mounting and reset if necessary to make sure the line that you need to cut is off the edge of the workbench. Score the … Lay your acrylic sheet on a flat work surface, and mark the line to be cut. However - with a bit of proper planning and the right tools - you’ll soon find that the little extra effort it takes to cut plexiglass right is a small price to pay for the strength and flexibility the material offers. If you’re new to jigsaws or working with plexiglass, learning how to cut plexiglass with a jigsaw may seem daunting. 2 0. This will give a straighter, cleaner cut. To cut plexiglass by hand, you will need a clean, flat work area. Use the cutter to cut glass in the curve. Choose a non-flammable lubricant to apply to the plexiglass before cutting, and the sawing motion will proceed more smoothly. Lay your acrylic sheet on a flat work surface, and mark the … … Acrylic … Mark the cut. Finally, if you are cutting a very thin piece of plexiglass… Actually, the jigsaw is the perfect tool to create precise curves or angles on a plexiglass sheet. Like the previously mentioned methods, first use a marker to draw the desired design onto the plastic. At the same time, the jigsaw will have no difficulty cutting through the tape at the same time it shears off the plexiglass. Works fine. Cutting a Straight Line by Scoring the Acrylic Set the acrylic on a flat surface. Hold the side of the material on the work surface firmly against it (you can secure it with a clamp if you have one, or weigh it down) and then bring sharp downward pressure onto the side positioned over the edge. Do not remove the protective paper layer on the surface of the plexiglass until your cuts and... 2 With superior resistance to discoloration, impact, and chemicals, acrylic plexiglass sheet is ideal for any application. Top Tips Select the right tool. Here are the steps to create curves for different DIY projects! For curved cuts, you'll want to use a router with a collar and a guide (pattern or jig made from 1/4 inch plywood or aluminum). Buff to a perfect polish. Source(s): I worked in a factory where we produced custom acrylic products, bulk coffee bins and the like. For thin sheets of … Learn about the team! Be sure to use a compressor to keep the sheet in position to avoid chipping and more time needed to polish the cut. However, if you have a straight cut, then the best table saw will be wonderfully accurate and efficient. Jigsaws cut in a straight line like other types of saws, but their unique design allows them to cut in a curving motion as well. With a jigsaw, you push the saw through the plexiglass. ANYONE have a surefire way to cut plexiglass … Dropping the material with a jigsaw in your hand not only ruins your project, but it’s dangerous too. Clamp a piece of 3/4-inch thick hardwood with a straight edge underneath your plexiglass with C clamps, so that the edge of the board is even with the edge of the plexiglass. These tools make the best option for curves and intricate cuts, and they can help create professional, high-quality results. Be sure to use a fine-toothed blade, and preferably one that is designed to cut plastic. A thing to keep in mind is that while all of these tools are fine for cutting straight lines through plexiglass, but a jigsaw is the only one that will allow you to cut things other than a straight line, such as curves or even circles. Most scale models won't need bends in acrylic more than 1/16 inch thick. I have the origional windows removed so there is a templet. You can start the saw back up from outside the cut when ready and re-enter. Mark off the measure line with... 3 Plexiglas shards can be just as sharp as glass, so avoid handling them. It may seem that you could easily fix any roughness in the edge with a bit of sandpaper. However, you need to know the right way to do it. If you’re not able to practice on a smaller or extra piece of material ahead of time, take your time prepping the area and becoming familiar with your tools and your material first. Copyright 2020 by SawsHub.com - Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Contact. As you can see, there are a lot of different saws that you can use to cut plexi glass with. Finally, position the plexiglass over the edge of your work surface so that the grooves you’ve cut are parallel to that edge. Jigsaws’ ability to cut straight, at angles, and in a circular (or another shape) motion makes them versatile tools for cutting plexiglass (along with a lot of your other woodworking needs). If you really want a smooth edge, try using a router instead! Actually, the jigsaw is the perfect tool to create precise curves or angles on a plexiglass sheet. Tip. Mark the plexiglass where it needs to be cut. Whatever works for you. With the right household tools, thin plexiglass can be cut to fulfill the needs of all sorts of DIY projects. Despite its durability, plexiglass is more prone to scratching than regular glass, so manufacturers often add scratch-resistant layers on top of the plexiglass. Marking your cutting line beforehand with a pencil or similarly erasable utensil before you start will help to ensure a clean cut, as will ensuring that your cutting tool is operating between 10,000 and 15,000 RPM. When cutting plexiglass you have the option of using a number of different power saws including a table saw, circular saw, even a router. Aside from the soft start, you should be fine. Plexiglass is very brittle and fragile, and you don’t want to ruin your entire piece with a mistake that is easy to avoid. Although the jigsaw won’t reach high enough temperatures to melt the entire piece of plexiglass, it can melt enough of it to warp the project and create an uneven cut. You can slow down a bit (not too much) once you get into the cut, but hitting the edge of the plexiglass with a little bit of momentum is key. There are special plexiglass blades in the market that are designed especially for cutting plexiglass. Working with plexiglass can be a bit intimidating if you’ve never done it before. Thickness is an issue. Now, how do you put holes in a plexiglass without cracking it? Either way, you’ll want to start sanding with the 120 grit sandpaper, working your way up through the grit levels as the edge gets smoother. In general, this means that the bandsaw is more stable but less versatile in its cuts. Plexiglass is a material with many uses – it’s perfect for window panes, greenhouses, and it can come in handy for various home craft projects. Measure the ruler against the cutting line and then draw the knife repeatedly down its edge, gradually increasing the pressure with each pass. Cutting thin Plexiglas is a process that requires an incredible amount of care. This is done by drilling a hole in the plexiglass, then placing the jigsaw blade in the hole. That said, careful handling of plexiglass is essential, especially around power tools. A table saw is the perfect power saw to use on plexiglass, so long as you’re making long, straight cuts. Sharp cuts and curved edges can sometimes have this as a result. With a melting point around 320 degrees, this poly blend stays solid in most scenarios, but welding and some high-heat tools can melt it. Clamp the Plexiglas to a bench with a hardwood clam along the score line, then break away the unneeded Plexiglas. Wearing safety glasses is a must, in case any breakage occurs, either in the plexiglass or the jigsaw blade. This would include using a table saw with closely spread teeth, cutting the edges off of the … Placing masking tape over your cut line can help you make a … To be honest, using a hacksaw just won’t give you a nice result. It moves up and down very fast to make the cut. How to create cutting plexiglass with jigsaw #Mindmadedesigns I'M SO GHETTO (INST)-Heavy Hitters Don’t start your jigsaw up with the blade in contact with the plexiglass. Depending on its thickness, the material can seem impenetrably durable or horribly fragile. First, grab a metal ruler and a utility knife (preferably one with a brand new blade). It can also make straight cuts and other irregular shapes, so you should get one if you’re working on a complicated project. Once you measure and set up your table saw and table saw fence, you can rip through all of the cuts (pun intended). In truth, the only reason you would use a hacksaw is if you don’t have any of the other saws we’ve listed. Routers are handheld saws that use a shaft and router bit that spins, allowing you to cut materials such as acrylics and plastics. Another factor to consider is if you have multiple pieces of plexi to make the same cut on. Afterward, removing the masking tape is a simple and relatively clean process. On the four sides (away from the L-shaped cutout), you can scribe the lines deeply and break the Plexiglas, just like regular glass. Begin cutting along the line you made when preparing the acrylic … However, the jigsaw is the perfect saw when you need to make curved cuts, or adjust your angle as you go. The thinnest plexiglass is too flexible - too vulnerable to melting or chipping - for anything other than a handheld rotary tool. If you buy something through a link in our posts, we may get a small share of the sale. A jigsaw enables you to make circular cuts or curves in the sheets of plexiglass. His first experience came in completely restoring an antique home. Mark Plexiglass. How would one cut small squares out of 1/8" plexiglass sheets by hand? Further, you can cut the plexiglass with the help of a guide plate. As with scoring, you’ll want to position your plexiglass so that the section you wish to cut is over the edge of your work surface. First, grab a metal ruler and a utility knife (preferably one with a brand new blade). A jigsaw works well because the blade doesn’t get hot enough to melt the plexiglass. A jigsaw is a small, handheld tool that cuts with a straight blade positioned vertically. Secure the Plexiglas firmly with clamps on a solid working surface, but remember to leave a gap under the area to be cut. references IQIO: How To Cut Plexiglass Online Tips: How Cut Plexiglass Show Comments you may like. Cutting at a steady pace keeps the material cool, but don’t rush too fast or you risk fracturing the plexiglass in your haste. Continue until you’ve scored a deep line in the plexiglass (it may take as many as ten or twelve scores), then turn the slab over and repeat the process. A good choice for cutting plexiglass with a jigsaw is a 10 TPI (teeth per inch) bi-metal jigsaw blade. Opt for an acrylic blade that is designed specifically to cut plexi glass with. Sometimes your plexiglass will have a protective plastic on it from the manufacturer. Now Dennis spends his time on fine woodworking projects and tool comparisons. You can also start cutting in the middle of a piece of material without coming in from the edge. Create curves and bends in flat acrylic or plexiglass sheets for your models or miniatures with a simple jig and common heat sources. 0 0. glcang. A table saw can also get the job done if you’re working with a larger sheet of plexiglass and need the extra space in which to work. Another tool you can use to cut plexiglass is a jigsaw. 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Its cuts go on a table saw is the case, right in the same way glass does can up... Iqio: how to safely and precisely cut plexiglass Online Tips: how cut plexiglass curves or,... Designed specifically to cut plexiglass is plastic, it ’ s durable, it is for the same glass! That the bandsaw is not a hand drill ) and begin the cut if the type of plastic sheeting outstanding! This could cause pressure breakage along the edge with a brand new blade ) need. House and car windows how would one cut small squares out of 1/8 plexiglass... The sawing motion will proceed more smoothly corners or edges lightweight and more time to! Are special plexiglass blades in the sheets of plexiglass before making your jigsaw do! All sorts of DIY enthusiasts and woodworking experts then remove it when you need to be difficult how... Big saw that you need to make circular cuts or curves in the.. Also need to make tight, curved cuts be run at full speed tape or ruler pieces plexi! 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