We recommend scraping off any loose elements left over from cutting and then sanding/filing the edge down to make it as smooth as possible. When cutting plastic in particular, due to its brittle nature after cutting you may need to finish off the edges. Curved edges are better suited to using a band saw. Using a jigsaw is popular because of the ability and ease with which to cut around corners. Circular saws are also good for cutting thicker sheets as well and should give an efficient and safe result. Trying to use a handsaw or even a knife could be dangerous on a thicker plastic sheet and most likely end up damaging or snapping the plastic incorrectly - in fact it could also cause issues with the edging and would require a lot more in terms of polishing and sanding the edges. This should give a perfect cut.įor thicker sheets of acrylic you should use a power saw or Jigsaw for stability and safety. You should then snap the plastic sheet with the edge of the surface underneath the scoring mark exactly.
Score the plastic a few times back and forth and then make the cut. If the plastic is fairly thin (4mm or thinner) then this should be enough to outline where you want to cut. Use a pocket knife or Stanley knife with a very sharp edge and score firmly down your sheet using a ruler or straight edge. With most cuttings, you are better off scoring the plastic first to give you a guide line to work with when cutting. Ensure your sheet is stable and secure before cutting. Setup is crucial, as with any cutting you perform, you will always need a stable surface and plenty of space around you so as to avoid injuries or damage. Of course how and what you cut your plastic with will depend on your required shape and the thickness of the acrylic itself. Many tradesmen will use power saws or machine-enabled equipment which gives them a accurate cut however, there is no reason why you can’t cut acrylic sheets at home, with some preparation and care. We offer bespoke cutting but should you wish to cut your sheets yourself, you should be aware of cracking, which can occur if you use any strong, machine operated tools which can cut too quickly and firmly for the plastic, causing cracks or the plastic to completely snapĮxamples of projects where you may need to cut to size include: Whether you use a hand saw or a high powered cutting machine, it is a flexible material when it comes to shaping what you need.ĭifferent projects will have different requirements and a lot of the time you will need specific measurements and cuttings available to match. Strength, clarity and its shatterproof nature are all core benefits of using acrylic sheets in your building project and one of the key aspects which make it one of the best materials to work with on home projects or construction builds, is that it can be cut using standard workshop gear. However, supply of plastic sheets generally come in rectangle or large sheet form and therefore relies on bespoke cutting in order to use it for specific applications. This makes it suited to a wide range of applications. Tablesaw.well, that's what the pros use, right? I'd still get a router first though.Acrylic sheet plastic as we know is incredibly durable and weather resistant compared with glass and other plastics. If you have a nice straight worktable edge, you can use a a jigsaw to cut a waggly but mostly straight line, then use a 3/8" trim bit (with a bearing) and make a nice smooth edge out of it. Amazing, cuts through acrylic like butter. That's it for "cheap solutions" outside of getting your local plastic place to cut it for you.Ī router. GREAT for overflow teeth or attempting to straighten out your waggly jig saw cut. You can't really cut thin lines with the dremel BUT you can get the 1/4" dremel "router" bit which cuts acrylic like a dream. Work pretty good, but as mentioned before, you better clamp down your work and have a good straight edge. Scoring.NOT a box cutter, this blade is a little different, more flat than sharp. If you then go and buy plastic SPECIFIC saw blades, they cut VERY well.straightness is a function of how steady you are.but you'll never get a perfectly straight cut with a jigsaw. Got a hand held jig/sabre saw? They cost about $40.