Don t move too quickly as you ll create a rougher edge but don t go too slowly as you can melt the plastic.
Easy way to cut acrylic sheets.
Lay the plexiglass flat on a work surface.
Easier to cut than glass or wood plexiglass still requires some safety measures before you begin to cut the sturdy sheets.
For thicker sheets of plexiglass cut with a power saw be it a circular saw saber saw or table saw.
Routers can be used to cut acrylic for both curved and straight cuts.
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.
Cutting acrylic by hand is the easiest way to go for a beginner who isn t familiar with power tools.
To cut anything but a straight line opt for a jigsaw no matter which type of saw you.
Start at one edge of the mark you made.
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.
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.
Clamp down the straight edge on the cut line.
Whether you re a diy enthusiast or a professional builder acrylic perspex is becoming one of the preferred options for most of the constructors.
Push the acrylic through the table saw at a steady pace being sure to keep your fingers out of the way of the saw.
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.
A good pair of gloves worn while you are working on shaping an acrylic sheet can keep your fingers from getting nicked or gouged.
Push the acrylic through a table saw for a straight cut.
How to cut acrylic by hand.
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.