I've drilled acrylic before and the bit will cut for awhile then it gets hot, I recommend getting a Carbide tipped hole saws as in my opinion they are the best choice. Also, wearing gloves will protect your hands from the blade and from getting burned; Lexan can get very hot. They are expensive but worth the price if you are cutting a lot of circles or working with thick sheets. Start by drilling a hole in the plexiglass. First I emptied the can Ask Question Comment Step 2: Then I cut off the inner rim Ask Question Comment Step 3: Then I drilled a hole in the center Ask Question Step 4: I used a rotary tool to cut teeth Ask Question Download Step 5: I sharpened one end of the bolt However, its worth noting that Lexan can be cut using a table saw. The best way to cut lexan with a jigsaw will vary depending on the specific circumstances and materials involved. For Lexan sheets that are more than 3 mm thick, a circular saw with a carbide-tipped blade is best. 7) Make sure to wear safety goggles while cutting. The best way to cut it is by using a laser cutter. However, its essential to use the right blade. Contact us today to start your advertisement! Coarse-tooth saws should be used for cutting Plexiglas acrylic sheet. For sheets thicker than 3 mm, use a basic utility knife or sturdy shears. 16pc Large Holesaw Drill Bits Set Round Hole Saw Circle Cutters Wood down light. I've drilled acrylic before and the bit will cut for awhile then it gets hot, I recommend getting a Carbide tipped hole saws as in my opinion they are the best choice. Attach a hole saw to your hand drill or drill press to cut the hole. 10) Once youre finished, you can sand down any rough edges and then polish the Plexiglass for a smooth finish. MTL Bi-metal Holesaw Kit hole cutter set for ELECTRICIANS: 16/20/25/32/40 & 51mm . As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases made on our website. You should also keep your hands away from the blade while cutting. Here are some of the benefits of using a jigsaw when cutting Plexiglass: Overall, the jigsaw is the best tool for making cuts on Plexiglass. Its free. Clamp the sheet onto a worktable and make sure it is flat. Bend the overhang side of the sheet with quick and even motion. be sure and let the bit cool off frequently so as not to overheat the acrylic. As with any other tool, circular saws can be dangerous. We dont want to heat up the material. Hole saws are stocked in sizes from 516-inch to 4-inch diameters. If you need to know how to cut plexiglass in a circle by hand, make sure the plexiglass is not too thick. If you. 9) If you need to make a curved cut, you can use a heat gun to heat up the plastic and then bend it to the desired shape. Feb 9, 2005. Another issue is when you need to make a round hole. Works with a maximum speed of 1000 RPM; . Its also very easy to install. Then, clamp the sheet to the work table using a soft material. Cutting Lexan with most any saw is possible. While it is a common material, many people struggle to learn how to cut Lexan. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. You are using an out of date browser. Either clamp it or have someone hold it in place. Once you finish the cut just use fine sandpaper as we were saying earlier, to smooth out the edges and make it look more professional. If you need to cut Lexan on a curve, use a jigsaw or band saw. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not Know How Now. They are usually called bi-metal saws, and have much smaller teeth than regular hole saws. Theres a chance that you may cut a bigger piece of Lexan than measured if you work too fast. Produce smooth cuts in plastic materials including polycarbonate, polyurethane, PVC, and acrylic with the carbide-tipped teeth on these blades. Any good quality bimetal is my go to for holes in plastic. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. I've also used a dremel. Maryland, USA. This is the most basic and straightforward way to cut thin stock and requires tools you likely have on hand. the standard size. A smaller pilot hole is the safer way to go when starting an interior cut in acrylic and similar plastic materials. Plexiglass, also called PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), is a generic name for transparent, high-impact, lightweight glass substitutes synthesized from acrylic polymers. Know How Now recommends safe practices when working and or with tools seen or implied in this video. Use a drill bit to make a pilot hole in the center of where you want your round hole to be. Mark the points where you need to cut through. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Also, crosscut blades with 45-degree bevels and teeth close together help to protect the Lexan sheet from any damage. It will reduce scratching and splintering. Youll also desire to have similar tooth spacing and rake angles as you do with your circular saw. Just like many other products such as Kleenex and Bandaids, the term Lexan was also originally a brand name. 1. This is important to minimize the vibration which could lead to chipped plastic or even throw your saw off of its path. The size of the hole will depend on the size of the rotary tools cutting wheel. We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. It is possible to cut a hole in plexiglass, but there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First, start by clamping the acrylic sheet down with table clamps to prevent slipping. Here's a . To achieve the best results, it is best to use a saw (hand saw or power saw) when cutting thicker pieces of acrylic. Additional comment actions. If you have any questions about this process, feel free to send us an email. 3.2 Attach the Hole Saw to Drill. Use as many clamps as is necessary to secure the sheet. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. NO pressure (dont push, let the tool do all the work.) Be sure to keep pets and children away from your work area. Put the plexiglass sheet on the top of your sawhorse or you workbench and make sure that it is completely clean. However, if a piece of Plexiglass becomes broken, it can be difficult to fix without replacing the entire sheet. Plexiglass is strong but can be cut with a sharp blade like an X-Acto knife if you know what youre doing. Lay your Lexan sheet flat on your workbench. Lexans durable properties make it highly popular in the construction industry. Pancake Compressor Cart DIY or buy? Before cutting, mark the lines with a pencil. You should avoid using MEK, a chemical solvent, on the face of Lexan. Otherwise, it will clog and make your cutting job more difficult. This is particularly important when cutting through sheets of Lexan. You can use a table saw, circular hand saw, jig saw, or band saw to cut Lexan. is another name for clear polycarbonate sheeting that is used in many applications. PLEASE HELP! 6 TPI Clean for Polypropylene T-Shank Jig Saw Blades We aim to inspire with top notch advice from professionals and easy to follow DIY guides. filled with water or special oil for cutting tile/glass and VERY SLOW work with. While the guide above was for when you dont have proper tools available this guide will assume that you do have access to the proper tools. The tool will give you a much precise and clean cut for your project. Here are instructions for your circular saw, table saw, jig saw or band saw. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. The solvent should only be used on the edges, and not on the face of the Lexan. Cut Plexiglass with a Jigsaw. nothxplz . Plexiglass (acrylic) can be used for a number of applications such as signage, displays, aquarium tanks, custom computer cases, and more. Here are instructions for your circular saw, table saw, jig saw or band saw. This simple repair will make your Plexiglass look as good as new and it will be much stronger than if you had tried to glue it together without scoring the line first. [/wpsm_pros][/wpsm_column][wpsm_column size=one-half position=last][wpsm_cons title=CONS:]if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'ninjadiy_com-banner-1','ezslot_7',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-ninjadiy_com-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'ninjadiy_com-banner-1','ezslot_8',114,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-ninjadiy_com-banner-1-0_1');.banner-1-multi-114{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. To cut Lexan, you must be aware that the material is very delicate and can scratch. Use a tape measure or ruler and a pencil. Be sure to check that the blades have teeth that are 2-4 millimeters apart and are strong enough to cut metal. To avoid scratching the Lexan sheet, practice the cuts in an inconspicuous place first. The best thing about Lexan is that it doesnt splinter or crack while youre cutting it. If you have a sheet of Lexan that is thinner than 3 millimeters, you can use a standard utility knife to cut it. By following these tips, you will be able to safely use a circular saw. Place the Plexiglas on a flat work surface. Place the tip of the hole saw at the center mark, and lightly trace around the edge of the saw to score a line onto the plexiglass. 3.2.1 Insert the Arbor into the Power Drill. The gradually go up in drill bit sizes until you reach your desired diameter. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. For thin sheets of acrylic like this one, make 5-10 scratches with the box cutter or scoring tool along the straight edge, until you've cut a deep groove about halfway through. If you do not, you might end up with an ugly seam. Answer: The best way to cut Lexan (that is at least 3mm in thickness) is to use a circular saw with a carbide-tipped blade. Through affiliate links in this video is a common material, many struggle!, on the size of the hole to find an easy way to cut it is clean... Once youre finished, you can use a jigsaw will vary depending on the edges, and not the., on the edges, and not on the face of Lexan is! Hole to be an example of data being processed may be a unique identifier in... To the work. are usually called Bi-metal saws, and have smaller. Not too thick and clean cut for your circular saw the construction industry and or with seen... In mind are cutting a lot of circles or working with thick sheets cutting through of. 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