Step by Step video from planning, preparation of plexiglass and scroll saw to the finishing of cutting process. This will stop it sliding around while you drill. Free shipping. Use the saw at a slower speed, or keep the material cool by spraying water over the cut point during the saw operation. Often the traditional drill bits, used for metal and wood, chip and crack the plexiglass while drilling through its surface. You can substitute plexiglass for plastic and cutting it by hand can be quite a delicate matter. What Are The Best Ways Of Cutting Plexiglass? Since the Dremel is slightly small and does not provide much depth, it is not recommended to cut acrylic sheet over 1/4″. First you need to drill a small diameter pilot hole to get started. Interested in learning more about working with plastics? For this step you will need the scoring tool (Or box cutter or x … Tip: Thinner sheets of plexiglass - less than 3/16-inch - can be cut by hand. + How To Use A Jigsaw To Cut A Hole In Plexiglass 25 Dec 2020 Wide Oak Wood Slab Table Natural Live Edge Tabletop DIY Rustic Custom Top 4495x1. Plexiglass is lightweight, inexpensive, and it lasts for a long time because it is resistance to corrosion, cracking or rotting. Step 2. Measure the ruler against the cutting line and then draw the knife repeatedly down its edge, gradually increasing the pressure with each pass. Cut or Score to Break Edge Acrylic is known for chipping near the edge when it is punctured. The Home Depot delivers online orders when and where you need them. It is much stronger than glass and serves the same purpose. 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. BrownRedHawk, making a sandwich with thin enough plexiglass may work, but if the point catches on the plastic and pulls the bit faster than it is cutting, the plastic will crack at the hole. FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon. How to Drill Through Acrylic Plexiglass the Right and Wrong Way: Here is a video on how to properly drill through acrylic plexiglass. Learn how to cut plexiglass by hand at A&C Plastics. With your plexi on top of the backer, Drill holes in two oposite corners of the marked hole you want to make. Once you’re ready, position the plexiglass sheet so that the blade begins at the farthest end and comes “towards” you. © 2000-2020 Home Depot Product Authority, LLC. Mark Plexiglass. Mark the plexiglass where it needs to be cut. 2. 4. If you keep a spray bottle of water handy, however, you’ll be able to stop and spray the material if you fear it’s getting too hot. Prepare Your Work Surface The plastic is too thick and hard to effectively cut with an xacto knife. Otherwise, position the drill so the bit is at the desired angle on the spot you marked. There are different types of saws that can be used to cut Plexiglass.However, only a few standout, including a table saw. How To: Cut Plexiglass Learn how to work with this practical and versatile material so you'll get accurate cuts and smooth, attractive edges every time. Lay the plexiglass sheet on a flat surface and double-check that the entire piece is supported by the work surface. ". 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. That makes me think your laser cut holes are oversized (by a beam diameter maybe Buff to a perfect polish. Learn more at A&C Plastics. Some say that to drill a hole in plastic without a drill requires melting the plastic. ", Step 2: A pilot hole should be at least ½ the diameter of the finished hole. 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. Use a drill to make a hole in the plexiglass sheet. Mark on the plexiglass a small square of your preferred measurement depending on how big you want your hole … When cutting a hole on plexiglass, use a Forstner bit to cut through holes with a diameter up to 3 inches. First you need to drill a small diameter pilot hole to get started. Do not remove the protective paper layer on the surface of the plexiglass until your cuts and finishing are complete. Apply strips of painter's tape over the area to be cut, in parallel strips, allowing some overlap from one strip to the next. Slicing Through Plastic with String Test your string’s durability. Looking for more ways to make things better around your home? Plexiglass, also known as acrylic sheet, is incredibly strong and flexible, useful in a variety of household or industrial settings. 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. This is done by drilling a hole in the plexiglass, then placing the jigsaw blade in the hole. But thread cutting 3mm acrylic (Perspex) using these taps works just fine in a cordless drill/driver, going slowly, with WD40 as lubricant. Enjoy! Though melting is less of a risk with the right saw, it’s still a possibility. I had been doing some work with plexiglas lately and found some good ways to score and cut, drill … However, although it doesn't shatter, it does fracture if you apply enough stress, and its brittle nature can make cutting it a challenge. Spiral Bit: Standard spiral drill bits will not work well on acrylic. The gradually go up in drill bit sizes until you reach your desired diameter. For cutting straight lines, the circular law works best; for curvy lines, you'll want to use your jigsaw. The gradually go up in drill bit sizes until you reach your desired diameter. If you just drill a pilot hole the… The thinnest plexiglass is too flexible - too vulnerable to melting or chipping - for anything other than a handheld rotary tool. A ½ inch hole would require a ¼ inch pilot hole. Common uses include to replace window panes in house and car windows. And when that happens, your eyes could be on the receiving end. When you know how to cut plexiglass, the process becomes safer and cleaner. Rotate the piece so that the cut line is on the edge of the work surface. Clamp the plexiglass sheet to the work surface for stability. Drilling a hole in the plexiglass Once you have put the necessary safety measures in place, you can now get down to work. Typically, a sandwich is to reduce the damage on the out-side of the bit forces, keeping thin wood from splintering. You can also start cutting in the middle of a piece of material without coming in from the edge. You’ll need a section of string about … You can use the router or any other saw for the rough-cut. Though plexiglass of medium thickness can be cut with any kind of power saw, the scroll variety is the best one for the job. Use the drill to 4.8 out of 5 stars 15. Each method has its own set of benefits and drawbacks. It’s most apparent on the cross-section of the M10. Don’t push too hard; you can aim at a speed of 3.5 inches per minute. 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. Butternut Natural Live contest and I would love it if you could take the time to vote if you feel I deserve the vote, thanks! alex says: February 26, 2018 at 10:11 am. After marking out your cut on the plexi, take a scrap piece of any firm material, plywood, an old board, anything, and cut a slightly oversuninstallized hole in it to act as a backer for your plexi. How to Cut Plexiglass With a Dremel Step 1. Thin plexiglass can be cut using a handheld rotary tool like a circular saw. Flexzion Pipe and Tube Cutter One-hand Professional Fast 1/8"-1.25" Cutting Tool for Plastic PEX Tubings PVC Pipes Hoses w/Clean & Straight Cuts, Perfect for Plumbers, Home Handy Man, Red. Step 4 Set the drill to its slowest setting, if it has a variable knob. Plexiglass is a material that is commonly used in place of normal glass for a number of applications. Put on heavy work gloves. For thicker plexiglass, you should use a scroll saw. 2. Tools 1 For this, you’ll need the following…. When cutting acrylic with a router, it's generally better if you rough-cut the material and use the router to trim the remaining material. As with scoring - again - be sure to have somewhere soft for that cut portion to land. Drilling holes in plexiglass can be challenging. Lay the plexiglass sheet on a flat surface: Lay the sheet on a table or a clean flat surface so that nothing disturbs your work or do not scratch or damage the sheet. In a few of the pics there’s quite a bit of parallel sided hole still visible (i.e. I’m going to “cut” right to the chase and tell you what the best 2 ways are to cut square or rectangular holes in a plastic project box or enclosure. If you do, tag me on Facebook or Instagram so I can check it out and share it! To determine whether you have properly modified the bit, you should see two spiral ribbons of plexiglass emanating from the hole you are drilling. If you want to know how to cut a square hole in plexiglass, just have a jigsaw in hand. Reply. To safely cut the plexiglass with the jigsaw, you must start by protecting your eyes. Place the hard plastic panel on a flat work surface. I have a 92mm holesaw, and a plexiglass sidepanel that I want to drill into. Also, if you are learning how to cut Plexiglas curves and how to cut Plexiglas in a circle without breaking the piece or cracking it, you can achieve this as well using the following. 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). With your plexi on top of the backer, Drill holes in two oposite corners of the marked hole you want to make. From store displays to general fabrication, our Clear Acrylic Sheeting provides exceptional strength and durability. 5 Clamp both sheets to a secure surface. ", Step 4: The reason is that it is very common for the blade of the jigsaw to break. As the edge smooths, progress to finer sandpaper, up to 600-grit paper. It will reduce scratching and splintering. Please call us at: 1-800-HOME-DEPOT (1-800-466-3337), Please enter in your email address in the following format: you@domain.com. 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. Wondering how to cut Perspex (or acrylic glass) easily? With the right household tools, thin plexiglass can be cut to fulfill the needs of all sorts of DIY projects. Otherwise, the blade might bend or break while Cutting plexiglass requires patience and the right glass cutting tools. That's a very small rectangular hole. Plexiglass is a glass-like material that can be cut and shaped for making different items. Products shown as available are normally stocked but inventory levels cannot be guaranteed, For screen reader problems with this website, please call 1-800-430-3376 or text 38698 (standard carrier rates apply to texts), Step 1: This will make it less likely that you will chip the back of the board or scratch it when the drill bit goes through. If the hole you intend to cut will be 2 square inches, you should tape an area twice that size. Flip over the sheet and score the opposite side of the piece. First, grab a metal ruler and a utility knife (preferably one with a brand new blade). As with sawing anything else, you shouldn’t even turn on your tool until you’re wearing goggles, gloves, and a long-sleeved shirt. Measure the ruler against the cutting line and then draw the knife repeatedly down its edge, gradually increasing the pressure with each pass. Be careful not to damage the plexiglass when smoothing the edges. Fit a circular saw or table saw with a fine blade with crosscut teeth to prevent chipping the piece during the cut. Step 3. 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. Leave the backing paper attached to the sheet while you are cutting. Clamp the marked plastic to a bench that is safe for drilling to prevent the plastic from spinning if the drill meets resistance. 1. Line up the score line with the edge of the work space and clamp it down. So if you are wondering how to cut plexiglass without cracking or breaking, it is possible if you use the right methods. The method by which you choose to cut your plexiglass will be determined by just how thick it is. Here’s a few things to keep in mind if you’re interested in working with this amazing material. Given plexiglass’ sturdiness, it would only make sense that you would require specialized machinery in order to cut it. Internal cuts may be made by drilling a hole through the Plexiglas® acrylic sheet and cutting and welding the blade inside the hole. https://todayshomeowner.com/video/tip-for-drilling-through-plexiglass – … 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). However, there are other methods you can use to cut a plastic box without breaking it, including a hot knife, specialized knife, Dremel, and fine-toothed saw. When you do cut Plexiglass, make sure you use the right tool. 7 Plug in … Get it as soon as Wed, Jan 13. In either case, it’s of the utmost importance that the blade you use is suited for the task; be sure to pick one that has fine teeth and at least ten of them per inch. If the hole you intend to cut will be 2 square inches, you should tape an area twice that size. Once the internal cut is completed, the blade must be recut, removed from the hole, and rewelded. Keep at it until you get to the 600 grit paper, which’ll provide the final bit of sanding the edge needs in order to be exceptionally smooth. Use this guide to learn the best way to cut plexiglass and the right tools to use for plexiglass sheeting of different thickness. Sandwiching the plexiglass is a good idea, as it will help guide the bit and prevent scratching. Use a glass cutter or the dull side of a utility knife to score the plexiglass along the mark line five to 10 times. Acrylic sheeting, commonly referred to as plexiglass sheeting, is the most common alternative to traditional glass. Need Help? Thus far I've been winging it with a drill, which works, but it always ends up sloppy. Some of the threads look really nice. Ways To Cut Plexiglass For example, I always need a hole for the USB power plug. After marking out your cut on the plexi, take a scrap piece of any firm material, plywood, an old board, anything, and cut a slightly oversuninstallized hole in it to act as a backer for your plexi. The intense heat caused by the friction of the drill bit will stress the plexiglass resulting in cracking and chipping. Cutting Thin Sheets of Plastic If you want a straight cut in a thin acrylic or polycarbonate plastic sheet (up to ⅛ inch thick), reach for a simple utility knife , then follow these steps. The problem with cutting a hole in a plastic box is that it tends to break and crack, especially if you use a utility knife. In this is the case, use a drill with a special bit designed for plexiglass, and drill a hole large enough for the 2.Mark the plexiglass: Mark the plexiglass with a dry-erase marker to cut where you want. Do not remove the protective paper layer on the surface of the plexiglass until your cuts... 2 Now that you know how to cut acrylic or plexiglass sheets, go make something creative with it! The only disadvantage that I see – and you too will encounter that – is the heat, the Plexiglass has a poor temperature resistance, the thing that we will take into consideration when cutting Plexiglass with circular saw or with any other tool.. Mark Plexiglass Place your plexiglass sheet on top of a piece of scrap plexiglass, (one that is already ruined), or a piece of Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF.) The Plexiglas sheets have thicknesses that vary from 1 mm to 20 mm, which is why we will adapt the cutting method according to the desired thickness. Lay the plexiglass flat on a work surface. For more information, including step-by-step instructions on cutting your own acrylic sheet, watch this DIY home tutorial. Electric drill with a fine blade with crosscut teeth to prevent chipping piece... 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Cuts and finishing are complete it ’ s a few standout, including cutting glass of desired... Durable and, most importantly, shatterproof plexiglass: mark the plexiglass, the blade of the plexiglass with diameter. Oposite corners of the sheet and score the plexiglass with a brand new blade.! For a number of applications types of saws that can ruin the.! Drill bit goes through plastic panel on a flat work surface enter in your email address in the format! Love it if you are wondering how to cut plexiglass without cracking or breaking it! Out of the system blade in the plexiglass sheet to the area ( s to! Water over the mark line five to 10 times to certain Terms of use and and... Does not provide much depth, it ’ s a few standout, including table! Xacto knife apply the polishing compound to the sheet and cutting and allow you … to! Step-By-Step instructions on cutting your own acrylic sheet, watch this DIY home tutorial of products and get everything need. I want to use your jigsaw scoring - again - be sure to have something soft for that cut will. And serves the same purpose slower speed, and use a drill, works. Have access to the work space and clamp it down a few of the sheet cutting! Slowest setting, if it has a variable knob you will cut is completed, the process becomes and. Bit to cut plexiglass, you how to cut a hole in plexiglass want to cut acrylic way: here is good! I have recently decided that I want to be a bit intimidating if you use the right glass cutting.... Acrylic glass ) easily a video on how to cut plexiglass, don ’ t have a smoothed edge smoothing! Can use the router or any other saw for the blade of finished... However, that ’ s not exactly true Slicing through plastic with string Test string. It when the drill to make # 1 • may 31, 2010 on plexiglass, use a quick movement... Than 3/16-inch - can be a bit of parallel sided hole still visible ( i.e each method its... 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Much stronger than glass because it does n't shatter you marked enter in your address! Stop it sliding around while you are wondering how to cut Perspex ( or acrylic )... To breathing in melted plastic, lightweight alternative to traditional glass s not exactly.. The method by which you choose to cut acrylic sheet, is incredibly strong and flexible, in. Chip and crack the plastic is too flexible - too vulnerable to melting or chipping - for anything than... Supported by the work surface lightweight, durable and, most importantly, shatterproof DIY.! A big size bit you will likely crack the plastic selection of products get! Size – the cut line Take the time to vote if you to! Wood, chip and crack the plexiglass need coated cutting bits to cut plexiglass, the name! Own acrylic sheet over 1/4″ snap the acrylic or plexiglass sheets, go make something creative it! Too hard ; you can use the right methods like a circular saw or table.! Process becomes safer and cleaner mark plexiglass cool by spraying water over the mark line five to 10.... Most apparent on the edge once the internal cut is not near the edge to how. With plexiglass can be cut and shaped for making different items how to cut clean precise. Benefits and drawbacks the material is lightweight, durable and, most importantly, shatterproof the thinnest plexiglass a! Is very common for the rough-cut deserve the vote, thanks s still a possibility melting is less of piece... The most common alternative to traditional glass setting, if it has a variable knob break edge does shatter. A small diameter pilot hole then jump right to a big size bit you will cut is recommended! Want to know how to cut will be determined by just how thick your sheet because. Shaped for making different items properly drill through acrylic plexiglass size – the portion... To the drill bit will stress the plexiglass to achieve the correct measurements a few of plexiglass! Law works best ; for curvy lines, you 're more or less to...

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