????Cutting Plexi
- Thread starter rykna
- Start date
rabid frog
Active Member
Use a thin blade with as many teeth as you can get. I also cut my acrylic with a jig saw.
phixer
Active Member
The best way to cut acrylic IMO is with a water jet cutter. The most common method of cutting acrylic is with a table saw or circular saw equiped with an acrylic specialty blade. These blades are expensive but they are specifficly designed to cut acrylic and often use a 0 degree rake angle to minimize chipping. They can produce very smooth edges if you use them right. If you dont have access to either, a metal blade in a bandsaw or a plywood blade in a table saw can produce mediocre results if you keep the feed rate smooth enough to avoid melting the plastic. After it's cut finish it to size with a router. The router will produce the smooth edge you will need for cementing. Use a 2 or 3 flute straight bit.
To get the straightest cut make sure your table saw blade is parallel and true to your fence, and that your blade rotates straight without any lateral (side to side) movement. OK for making birdhouses but not fish tanks. When hand routing I clamp a metal straight edge onto the acrylic and use it to guide the router.
To get the straightest cut make sure your table saw blade is parallel and true to your fence, and that your blade rotates straight without any lateral (side to side) movement. OK for making birdhouses but not fish tanks. When hand routing I clamp a metal straight edge onto the acrylic and use it to guide the router.
rykna
Active Member
Originally Posted by Phixer
The best way to cut acrylic IMO is with a water jet cutter. The most common method of cutting acrylic is with a table saw or circular saw equiped with an acrylic specialty blade. These blades are expensive but they are specifficly designed to cut acrylic and often use a 0 degree rake angle to minimize chipping. They can produce very smooth edges if you use them right. If you dont have access to either, a metal blade in a bandsaw or a plywood blade in a table saw can produce mediocre results if you keep the feed rate smooth enough to avoid melting the plastic. After it's cut finish it to size with a router and edge guide. The router will produce the smooth edge you will need for cementing. Use a 2 or 3 flute straight bit.
My think Dad might have that specialty Blade.....trick is borrowing it!!
Thanks for the input
I think this is the way to go: water jet cutter. The most common method of cutting acrylic is with a table saw or circular saw equiped with an acrylic specialty blade.
I hope my Dad has one, cause I'll need to be precise to custom make aquariums. :happyfish
phixer
Active Member
If your Dad has one, your in there. These blades arent cheap. If your considering building more tanks in the future out of acrylic you might want to invest in one. I think I saw one for under 200 bucks awhile back.
We have a large water jet cutter (55,000 psi) and CNC router at work I use to prep anything over an inch thick. Problem is it takes more time setting up this equipment then it does to make the cuts.
We have a large water jet cutter (55,000 psi) and CNC router at work I use to prep anything over an inch thick. Problem is it takes more time setting up this equipment then it does to make the cuts.
rykna
Active Member
Originally Posted by Phixer
If your Dad has one, your in there. These blades arent cheap. If your considering building more tanks in the future out of acrylic you might want to invest in one. I think I saw one for under 200 bucks awhile back.
We have a large water jet cutter (55,000 psi) and CNC router at work I use to prep anything over an inch thick. Problem is it takes more time setting up this equipment then it does to make the cuts.
:happyfish
If your Dad has one, your in there. These blades arent cheap. If your considering building more tanks in the future out of acrylic you might want to invest in one. I think I saw one for under 200 bucks awhile back.
We have a large water jet cutter (55,000 psi) and CNC router at work I use to prep anything over an inch thick. Problem is it takes more time setting up this equipment then it does to make the cuts.
mpls man
Active Member
when using a table saw you don't need a special blade...
i've cut plexiglass many times with a carbi tip blade and never had a problem with my table saw, i have a dewalt multi purpose blade, if you want you can use some clear tape and tape over the line you want to cut to keep it from chipping.
i've cut plexiglass many times with a carbi tip blade and never had a problem with my table saw, i have a dewalt multi purpose blade, if you want you can use some clear tape and tape over the line you want to cut to keep it from chipping.
