Cutting Acrylic to size?

Jim in Ma.

Well-known Member
I have a sheet of clear 1/4" acrylic I need to cut to size for some side windows in a cab. All straight cuts. What tool would be best for that? - Thanks Jim
 

I had to cut a piece a year ago and after a few tries with lots of cracking with various means I ended up using my grinder.
 
I've used a table saw with a carbide blade. Keep the blade as low as possible and still cut thru the plexi-glass, keep the piece tight to the table.Use you personal protective gear. gobble
 
I would highly recommend using a Lexan or other non-shattering polycarbonate sheet. Acrylic will splinter and crack very easily. Dont ask me how I know this.
 
they sell a laminate blade to cut formica works great on the other plastic like sheets i have ine on my table saw great for plywood too
 
table saw will work, it'll work best with a blade that lists plastics on the intended materials list.

But if you've got rounded corners, or anything other than a straight simple line - a sabre saw is probably your best bet.

Obviously leave the protective coating on until you're done cutting.
 
It's fairly easy to cut with a Metabo and razor blade for cutting sheet metal and other thin materials. Essentially a 4" angle grinder with super thin blade....ergo "razor" blade. It'll kinda melt and curl up some of the off fall, but peel that off with a gloved finger then dress it down on a belt sander. It will work very easily.

It's easy to form also if you carefully heat with a heat gun. Too much heat and it'll bubble and distort a bit. You're lucky...all straight and flat.
 
I agree with JRSutton I have cut up hundreds of 4'x8'x 1/4" sheets for machine guards using a table saw.Now with new management we send it all out to be water jetted I don't see how it can be cheeper but who am I.I could it if was odd shapes but it's all square or rectangle and occasionaly triangle.
 
First you say it is acrylic and then you say it is Lexan. Lexan is a GE trademark (now SABIC Innovative Plastics) for polycarbonate.
Polycarbonate is much tougher and priced much higher.
Do not clean these materials with ammonia- which is in most glass cleaners.
 

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