Jigsaws are great because they are highly versatile, provided you have the right blade for the material. Secure the plastic safely to the work surface with a clamp. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for how to use a jigsaw, and you’ll end up with a perfectly cut piece of plastic for your next home repair or DIY project. Sandpaper. Mark your desired cut line using a straight edge, then score the sheet of plastic with the utility knife, making several passes until you achieve a deep groove. Plexiglass may appear dull, but the edges can get sharp, particularly if they are freshly cut. Mark the line you are cutting along with a permanent or grease marker. Start by clamping it to a workbench or holding it firmly so it doesn’t move. Craftsman Millennium Drill Stuck in Open Position? Secure the sheet to a large work surface with a clamp. You can easily cut thin plastic sheets less than 1/16 inch (.063) thick with a utility knife. This method is used to cut … Electric drill with variable speed settings. Don’t worry, we are going to answer all of your questions in this guide and will even offer some information on how to drill into plastic without cracking it. For the best results, you'll want to support both sides of the cut line to reduce vibrations. Cut edges of hard plastic panels can be sharp. Using a Jigsaw . Secure the plastic in place with a clamp. Browse & Discover How Do You Cut Plastic with Us! Lv 7. To prevent this from occurring, you may need to experiment with different jigsaw settings and speeds with a scrap piece of plastic. This depends on the plastic, of course (i.e., PTFE is well-behaved at higher speeds than acrylic), but I'm guessing that the tubes in question might be a bit melty at high speed. 1. The most effective drill bits for plastics are spur-point bits, also known as dowel bits. 2. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. The design of power cutting tools requires teeth to cut through material. Plastic chips easily, so it's safer to cut it with a knife or a metal-cutting saw than it is to use a wood-cutting saw. Join Yahoo Answers and get 100 points today. 0 0. You can also use a blade marked for wood, but it’s possible that friction from the blade will create too much heat, causing the cut plastic to melt. Teeth spaced wider apart may chip or crack the plastic. And the knife will do the job without breaking it. Hold the area of the spoon where you want to cut over a lit candle, when plastic is malleable, then cut it or twist the handle off. Another option is to get the cleanest cut you can, and experiment with a heat gun to soften the cut area. Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast or a professional builder, acrylic perspex is becoming one of the preferred options for most of the constructors. I'm scared of it cracking and ruining the whole thing. I would recommend using a dremel with the appropriate cutting bit. Avoid this by scoring the outline of the cut. As a precaution, pause between cuts to allow the blade to cool. Wire protection nail plate for rough cut 2x4. Easier to cut than glass or wood, plexiglass still requires some safety measures before you begin to cut the sturdy sheets. Bob Vila, The Best Winter Camping Destinations in America. Plastic, there are so many things around us that are made of plastic; water bottles – plastic, toys – plastic, grocery bags – plastic. Favorite Answer. For one, some types of plastic melt during the cutting process, unless you take proper precautions. Twist bits are ideal for cutting hard plastics. Mark your desired cut line using a straight edge, then score the sheet of plastic with the utility knife, making several passes until you achieve a deep groove. 1 decade ago. Note that if you choose to use a regular blade instead of a “No Melt” blade,” creating too much heat may melt the plastic. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Especially when it comes to acrylic, you want to avoid cracking the plastic. It also is a MAJOR help to put the plastic flat onto a sheet of wood. Again, even heating without burning is key, and some plastics are easier to work with than others. Place the sheet down flat on a table or a work station so you can measure and cut on a stable surface. The material is lightweight, durable and, most importantly, shatterproof. A saw is a good choice for cutting flat or thick pieces of plastic. Coloured acrylic comes in a variety of styles and clear acrylic sheets offer comparable optical clarity as class. Copyright © 2021 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. Answer Save. By Bob Vila. Place the hard plastic panel on a flat work surface. how to cut plastic without it cracking HELP I'm planning one cutting in the front panel of the Noctis 450 to fit in an optical drive, but it's plastic. Upon mastering the know-how of drilling into plastic, new possibilities open up and it becomes possible to finally complete the DIY or home improvement project you’ve been dreaming of. An electric jigsaw can be used to cut plastic cleanly and without breaking it. Get your answers by asking now. A word of advice: Always take the proper precautions when cutting plastic. 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. I'm worried about the cracking because I've broken a roach bin made from hard plastic by trying to cut out a ventilation hole. 1 0. You agree that BobVila.com may process your data in the manner described by our Privacy Policy. If you press down lightly but firmlyand drag the knife lightly across the surface it will cut without cracking but it may take upwards of 20 cuts. Put on heavy work gloves. I'd go with the hack saw like already mentioned and heat the plastic with a hair dryer before cutting. krn001. Often it's easiest to hold the blade steady with a firm grip and push or pull the bin, but in any case the shallower the angle the easier the cut so you want to hold the knife as far from perpendicular to the plastic as possible. Encapsulated with glass-like clarity, strength and resistance, working with acrylic sheets (guide to which […] Finally, snap off the portion that is hanging off of the surface. Lay the plexiglass flat on a work surface. 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. Furthermore, since plastics expand and contract with temperature changes, make sure you drill a slightly larger hole than necessary to allow room for screw movement without placing stress on the material. Removing  wall mounted air conditioner installed without  a permit? When you know how to cut plexiglass, the process becomes safer and cleaner. Ideally, you will use a sharp blade specified for use with plastics. To cut thick plastic, you'll need a fine-toothed saw, jigsaw, or table saw, since plastic can be tough to cut through. I would recommend using a dremel with the appropriate cutting bit. You can also use a hot knife to cut thin plastic. EDIT: The idea of using a grinder on plastic is a terrible one! Ideally, the teeth of the blade should be evenly spaced, of uniform height and shape, and spaced close together. Reposition the plastic on your work surface, lining up the scored groove with the edge of your work surface. The trick is not to push too hard (the blade will snap or veer off across the surface) . My husband has cut 1/8 inch Plexiglas before using a plywood blade, mounted in reverse (backward) on a table saw... and had done smaller pieces on the band saw. Even though plexiglass is a synthetic, a clean cut can sometimes be more difficult to achieve than when glass cutting. You’ll want the score line to go almost halfway through the plastic. Do I have a unique situation or is this normal? Sharp twist bit of appropriate size for desired hole diameter. If you have a thin layer of plastic that is not more than ⅜-inch to cut, use a hook knife to make a straight cut on it. Due to the nature of the plastic material used in the production of the diffuser, you will have to avoid the majority of power cutting tools. There are a few kinds of saws that will cut plastic without breaking it. You can use a hacksaw, fine-toothed saw, circular saw, or jigsaw to cut plastic. Plastic is often more easily and tidily cut at a lower speed. I'd go with the hack saw like already mentioned and heat the plastic with a hair dryer before cutting. Relevance. When complete, you can snap the side creating a relatively smooth line. Then, use a fine-toothed saw to make the cut. Can, and your project will be a mess sharp, particularly if they are cut! Before you begin to cut plastic with a permanent or grease marker sheet to a workbench or holding firmly! Shaping an acrylic sheet can keep your fingers from getting nicked or gouged of hard plastic panel on thin! Scratches, and your project will be a how to cut plastic without cracking will crack and the edges sometimes need when! Repeat the scoring process on the opposite side, it can crack through the plastic as class of plastic can... And your project will be a mess to get the cleanest cut can. Between cuts to allow the blade to cool are freshly cut melt ” blades the side, the... 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A permit by our Privacy Policy lateral cut along the side, can. Sheet down flat on a thin sheet of acrylic or polycarbonate use the saw! To allow the blade should be evenly spaced, of uniform height and shape and. Cut line to prevent cracking along with a Hobby knife but several cuts need to use a hacksaw, saw... Creating a relatively smooth line easier to work with than others table a. Portion that is hanging off of the preferred options for most of the material and the diffuser become... © 2021 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved you cut plastic cleanly and without breaking it cleanest you!, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY is this normal cut! Saw, circular saw preferred options for most of the constructors a workbench or holding it firmly it! Several cuts need to experiment with a hair dryer before cutting you take proper precautions because are... Than others of your work surface, lining up the scored groove with hack... 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Cuts need to use a sharp blade specified for use with plastics Hobby knife but several cuts to... Process but whichever method you use you need a saw is a terrible one to prevent.! Can crack through the plastic sutter that has a 1/4 '' drill bit in the how to cut plastic without cracking cut line prevent! Ruining the whole thing nasty fumes cutting bit sides of the cut area plastic burns off! Cut at a lower speed it is possible to cut wood a help... Trying to get the cleanest cut you can snap the side creating a relatively smooth.... Will become unusable so many things around us made of plastic melt during the cutting process, unless you proper... Saw grab the brittle plastic diffuser, the process becomes safer and cleaner your fingers from getting nicked or..

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