Cutting Plexiglass clean
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Fiberglass, Fabrication, and Interiors
Forum Discription: Fiberglass Kick Panels, Subwoofer Enclosures, Plexiglas, Fabrics, Materials, Finishes, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=55593
Printed Date: April 27, 2024 at 10:01 PM
Topic: Cutting Plexiglass clean
Posted By: mediashock
Subject: Cutting Plexiglass clean
Date Posted: May 12, 2005 at 11:17 AM
anyone here has any tricks to cutting plexiglass clean in a irregular shape.. ? I am not talking about cutting it straight.. i use a exacto knife for that and then just snap it.. but i gotta trim around a lot of parts and i used the cut off wheel and its a PAIN in the ass , takes forever and the cut isnt that clean.. i bought some jigsaw baldes the other day with REversed teeth "apperantly" good for plastic but it cracked the plexi on contact. any suggestions would be appriciated.. thanks
Replies:
Posted By: 5150azn
Date Posted: May 12, 2005 at 11:40 AM
Jig saw high speeds and slow, very slow but not so slow that you burn the plastic. And don't put too much pressure on it.
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Posted By: drvnbysound
Date Posted: May 12, 2005 at 12:50 PM
You are obviously talking about cutting thin plexiglas if you can snap it :-) The best way to go about cutting any plexi with tough radius' and angles is to first map out your shape on 1/4" - 1/2" MDF or plywood and cut with a jigsaw. Then attach the plexiglas to the template using some of the 3M double sided foam tape and use a router with a flush trim bit. This will give you an exact copy of the MDF/plywood template.
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Posted By: auex
Date Posted: May 12, 2005 at 5:40 PM
Router.
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Posted By: oonikfraleyoo
Date Posted: May 12, 2005 at 7:24 PM
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Posted By: phatx96xaccord
Date Posted: May 13, 2005 at 10:13 AM
you can try scoring on both sides, using a heat gun, and you should be able to break it cleanly. Also u can use a rotary tool to round off the edges.
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Posted By: mediashock
Date Posted: May 13, 2005 at 11:12 AM
hmm the problem is that its not a flat piece i am trying to cut.. i dunno how to explain it ... i will try some of the above
Posted By: hawkey
Date Posted: May 21, 2005 at 5:27 PM
i'd say a 3" air cut-off tool or a 4" electric crinder, and use 2" wide masking tape [use the blue 3M stuff if you want it to peel off...] and if using a saw start on one end and only cut .5"-1" inches in, then move to the other side & finish the cut coming from the other direction.
Posted By: Alpine Guy
Date Posted: May 21, 2005 at 5:59 PM
if its pretty thin you can cut with a knife to score it exactly where you want the cut on both sides, then pour lighter fluid in the score and light it on fire, bend and it should break nicely.
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Posted By: danieljaluise
Date Posted: May 25, 2005 at 10:37 AM
actually, I tried a jigsaw at high speeds and after i made the cut, the damn glass was melted right back together.
The BEST way to gut plexi glass, at least with a jig saw, is to set it at the lowest speed. High speeds will melt the plastic. Also, you have more control with the saw.
Posted By: KarTuneMan
Date Posted: May 25, 2005 at 5:33 PM
Flame polish it when your done..... use a propane torch...REAL hot, quick strokes along the cut edge.....very nice -------------
Posted By: ugmoe2000
Date Posted: May 25, 2005 at 11:38 PM
I've gotta say go with the rotozip over your template, and then sand /w a medium grit to get the melted plastic off the sides and then go to the edges /w steel wool and finally scrub /w toothpaste. Ends up SMOOTH as SILK.
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