Whats the best way to cut acrylic? I have tried a dremels and hacksaws and jigsaws and box cutters, but it never comes out right.
what do you mean by "right"? i think generally just go slow to avoid burning it, and then run a flame over the edges to get them clear again.
when i cut it with a dremel it stinks really badly. When i use a hacksaw it cracks the edges. When I go over a line 1000 times with a box cutter then try to snap it (score and snap) it just wont work at all (just kinda breaks in the wrong spot) Ill try the flame thing
ok, it sounds like maybe you have the dremel speed to high and its melting (burning) the plastic. and if i wasnt clear, the flame technique is to _get_ cut edges clear again, not to cut them
1. jigsaw with a fine tooth blade (GO SLOW) 2. go over it about 10 times with a razor blade pushing down hard and make sure the blade is sharp, dont cut yourslef! clamp it down real tight with some clamps with you line you cut right on the edge of a table,workbench or whatever you have and then in a very fast motion push the plastic down and it sould give you i nice break 3. dremel cut off wheels, cover the area you want to cut with masking tape and go slow and then sand it nice with a plastic file those are the three main things i do to cut plexi, acrylic, etc. and the all work like a charm for me
I cut all my acrylic with a hack-saw. Very accurate cuts. http://server5.uploadit.org/files/jeffrey9-mm02.jpg http://server5.uploadit.org/files/jeffrey9-running7.jpg http://server5.uploadit.org/files/jeffrey9-light_magic.jpg
There are many ways to cut acrylic, but I find a hacksaw (fine-toothed) to be very effective for smaller, straight cuts. Also, try this for more good info on working with acrylic.
yep use a hacksaw as well but put that cheap masking tape on the acrylic then draw the lines on it . ? dont know if it helps prevent splits as I havnt had any
I use a X-acto knife , pointed blade ... the trick to scoring the plastic is to use the knife with the blade backwards and hold it allmost vertical to the surface , like this .... \l -> pulled this way , you will get long curls of plastic coming off the blade and If you do it like this it won't try to cut it's own path , insted of following a scratch mark you made . I try to go at least 1/2 way through for straight cuts and all the way through (allmost) for very curved ones . Make shure you support the piece just behind the score when you go to break it. DB
I use the attachment for the dremel that makes it like a Roto-Zip and cut about 1/4 of a inch away from the line I want to cut. Then I take a metal ruler and clamp it down to the line. Then I take a a drum sander for the dremel and sand to the line. Then I take fine sandpaper and then take cardboard to buff the edges smooth. Sounds crazy I know but it works.
