I've got a project I'm working on, and it calls for a few plexi squares the same size, with beveled edges. I haven't found my 3d software since I formatted, so I had to do my best with photoshop: How hard would this be to make with plexi? How shoudl i cut it? How should I clean the Edges? [/list=1] I'm assuming I could cut it with my dremel, but if there is a better way to get cleaner cuts, I'd love to hear it. The material is technically a Lexan PC Sheet, 32-GE XL10 11x14 .93 clear sheet. (if that makes a difference) I'm also assuming there is a fine grit of sandpaper that would be good to give the edges a nice shine... I may even use a file or sandpaper to make the bevel edges, as they will be roughly 1.5mm2, and I don't have a router. Thanks!
You could use a grinding bench (I don't know if that's the right term, it's a motor with a sandpaper fitted on it, on a table) and push the plexi against it. I've got no idea if that would work, but it's worth trying.
my favorite: a jigsaw with a good (new, sharp) blade... most jigsaws can be angeled... remember to not go to fast.. then you'll get cracks.. and not too slow.. it melts..
Doh! No router! My advice is to search ebay and get the cheapest router you can, a decent straight bit, and a decent chamfer bit (to bevel the edges). It may set you back £30 for the lot, but you're gonna get a helluva better finnish than the dremel! If you have to do it by hand, try a small block plane to chamfer those edges. As for sanding, use wet and dry paper, use it dry to get a good finnish, then get some 600 -1200 grit and use it wet to finnish. You will then need to pollish, get novus if you can, if not, then try brasso or t-cut. That's routed.
Surely that's .093??!? If so, then you ain't removing much, I'd use a file. If you are using almost inch-thick material (I don't see how) then get it routed.
Some good thinking that man! After re-reading the post, I see the bevel is only 1.5mm, so you must be right, and agreed, file or sandpaper. You could prolly cut it with a stanley knife and snap it.
Re: Re: How to perform Quality Plexi Work Doh! Sorry for the typo, it is .093. I'd personally have preferred 1/2" lexan, but it is a bit expensive and hard to find around these parts. The finished product should be posted by this monday, and you can see what I've done. What kind of file would you suggest? Are there particular "grits" for them? And any particular shape? Straight or rounded? (I'm going to assume straight.
Okay, I've got a dremel at hand, and a really old (10~15 years) jigsaw. I can run down to home depot and grab a couple of new blades for my jigsaw, or a few bits for my dremel tool... which would work better? (considering the age of the jigsaw...) I'm also going to be cutting a square out of a piece of plexi, but I figured for that I could drill the corners out and use the jigsaw for the rest. (which would also give me a nice little rounded corner effect)
My suggestions in the order of best but most expensive: 1)router 2)Tablesaw with blade set at 45 3)Jigsaw 4)edge scraper 5)Files
Well, I've got one more piece I need to figure out how to make, and it requires small cylinders of plexi. Preferrably 3/8" in diameter, and maybe .75" high. The only stuff I've been able to find is some stuff over at US Plastics, but I'm not sure if I want to spend $10 on 4 feet of it when I only need about 1 and a half feet of it. Plus I don't want to wait for anything to come in the mail Any ideas on what I could use instead? (I can't think of anything else that is clear and cylindrical other than acrylic rods) I've seen someone use a toothbrush for similar purposes, but it won't work in this case Needs to be a perfect cylindar... EDIT:: the stuff I found has too long an address to link to, so you'll have to go to www.usplastics.com and select "sheet rods and shapes" from the drop-down menu to the left, then click on acrylic, then on the 2nd page they have acrylic rods. Wow, the description of how to get there was shorter than the address!
I have this attachment and it works great. A lot cheaper than buying an actual router! I have used it on Plexi a great deal just be careful. If you do not constantly have motion the dremels rotation speed will start to melt the plexi the start fling the melted plastic... I small burns on my hands to prove it but I learned quickly!
If you don't want to wait, haul your butt down to the plastics shop in your town. Otherwise, how does $1.45 for 3 feet sound? http://delviesplastics.com/rod tube.htm
I didn't even think about finding a local place, I just figured we wouldn't have one. Is there a particular section in the yellow pages I should look at first? (we dont' have a plastics section )
Regal Plastics 3455 Princeton NE Albuquerque, NM 87107 505-884-2651 • 800-444-7342 • 505-884-7488 Fax They rock, the home office is here actually, I've gotten freebies off them before by asking politely for small quantities--if the sales d00d was too busy to write a ticket for a small order, they would give me stuff out of the scrap bin.
