what to use to cut an acrylic sheet. Router or any suggestions?

Question

I want to cut a U bent in a piece of Acrylic but it has to be a small cut like 2-3mm in width, is there a cutter that small. Or can you suggest what i can use to do this job?? Thanks

Answer 1

Acrylic doesn't 'like' high speed power cutting.

It tends to melt and bind.

It's soft enough. Try a low speed tool possibly water cooled.

Answer 2

I'm not sure what a U bent is, or how thick your acrylic is, so am having trouble advising you. A router or Dremel would certainly do it, but be sure the base doesn't scratch the surface of the material. Router bits can be found that are quite small, but care must be taken as they are susceptible to breakage. You could use a jig saw with a new, fine toothed blade if it is a small or curved cut. If it's a long straight cut, I'd use a router and a straight edge rather than a circular saw, though a table saw with the proper blade (new, with as many teeth as possible) would be ideal. No matter what you use, leave the protective covering on the plexiglas and make sure the base of the tools don't scratch through it.

Answer 3

A hacksaw is fine for short cuts in thick acrylic, but the frame gets in the way after a few inches. A padsaw, which is basically a handle to attach to one end of a hacksaw blade, solves this problem. Jigsaws, with metal-cutting blades (which have fine teeth) are good, but the the jigsaw's speed generates heat through friction, and can soften the acrylic so that it causes the blade to bind.

Answer 4

Without knowing where and what type of cut your going to make its kind of impossible to tell you what tool to use. I was going to suggest a coping saw, its great for angles and turns and doesn't leave much of a footprint like a saw blade. I'm pretty sure dremel tools would have an attachment as well but I'm guessing you don't have one of those or you would have already thought of using it. The coping saw I would think would be the easy and cheap way to go if you can use it, but again, without having seen what your trying to do I really can't say. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

They Make It a Special Blade for Your Circular Saw. I Believe You Cut It on the Backside to Reduce Splintering. Painters tape (Blue in Color) on Both Sides Will Also Reduce Splintering.