plexi problem

[MaxOC]

whats the best way to bond plexiglass without losing any of it? jw would superglue do it?

also whats the best way of cutting it without it just melting. i got a diamond cutter on my dremel, would that do less melting than the regular cutting disk?

[Luke122]

I'm not sure of the bonding question, but cutting should be done either by a circular saw or, if you havent got one, a jigsaw. Try to run the jigsaw as slow as possible to avoid melting. Also, tape your edges to reduce chipping and cracking.

[slytherock]

But don't go TOO slow with the jigsaw, or the plexi will melt: No good... ;)

[Luke122]

But don't go TOO slow with the jigsaw, or the plexi will melt: No good... ;)

Sorry, I meant the speed of the blade, not the speed that you move it through the plex. :D

[Cannibal23]

score both sides of the plex with a razor blade. go slowly and use a ruler. once the score marks are deep enough place it on the edge of a table or other such flat edged surface... round is not an edge. line up the score mark with the edge of the table. next smack the ammount thats over hanging. this should snap it cleanly allong the score mark and you wont loose a thing to melting.

[Luke122]

Unless you are working with 1/2" plexi, scoring works great. :D

[tybrenis]

Wow. This thread is all over the place.

Cutting with a circular saw will destroy the plexi. Don't do it.

A jigsaw will work, but treat the acrylic like metal and use a fine tooth metal blade and slower blade speeds.

As for scoring and snapping, it will only work with plexi up to 1/8" thick. Afterwards, you may need to sand or scrape the edges for a clean cut.

The best way to cut acrylic is with a table saw. The best blade is a blade in the triple-chip type, but they are very expensive. You can also use a fine tooth blade for cutting trim etc, but you will need to use moderately fast feedrates as to not melt it to the blade. You can even use a ripping blade for cutting acrylic, but go slow, be careful, and always tape the line to be cut with blue painters tape or similar masking tape. This is also a good idea with the fine toothed blade as well, as it helps prevent melting.

As for gluing acrylic, there is no good way to actually glue it. Superglue works all right, but not nearly as well as a solvent glue. Solvent gluing uses a strong chemical to melt the acrylic on a molecular level, and when it evaporates your two pieces have been physically bonded together without the use a another medium in between, such as a glue.

For a good solvent glue, anything with methylene Chloride is great. The US Plastics site has solvents available. Also, try a line of solvents for acrylic called Weld-On. Weld-On is made by a company called IPS.

[MaxOC]

okay will try on the solvents, just thought of this, wouldnt a table saw do decently?

[tybrenis]

okay will try on the solvents, just thought of this, wouldnt a table saw do decently?


The best way to cut acrylic is with a table saw. The best blade is a blade in the triple-chip type, but they are very expensive. You can also use a fine tooth blade for cutting trim etc, but you will need to use moderately fast feedrates as to not melt it to the blade. You can even use a ripping blade for cutting acrylic, but go slow, be careful, and always tape the line to be cut with blue painters tape or similar masking tape. This is also a good idea with the fine toothed blade as well, as it helps prevent melting.



^^^ =D

[Luke122]

Ooops.. I meant table saw, not circular saw. :eek:

[MaxOC]

since i dont have a table saw, which do you think will do better, diamond cutting round or band saw

[jdbnsn]

I have used a band saw with excellent results, best to use a thin metal cutting blade and move slow.

[tybrenis]

Diamond cutting will melt it.

And Max, yes... that whole thing was about table saws, not circular saws. If you try to cut acrylic with a circular saw you might actually die.

[slytherock]

Diamond cutting will melt it.

And Max, yes... that whole thing was about table saws, not circular saws. If you try to cut acrylic with a circular saw you might actually die.

:think: Should remember that: :think:
Diamond cutting = melt
Circular saw = DEATH :think:



:D :D

[Spawn-Inc]

haha ^... i would go with band saw. or if i had alot of scrap plexi scoring it.

[MaxOC]

eh well im using a huge sheet of 1/8 plexi so its a lil harder to use band saw but i will post pics when im done. ill also post a vid of me shooting my paintball gun at the gun from point plank