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how do i trim sheets of acrylic?
First of all, NEVER,NEVER do a job for a 3rd party without checking all the measurements yourself…..
Now the problem….I have to trim down 2 sheets of acrylic by 200mm (lightbox front)
1. Can it be done with a variable speed jigsaw?
2. If so, does anyone know what sort of blade i should use.By rights i should just make another one and charge him again, but i’m trying to build a worthwhile relationship.
Mant thanks
Iain
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14 Replies
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Yes Iain, it can, a blade is available for perspex. I bought a set of various blades from B&Q Just make sure the material is on a firm surface, If you have 2 pieces to cut use one as the guide for the other.
Peter -
Cheers Peter..
It’s a great industry this…Work for next to nothing and then when it all goes tits up, work for nothing
Iain
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Use a fine toothed blade. If it overheats and fuses the perspex, put a bit of 3in1 oil or washing up liquid along your cut line.
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Cheers for the tip Big G
Iain
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I would suggest to use a hand router to cut through you will get a cleaner cut edge andyou can also use a jig to help you keep straight.
cheers
john
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any blade will cut it, but if you use the one designed for the material, you should not need lubrication,
A hand router will do the job, but makes loads more dust. You can cut a perfectly straight line with a hand held jigsaw, just like a router, if you use a jig or straight edge to guide it.
Peter -
If i was to use a router, could i use normal woodworking bits.
Sorry if that sounds dumb, but i rally dont know
Iain
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yes Iain, but see above, if its a straight cut, I would go for the jigsaw,
Peter -
Peter,
Jigsaw it is….. going up and down with a bit of lubrication sounds good to me 😀Sorry, just thinking aloud there
Iain
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or, if you have a steady hand, and consider yourself a craftsman, you can actually cut it with a crosscut woodsaw. it want get you any more brownie points, but will give you a great feeling of achievement
Peter -
Cut the acrylic a treat. Used Blg G’s tip for the lubrication
I did it with and without washing up liquid to see what the difference was and was amazed at how the acrylic fuses together without
Iain
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Glad it worked Ok matey.
Generally speaking the ‘proper’ Perspex made by ICI doesn’t need lubricating, but some of the cheaper brands do. Especially if they are extruded acrylic.
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Hi Iain, i use a bosch jig-saw and find that the best blades are T101A0.
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I use a circular saw bench with a fine TCT blade.
I nearly fell foul of my own bad measuring with 2 sheets of acrylic, luckly I desided at the last minute not to have the supplier pre cut the sheets for me. When I measured the job again I found I’d measured wrong the first time 😕 That would have been upsetting.Measure once cut twice, Doe, I mean measure twice cut once.
Steve
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