best way to trim plexiglass?

Ive got a 1 slot marquee and i need 2 inches off both the top and the bottom. whats the best method without cracking it? My mate works in a DIY store and could do it on the powersaw but its a bit heavy duty for something so brittle?

I've used all kinds of things to cut Plexi... but the key things to remember are: USE SOMETHING WITH FINE TEETH AND USE TAPE. (but don't use the tape on the painted side, you'll probably pull the painting/printing off)

Put the tape down, draw your line, and cut. Don't use some 4 to 5 teeth per inch blade, you will destroy the marquee. Use a piece of something under it to support it... and something like a clamp to hold the marquee. When I'm using a power saw, I like to put a piece of scrap material under it so the blade has something to hit under it. You DO NOT want to hold this thing in your hands if you are cutting it with a circular saw and a plywood blade. You are too close to the blade. Power miter or cut-off saws can do well with plywood blades. Avoid Jigsaws as the up/down blade motion tends to case plexiglass to shatter as the blade binds and slaps the plastic against the guard.

Sometimes you can do a score & snap method, but that doesn't work too well with taking off such small amounts.

Also, if you have a fine tooth blade or a cut-off disk, you can use a dremel too to cut it. It will basically spin so fast that it melts the plexi and leave a bunch of crud on the edges of the cut but that just snaps right off with your fingernails. I wouldn't recommed this on a cut edge that will be seen. If it is hidden under where the marquee mounts, it will work fine.

Now, if it's glass... You can score it with a glass cutter, heat (not too much tho!) the cut on the UNPAINTED side with a torch, and hit it with cold water to crack it right down the score line. That's kinda like the old days with the Ronco glass-o-matic where you could turn soda bottles into drinking glasses. (I guess I'm showing my age there)

RJ

Personally I've never used an acrylic cutter, but it may work.

http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/product.php?pid=10&

If I ever need to cut plastic again, for the price I am going to get one.

I would just say take it with a hack saw to cut your marquee and use sandpaper to smooth the edges. That should do the job if you don't have access to a tablesaw.

I always use a table saw when cutting plexiglass. I use a blade that has fine teeth. Also, I sand the edges down after I'm done cutting. I would reccomend taping what your cutting. Again, it was said before, but dont' tape on the printed side.

-B

zapatistab said:

Personally I've never used an acrylic cutter, but it may work.

http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/product.php?pid=10&

If I ever need to cut plastic again, for the price I am going to get one.

Click to expand...

Acrylic cutters are a pain in the ass man! You need to score each side multiple times. Its a little tricky cutting in a straight line accurately, for multiple passes.

cheers guys, hey billd, i just moved back from CT to the UK last september. I lived out there coaching football(soccer) in Killingworth. Nice state if a little quiet.

Dude, Fuck the Saws and bullshit...

Get the $6 Hand Tool for scoring the shit.... Score both sides (Use a thick metal ruler or TSQUARE to keep from going all over the place.

Makes a PERFECT cut Everytime........

No sharp edges, No fuckups.

I've been cutting plex for like, a long ass time now, working in a graphics/sign shop. I assume you're talking about 1/8" plex, since for anything thicker than that you need to use a saw (using a panel/wall saw and moving the blade really slowly works best for that). For 1/8" the score & snap method really works well but there is a bit of a trick to it. You will need a fairly sturdy table with a sharp (not beveled) edge. Score the plex using a utility knife and a straightedge (2-4 times or so- don't press too hard on the blade). Make sure your score line is clean and even across the whole piece, and then line it up so that the score line is just barely hanging over the edge of the table by a millimeter or two, with the part you want to get rid of hanging off. Then you just come down on the part hanging off the table with a clean karate chop type motion. If you do it right, it will give you a great edge every time, atlhough as channelmaniac said, 2 inches is probably about the minimum for this method. You might want to try it on a scrap piece to get the hang of it first.

If you've got access to one, use a bandsaw. Quick and simple and nice clean cut.

Band or Circular saw, either table mounted. Quite a number of ways to do it, just go slow, take your time, should be no probs.