Cutting Plexiglas Question

[Lee Borgersen]

    Cutting Plexiglas Question

I was cutting some Plexiglas to make a base for mounting a new depth finder. I used a hand held jig saw and every time I'd cut about another 1/2 inch the 1/2 inch behind it would seal back up. The plastic got so hot it would melt and seal up.

The Plexiglas was 1/4" thick. A hacksaw blade was way to slow. I kept going back and forth with the electric until I finished.

Anyone have a hot tip that would work better. 

[Retired on Osakis]

Variable speed jig saw so the blade doesn't get so hot. 

[dew2]

    Cutting Plexiglas Question

I was cutting some Plexiglas to make a base for mounting a new depth finder. I used a hand held jig saw and every time I'd cut about another 1/2 inch the 1/2 inch behind it would seal back up. The plastic got so hot it would melt and seal up.

The Plexiglas was 1/4" thick. A hacksaw blade was way to slow. I kept going back and forth with the electric until I finished.

Anyone have a hot tip that would work better. 

Carpenter for 29 years and I'd use a circular saw with a ply blade,Cut not burn go slow.

[Cody Gruchow]

I use a hand held grinder. Works good enough for me

[mike89]

band saw?

[Coffee118]

Band saw with a wide gapped tooth blade. Try putting masking tape where you are cutting will help with gumming up and chipping

[kenhuntin]

This can be extremely dangerous. Whatever tool you use make sure the plexi does not move. A table saw or miter box when fed slow and pressed to the work surface will do but if it lifts or lists that crap will explode and even wreck a blade if thick enough. Shards will travel everywhere with no warning at all. I do not recommend those. A jigsaw is actually the safest route as it pins the plastic down while the cut is being made but you are compromised with making long straight cuts.

[Bobberineyes]

I used a circular saw as well but it was a big sheet. With a piece that small I wonder if you could get by scoring it a few times and snap it.

[Boar]

if its a straight cut, clamp two pieces of lath on either side of the line to be cut. then a circular or jigsaw

[Rebel SS]

    Cutting Plexiglas Question

I was cutting some Plexiglas to make a base for mounting a new depth finder. I used a hand held jig saw and every time I'd cut about another 1/2 inch the 1/2 inch behind it would seal back up. The plastic got so hot it would melt and seal up.

The Plexiglas was 1/4" thick. A hacksaw blade was way to slow. I kept going back and forth with the electric until I finished.

Anyone have a hot tip that would work better. 

Carpenter for 29 years and I'd use a circular saw with a ply blade,Cut not burn go slow.

That's the way to fly.  80-90 tooth blade.