Never try to cut polycarbonate like this, it kicks back even can take teeth of the saw blade, also never cut polycarbonate with heat as it gives off toxic fumes.
I used to be the lead table saw operator at Midwest Trophy shop in Oklahoma and I used most of the methods you used to cut acrylic. I do have one more tool to mention and it's the one tool I use the most for many different types of material, and that is a radial arm saw. Similar to the sliding mitre saw but more versatile. Great video for those who don't know how to cut acrylics or plexiglass. Thanks for sharing...
Just replaced the siding on my 12' x 8' back porch with 7 sheets of 8' x 4' x 1/4" clear acrylic. Got the metal jig saw blade thanks to this video's recommendation and it worked like a charm. Little issue with the blade overheating, but just required stopping for a few seconds and then starting again. I love my fish tank. LOL. Thanks.
If you’re interested in an easier way, draw your cut line on the protective paper then take a finger full of Vaseline and smear it down the line. The Vaseline being clear let’s you see where to cut and you can cut at a higher speed with a jigsaw without the acrylic melting and gumming up on the blade. It also gives you a really nice clean edge. You could cut it on a table saw this way also.
Dish soap works for this too, this also absorbs the heat as well but easily washes off from the acrylic and the saw or drill bit. (Remember to sharpen/grind off the the tip or bite edge of the drill bit if you’re drilling, though, to keep the bite edge from catching and wandering along the surface.)
I have been making things from acrylic since I was at school, it is one of the easiest materials to work with and can easily be cut to shape, polished or bent. Acrylic is waterproof, can be used externally with no issues and is often guaranteed for 10 years! I hope everyone has a great Sunday ;-)
I watched them all on cutting acrylic and your video is the best I then (after watching your video) managed to scribe cut a new A5 sheet into 4 equal pieces for a project, Thank you!!
This video couldn't have come at a better time. My pre-teen twin boys cracked the aged acrylic backboard of their backyard basketball hoop. Now I have the know-how to replace myself. Thanks for what you do!
As usual very informative and thorough vid. Thank you. I've just completed a job using 10 by 4 x 2mm thick acrylic sheets sheets used to line walls in areas used for food preparation, in fact its a cellar in a pub where the barrels are stored. Using large sheets presents a problem but I used nothing more than a hand saw (crosscut) at a shallow angle and sanded one of the edges for a decent finish. I have to stress that my cut ends were hidden by joining/corner strips, but as long as you don't force the saw through the material i.e. let it cut, the finish is very respectable. I used the same to resolve an issue in my lads salon, part the kitchen area goes under the pavement from the street above. Applying all sorts of paints and anti mould paints did nothing. Re-lining with fresh plasterboard battened away from the wall only delayed things. The plastic/acrylic sheeting has done a really good job as well as brightening a fairly dingey area. Keep em coming, I really enjoy your vids. Regards Mike
Thanks Mike, I have never done any large projects like that using acrylic although I know a friend that cut two acrylic panels for his shower area, but I think that was about 8mm thick. I normally only make small things from it ;-) Thanks for the comment
Thank you so much for this video! I boogered up a few cuts then went looking for an instructional video. It is still taking awhile to do because my blade keeps heating up, but no more wasted acrylic sheet!!!
Excellent tips. My nephew had a rock take out the back window on our tractor. ( second time this window has broken ). So I will be using your principles to replace with acrylic. Thank you.
Some great tips there. For certain cuts I find lubrication really helps, especially for drilling. Plain soapy water is all I use. Of course for things like a table saw or bandsaw this is not really a good idea but it works fine with a jigsaw or coping saw.
I just had to cut some 5mm Optix brand acrylic. Used a jigsaw with a fine tooth metal blade. I had some issues with it melting but just kept compressed air blowing on the cut as I cut and slowed down even more and it worked for me. Thanks for showing me how to cut it
Great video! I have a small project to do involving acrylic and was a bit concerned about the best way to cut it. This video answered all my questions. Cheers!!
Hah I'm still at school and my god we munch through this stuff!! I have way to many laser cut acrylic tool boxes ! I have just finished copying your tool box liners for my Stanley on site 19in tool box. I cut mine out with my cheapo bandsaw on low speed Have a great weekend!
156k subscribers. You deserve millions of subscribers. the time and dedication you must put in to everyone of your videos is massive. you are by far the best trade/public help and advice channel on RU-vid. I am a subscriber and one of your biggest fans. Thank you for all your hard work with your channel.
Really helpful - thank you! I have a large piece of acrylic which I needed to cut down so that it would fit into a laser cutter and this has saved me loads of time.
Thank you for the information. Excellent explanation. I was able to do the job on a four foot sheet of acrylic with success only because I got the correct information from you.
Good video! For cutting cirles with a jigsaw in a 3mm sheet i just use double sided tape and stick it to a thin sheet of multiplex/plywood, it doesn't crack or chip as well.
I have to admit I was skeptical it would weld itself back together after pulverizing and knocking out material the width of the blade, but that was well welded back together. Thanks for the video. Time to go replace the panel in my tank.
Saved me again pal, just what i needed. I've got one of those cheap chines 40w laser cutters, i get free acrylic from my mate's vacuum-forming business, so i get his cutoffs, trouble is that most of them are too big to fit into the cutter.
I can do 5mm acrylic in 2 passes with the laserhead moving at 10mm per second. It's a good machine, i upgraded it with bits and bobs to improve it a bit. I use Sketchup to draw in plan view, export it to .EPS then import into the cutter software. @@ultimatehandyman
Thanks Tom, yes the Evolution saws are great- I'd be lost without them. I put off getting a table saw for years as I thought I did not have enough use for it, but since getting the Rage 5 it has had a lot of use! Thanks for the comment
Thank you so much for this video. Good quality teaching as agood quality over all. If you, sir are not a teacher, so you should be. I have some small personal projects, tha are standing still because i did not know how to cut piece of this material, with precision and easy, right here at home... Now I already know! 1000 thanks!
Lots of interesting stuff explained perfectly, very much appreciated the video content, commentary, and your personal advice from experience. Subscribed!
Good video with great info. We’ve found that acrylic welds itself if you remove the masking before cutting. If you leave the masking on, no problems with re-welding when using a jigsaw. We cut thousands of meters of 4.5mm and 10mm acrylic per year and use a Festool Plunge saw with their guiderail. Beautiful cut, safe to use and we cut probably three to four times faster than shown.
Wowzer! I'm glad I found the Ultimate Handyman... I subscribed at exactly 400,000. I am pleased to be 400,001. (OK I know I'm not, but I'm a bit weird that way). I'm just about to go off and cut some perspex for a mate...I wasn't sure if the circular would smash it to pieces or not. I was just about to take just the jigsaw. I imagine you just saved me half an hours work.
Thanks for this. I have some experience cutting acrylic with an oscillating tool and, while it does work, it leaves a pretty rough/jagged edge. I already have a high tooth count blade on my circular saw so I think I'll give that a go next time.
dude this is the best video i have seen yet for cutting acrylic. i was so unsure what to use i bought everything you had on here except that last saw. i figured i can always use them one day anyways. but yea, great video!!!!!!!
Just one thing if you didn't know: there is a handheld knife that uses a hooked blade specially made for cutting acrylic. 2 Japanese makes(OLFA & NT Cutter) have been available for many many years. While these hook knives do a 10-times better job, they also make the job much easier and faster than the conventional knife you used in the video. Price around AU$10-20.
Damn, I should've looked this up before cutting my 6mm sheet. Long story short, I had to rely on heating up the area of the cut and scoring with a knife several times. (It didn't end very well)
Fantastic video! I didn't know Acrylic welded itself back together!? Came here to learn how to cut a sheet of clear acrylic to repair a Makibox 3D printer I bought which is missing 2 panels the prev owner prob broke during frustrated Assembly as I found Parts fitted upside down). I used to live in N. Manchester. Are you an Oldham lad? Great skills anyway, excellent video.
I cut mine using a specialty acrylic jigsaw blade and it cracked. So I purchased a Bosch metal jigsaw blade and it was fine until it got to the end, when the corner broke off. The jigsaw itself is a cheap brand (Harbor Freight), but should that matter if I’m using high quality, brand new blades? I’m really frustrated with this….thanks for any advice!
Love this. You didn’t mention the differences between cast and extruded though. For the average user it’s not hugely important but will impact on the cut finish. Also, do you flame polish the edges? I discovered this technique a couple of years ago and it makes all the difference when manufacturing aesthetics pieces.
I've never used extruded before. I bought a cheap flame polishing machine from China, but only used it once. I don't make much using clear acrylic and flame polishing can only be done on clear (or so I'm told) Thanks for the comment
Ultimate Handyman I did it with a fine grade paper on a mouse and flamed the edges with a plumbing torch. It does look better on clear, you’re right. But as a matter of course i “flame grill” everything that will be seen now. Loving the channel - at last someone who really knows their stuff 👍👍👍
