Cutting Acrylic Sheets

[Mike A]

This is not technically woodworking, but I think this is the place for this post.

I cut down acrylic sheets for a bunch of different projects I do. This is the best way I have found so far.

I use my table saw.
I use a blade with the most teeth I can find and I mount it backwards.
Run the sheet fast enough not to melt the acrylic, but don't force it. You don't want the sheet to ride up the blade.

The best protection I have found is a snowmobile helmet. It protects your hearing, and it provides full face protection. It also keeps all of the plastic junk out of your hair.

Anyone else cut down acrylic sheets? Have a better method? I would like to hear it. I guess they make table saw blades specifically for cutting acrylic. Has anyone used one of those?

[opt2not]

I normally just score and crack/fold it. It can come out clean if you’ve scored it well enough. But sometimes it produces deviations.
Wish I had a table saw, or any woodworking tools for that matter. I sold off all my tools when I moved to the States.

[lilshawn]

I'll just use my regular blade... does have a rather high tooth count because i do maily laminates and whatnot. it does plastic fairly decently

https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.12-in-x-80-tooth-ultra-fine-crosscut.1000177974.html


they do make a specific plastic blade...

https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.12-in-non-ferrous-plastic-blade---96-teeth.1000179761.html

it's basically ground thinner in the middle after the teeth so you aren't dragging the sides through the material and melting it. it's a PITA to change blades for one thing so unless I have a pile of things i need to cut, i don't even bother.

[bdn103]

I do the score and crack method at times, but I also regularly use a router to cut.

Brian

[DaOld Man]

Table saw with a regular blade, just take it slow.
I have also clamped it to a straight edged piece of mdf  and used a router trim bit. That works pretty good too.

[surtr]

Late reply, I know but hey, maybe it'll be useful to someone down the line.  I cut 1/8" acrylic with a flush trim bit on a router.  I put it on a low speed, mounted a straight edge on top of where I wanted to cut and let it rip.  Made an epic mess with the shavings as they came off with a static charge and stuck to everything, but the cut was straight and smooth.