Acrylic sheet

[Craig]

Found a place right near my place in Melbourne called Acrylicraft in Bundoora.

They sell plastics cut to size.

Got a price on a sheet of acrylic 720mm x 920mm 5mm thick for $64.25.

Is this a good price? I think it's reasonable. Bunnings sell a sheet of 3mm thick about the same size for around $50 I think. Can't remember.

Acrylic is as far as I know what American's call Plexiglass right?

I was told Lexan (polycarbonate) is about 3 times dearer.

[jcrouse]

I believe your correct about acrylic = plexiglass (the naming depends on the manufacturer somewhat, like formica/laminate). They problem is, with either, that it difficult to machine without chipping or cracking. Lexan is much easier to work with. FWIW, a 24" x 24" x 3/32" sheet of lexan runs about $10.00 (US) at Home Depot.

John

[Taborious]

Use Lexan, it is much easier to work with and wont chip on you. You can cut it with a circular saw with a high teeth (140 or so) count that are not off set. I just did mine and it looks perfect. If you clap the Lexan to the MDF and cut both at the same time with the Lexan on the bottom you will get perfect results...
Also, for drilling the holes I screwed a sheet up and then found the better way to do it. Once you cut the outline remove the lexan and drill the holes in the MDF, once that is complete clap the lexan back to the MDF and drill the holes in the Lexan and make SURE you us something on the backside of the Lexan to drill into. Use a flat hole drill bit not the blade type. Another important thing to remember when drilling plexi or Lexan is friction will melt either one so what I did was easy pressure and I oicked up the drill every once and awhile rather than constant pressure, this reduced the friction and it came out perfect...