How do you cut a marquee retainer?

[javeryh]

I just busted up the end of one of the strips trying to cut it with the radial saw - it just cracked into pieces.  Is there an easy way to get a clean/smooth cut?  The plastic is pretty thick...

[RetroACTIVE]

I cut mine with a hack-saw... fine enough teeth so as not to bite too much.

[northerngames]

dremel cut off wheel

cut with razor close to the desired then sand flush

tin snips may work also

[Timoe]

I threw mine at the table saw and it cross cut it like butter.  Nice finished edge ta boot.

I was rockin one of those 80tooth blades but I dont think it really matters if you go slow.

[AMDman13]

I wedged mine between two small pieces of scrap MDF and blew through all of it with my circular saw. No prob!

[bfauska]

Anytime the material being cut can fit between the teeth on a saw you have to feed very slowly so that the saw cuts instead of grabbing the part.  With a shape like a marquee retainer the other potential problem is that parts of the piece can essentially be unsupported while cutting, the retainer on my Dynamo is simply plastic angle but I know that some marquee retainers are more like a U shape stuck onto an L this leaves some of the plastic out in the air instead of against a fence or table, this piece will try to snap out of the way when cutting so if you can fill the gaps with some scrap wood or something like that then you can also avoid the part catching the blade and breaking.

I don't know whether or not that made any sense, but I hope so, it should help if it did.

[leapinlew]

Like this:

[ChicagoDave]

I used tin snips, and then just sanded the edge smooth.

[leapinlew]

Everyone is doing it the hard way. Just get one of these. Cutting the marquee retainer will be a breeze:

http://cgi.ebay.com/9554-FLOW-WMC2-4040-WATERJET-MACHINING-CENTER_W0QQitemZ120054383457QQcmdZViewItem

[javeryh]

Everyone is doing it the hard way. Just get one of these. Cutting the marquee retainer will be a breeze:

http://cgi.ebay.com/9554-FLOW-WMC2-4040-WATERJET-MACHINING-CENTER_W0QQitemZ120054383457QQcmdZViewItem

I'm going to put in a $1 bid.  It seems totally worth it. 

I ended up using a mitre saw to make the cut - it came out just OK - it was a jagged blade so it didn't go through the plastic like I wanted it to.  What do you guys thing about using a lighter to carefully melt the plastic on the ends where the cut is?  I'm hoping it creats a smooth looking surface when it melts and rehardens... I have a few inches to spare so I think I'm going to give it a shot...

[leapinlew]

Whats the deal with the plastic? Seems you could get angle iron from Home Depot and end up with a much more durable retainer and a 8 foot section only costs $10 for the stuff I was using.

[javeryh]

Whats the deal with the plastic? Seems you could get angle iron from Home Depot and end up with a much more durable retainer and a 8 foot section only costs $10 for the stuff I was using.

You know, I'm not really sure.  It's pretty simple stuff and not decorative at all.  It does have a nice rounded corner and is pretty thick (probably 1/8"), which is something I guess.  I could have bought an L-bracket and spray painted it or something (I wanted black) but it never really crossed my mind until I already ordered it.

[leapinlew]

Whats the deal with the plastic? Seems you could get angle iron from Home Depot and end up with a much more durable retainer and a 8 foot section only costs $10 for the stuff I was using.

You know, I'm not really sure.  It's pretty simple stuff and not decorative at all.  It does have a nice rounded corner and is pretty thick (probably 1/8"), which is something I guess.  I could have bought an L-bracket and spray painted it or something (I wanted black) but it never really crossed my mind until I already ordered it.

Oh, that sounds nice. I was thinking you were using a corner protector (those plastic L shaped things you put on walls).

[javeryh]

This is the stuff:  REALLY long link - shortened.

Not the greatest picture on their site though...

[BradC]

[Edit]Nevermind, I totally missed the point of what you were asking. [/Edit]

[divemaster127]

The custom marquee I sell I cut with a radial arm
thanks
dm