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Author Topic: cutting acrylic tubes  (Read 1418 times)

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SavannahLion

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cutting acrylic tubes
« on: November 02, 2013, 09:46:02 pm »
I picked up some sample acrylic tubes from Taps. The poor guy was new and cracked two of the samples. Which is fine, but when I put in my own order I don't want mine to crack.

I couldn't chat it up right (impatient wife) then but I got the impression it's because the samples are too short for their tools, about three or four inches each. My end product is going to be even shorter. Just shy of 1 1/4 inches. that means I'm cutting my own from longer stock.
I've cut other materials like PVC and copper pipes and the PITA part is when the saw is cutting across the tw walls separately. I always get uneven cuts or very rough cuts and end up  doing a lot of cleaning and prep work afterwards.

I have no bandsaw atm.

Can I cobble together a hot wire solution and cut it that way? Like an egg slicer? I've done hot wire on Styrene and I get a lot of shrinkage if I'm not careful.

Optical clear edges isn't a necessity bit they will be glued to additional acrylic pieces so I want "squared" cuts.I imagine that is a consideration.

matt4949

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Re: cutting acrylic tubes
« Reply #1 on: November 03, 2013, 01:32:24 am »
string cut coduit all the time with it faster than a saw. Just make a loop and pull back and forth.

kahlid74

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Re: cutting acrylic tubes
« Reply #2 on: November 05, 2013, 10:58:37 am »
I've cut PVC piping on my Table saw and Miter saw and had no issues.  Acrylic in my use has been more fickle but I have also successfully cut Lexan on my table saw, which is similar, albeit not the same.