I need to cut a piece of acrylic can I use a skil saw?
2006-10-30 13:31:29 · 4 answers · asked by montana 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
If by Skil saw you mean a circular power saw, then, No it's not a good idea. The saw is too powerful and the blade's teeth are too large. The acrylic, (I'm assuming Plexiglas), will shatter in a lot of pieces. It can be cut with a band saw and a fairly close toothed blade, quite successfully. Or if it's a large piece you need to cut, you can buy a special cutter at most any good hardware store, that works somewhat like a glass cutter. You score the plexiglas several times where you want to cut it and then snap it like glass. There's usually a small amount of raggedness to the edge after cracking, but it's easily taken care of with a piece of medium grit sandpaper and a sanding block.
2006-10-30 13:55:08 · answer #1 · answered by Corky R 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A Skil saw or circular saw is going to be too powerful, and the teeth on the blade are probably too coarse. You risk breaking or shattering the acrylic sheet.
If you want to use a power saw, use a saber saw with a blade designed for cutting plastic. Use a slower speed, as a high speed will generate heat and may melt the acrylic sheet, making more work to clean up the cut edge, which can normaly be done with a medium grit sandpaper, or a file.
2006-10-30 14:31:47 · answer #2 · answered by displacedyankee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, if it isnt too big of a piece, you can actualy take a sharp utility knife and run it against a straight edge across the line you want to cut, just push hard(not too hard or it will fracture) and run it across the cut line a few times to make a decent grove(at least 1/4 the way through the material) and use pliers to snap the extra material away. remember, it cant hurt to run the blade against the edge a fiew extra times to make sure that you dont crack the material. I have done this many times and have never had a problem with it. it is suprising how simple of a solution it is, but it is verry reliable and efective. it actualy usualy does not require you to fix up the edge because it makes a clean line.
2006-10-30 15:29:39 · answer #3 · answered by cronos51101 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
depends how rigid acrylic is !! mini angle grinder would probably be better .regards mark.
2006-10-30 19:25:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋