How do I cut the acrylic sheet for my reptile tank's divider?

Question

Using an X-acto knife, which i was told was basically the same as a box cutter, was impossible but maybe it was just a little dull? Anyone here tried this?

Answer 1

the X-Acto knife isn't supposed to literally cut through the plexi glass (acrylic). Take a heavy duty ruler, and make your first slice, and just keep going back and gently making that cut a little deeper at a time, then turn the acrylic around and make the same slice and cuts on the back. What you're doing is scoring the plexi glass so that you can crack the acrylic without cracking it in a bunch of other places.

don't rush it, if you rush the slicing part, it's easy to slip and make a huge scratch it in, and if you don't score it well enough before you go to crack it, you'll shatter the acrylic in near where you wanted it to crack clean.

Answer 2

You can buy a plastic scoring tool which will remove a little V-shaped piece of plastic, leaving a nice groove you can then snap the plastic apart at.

I have never had good luck with regular knives for this job and I cut a lot of plastic!

Cutting acrylic, especially thin acrylic, with power tools can be tricky. Practice on some scrap first, and try to use plastic cutting blades- fairly fine toothed to help minimize chipping and fracturing.

Answer 3

Depending on the thickness (or thin ness) of the acrylic, a box cutter, box razor,(several repeated slices will be necessary) jig saw, circular saw or table saw... I have used all of them. The trick is being careful not to chip or brake the plastic. If using a power tool, protect the surfaces, from scratches, with masking tape.

Answer 4

try a jigsaw. These saws work very well when you want to cut through things and also is good at cutting shapes out. Just be careful with this machinery, it is very dangerous, i suggest that you place some weight on top of the acrylic when you are cutting, so the blade wont pull the acrylic to high up.
P.S. jigsaws are the ones that move up and down

Answer 5

I bought the plastic lighting cover stuff from home depot. If you keep big enough livestock you can buy the one that's like little centimeter by centimeter holes.

That or get a sharper blade and go to town on the acrylic!

Answer 6

x-acto knife should do the trick!..What species of reptile do u have? Faux Grass works as a good flooring for most reptiles, and can be washed/vacuumed, pretty easy to work with as well. :)

Answer 7

Try a hacksaw. A hacksaw blade in a saber saw might work, but it may generate cracks.

Answer 8

i saw someone use a circular saw