Will cutting plexiglass ruin a bandsaw blade? Would it be better to cut it with a jigsaw? Thanks.
Will cutting plexiglass ruin a bandsaw blade? Would it be better to cut it with a jigsaw? Thanks.
Hi Edward,
I have cut plexiglass many times on several of my band saws and it seems to cut fine with no ill effect on the blades. It seems that a coarser tooth blade works better and generates less heat and melting of the sides of the cut. The blade I have had the best luck with has 8 TPI. I also use that saw to cut aluminum.
David
It won't hurt the blade. I've cut a lot of plexiglass (acrylic) on the bandsaw, mostly to make templates. I use whatever blade I have installed, usually a 3 or 4 TPI. A blade with finer teeth would be a little smoother but I smooth the edges afterwards with sanding sticks.
BTW, if you want to follow a curve what I found works best is to draw the curve on the plastic with an extra-fine Sharpie. I cut a slot into a piece of thin white poster board and tape it to the bandsaw table so I can more easily see the line.
JKJ
Plexiglass will cut fine on the bandsaw. If you have a fine tooth blade it will make better looking edges.
Thanks for the replies.
JKJ - good idea for the poster board.
When cutting any acrylic, put a strip of 2" clear packing tape on the top surface. The tape and adhesive will act as a lubricant and reduce the chance of acrylic sticking to the blade.
Thanks Richard
I always had to wipe down the blade with solvent afterwards.
At the research lab I worked at, we had a 24" Tannewitz 2 speed bandsaw we used: high speed for wood and acrylic, and slow speed for aluminum. We usually got several months of daily use (as needed, not contiuous) out of a blade. I think we usually had a one inch 3 or 4 tpi blade in it. Fortunately we had a blade welder on the 36" DoAll, so we could just buy in bulk and weld up our own.
Derek - The reason for the bandsaw is that I'll be cutting curves.
Blue tape? Are you referring to painter's tape?
Hi Edward
Yes, painter's tape. Choose a smaller blade with the most teeth for the bandsaw.
Regards from Perth
Derek
It depends on the Plexi Cast cuts nicer then extruded when you use a fine tooth blade Extruded gums up more