Circular sawblade for cutting PTFE (Teflon) sheet?

[Erik Loza]

Gathering info for a customer: Anyone out there use a circular saw for cutting some of the softer plastics like HDPE? Customer works with PTFE sheet stock up to 4" thick. I have experience with circular sawblades for harder plastics like acrylic and experience with machining softer plastics on the nesting router but never on the table saw. This would be a 10"-12" diameter blade, standard woodworking rpm. PTFE is very heat-resistant, so I am not really worried about melting, but completely in the dark as far as tooth selection. Thanks in advance,

Erik

[Bruce Volden]

I have solid surface blades for Corian, and other "plastics" that do a great job.
Never tried it on the softer stuff--?melt?.

Bruce

[Christopher Charles]

Hi Eric, I’ve cut hdpe on a table saw and bandsaw just like wood using a 40 ish tooth 10” blade and 3tpi blade respectively. Biggest issue? Clean up. Works easily with handsaws and planes too. Hope that helps.

[Andrei Telitsyn]

I tried to cut UHMW sheets on my table saw (not 4" though), noticed that 'aluminum' blade with negative rake angle works best.

[Frank Pratt]

I don't think melting would be an issue with PTFE. As far as I know, it will degrade & break down before melting.

[Tyler Bancroft]

I don't think melting would be an issue with PTFE. As far as I know, it will degrade & break down before melting.

It'll offgas some pretty hideous stuff in the process.

[Richard Coers]

I'd think you would need a coolant mister to cut 4". https://www.amazon.com/Trico-Mister-...3463996&sr=8-8
What quality is needed on the cut? I see a bandsaw working way better as less heat build up than circular blade.

[Erik Loza]

Thanks for the input, everyone. Kinda' what I figured already but good to hear feedback. Richard, I agree with you but they are cutting 4X4 sheets, so a bandsaw is out.

Erik

[Mark Bolton]

My input would be the largest blade they can run with a lower tooth count, and if you can find a heavy hollow grind thats better. Air blast (precision point) for chip clearing, and if they cant slow the saw RPM run with the fastest/most consistent feed speed possible (feeder), and static guard to let the saw blade shed chips that will be held to it with static charge. Ive made some HDPE cabinets (Vycom), not the same material and less gummy, but just getting the chips to shed seems to be a major factor. If they static cling to the blade and just get drug around and re-cut or the gullet doesnt clear your sunk.

[Richard Coers]

Thanks for the input, everyone. Kinda' what I figured already but good to hear feedback. Richard, I agree with you but they are cutting 4X4 sheets, so a bandsaw is out.

Erik

Then they need a bandsaw like this. Caterpillar had one in the model shop I worked at.
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