James Bryant is the Founder of Cut My, an online retailer providing quality materials for home improvement and DIY projects. An avid DIY enthusiast himself, James started Cut My to share his passion for building and making things.
Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast or a professional builder, acrylic perspex is becoming one of the constructors’ preferred options – especially as it’s readily available from local and national perspex cutters. Coloured acrylic comes in various styles and clear acrylic sheets offer comparable optical clarity to glass. Encapsulated with glass-like clarity, strength and resistance, working with acrylic sheets does not demand specialised skills and techniques. These sheets can be cut with standard workshop tools including:
Power saws
Acrylic dowel or blocks
Hand saws
Over the years, many do-it-yourself projects have used perspex sheets to enhance their design and durability. However, if you are a DIY enthusiast and are finding it difficult to cut acrylic at home, then have a look at several ways (listed below) to cut acrylic to size (also sold as perspex and plexiglass), achieving the highest degree of precision.
Cutting with a Hand Saw
Most people prefer to cut acrylic using a hand saw. However, this technique demands more concentration when compared with electrical saws. To achieve the best result it is advisable to use a saw that has uniform teeth.
Cutting with a Scoring Knife
It is one of the easiest methods to cut acrylic table tops. The process doesn’t demand the use of a power saw or any other heavy-duty electrical equipment. However, the process requires the following steps:
Mark the area of the sheet you want to cut.
Use a scoring knife to cut a narrow groove in the acrylic sheeting
Scoring preferably works on sheets less than ¼” (6.35mm) in thickness.
Place the sheet over a hard edge with groove-side up.
Clamp the sheet if needed.
Bend the overhang side of the sheet with quick and even motion.
As the sheet bends, the groove will deepen as the crack propagates throughout the sheet.
Bending will result in the separation of two pieces (polycarbonate sheets) with relatively straight and clean edges.
Cutting with a Jigsaw
A jigsaw is one preferred tool for cutting acrylic sheets. It is a small handheld tool that can cut the sheet with the straight blade by function up and down in fast motion. However, if you intend to cut acrylic into a nonlinear fashion, a jigsaw is the right option for you. It helps to achieve precise results by cutting the edges into curves and angular form. However, it is advisable to experiment with the setting and positioning of the machine to gauge desired results.
Cutting with a Bandsaw
A band saw is best for cutting intricate shapes and curves. While using a band saw, it is important to carefully select the blade and feed rate of the machine to minimise the risk of melting or chipping the sheet. A band saw works best with a thickness greater than 0.472 inches. It helps to achieve clean and clear edges by retaining the sharpness of the material.
Cutting with a Laser
Laser systems are designed to achieve complex and defined cutting of acrylic. Laser cutting is one of the preferred options to cut the desired design. Connected to a computer, the laser cutter works as a printer to translate the design/image onto the piece of acrylic. If you need to create complex, intricate and creative shapes with acrylic, a laser is probably the better option.
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Easy to use website. Just put in measurements and it's cut to size, deliverd in a week.
Make sure it's right measurements and definitely want them as once ordered there is no going back if wanting to change order as its says being cut straight away.
I do think they should at least wait a day Just incase any changes to order before website account says its being cut, instead of doing it straight away.
Packaging very good.
Cheryl Saunders,
1 hour ago
Verified
Excellent Product to repair my greenhouse
Speedy delivery and cut perfectly to size. Excellent Product to repair my greenhouse
Kevin Marriott,
2 hours ago
Verified
Acrylic tops ordered .
Acrylic tops ordered .. great quality & perfect sizes. Thank you to Abby in Customer care for sorting out a query … lovely polite email & advice offered.
Rachel,
12 hours ago
Verified
Easy to order
Easy to order, delivery great and very well packaged. Very happy with the product and service.
Mrs Audrey Merrick,
13 hours ago
Great customer service
Great customer service. My order was put on a back log due to machine issues but Abbey kept me informed! Unfortunately a few of my pieces (same piece cut multiple times) were 5mm short but I only realised once I had the package a couple of weeks. I was worried they would tell me I couldn’t have them rectified due to the length of time lapsed but Abbey came back the next day to say they will be recut and sent ASAP. Really happy with the service, just give yourself enough time before doing a project to make sure they arrive in time and are all correct
customer,
13 hours ago
Verified
Poly Sheet Material
Good range of sheet products. Easy to order and always despatched in time, so can certainly recommend 👍
Graham,
14 hours ago
Verified
Great idea and product
Great idea and product . Delivered on time and very sturdy . Would highly recommend
Mrs Caroline Goodall,
14 hours ago
Verified
Happy
Purchased it for my dad to replace a broken greenhouse window pane
Prompt delivery and he is happy with the product
Julie Caskie,
15 hours ago
Verified
Came as requested and packed securely…
Came as requested and packed securely ,would recommend 'Cut my' and will use again if needed.
Tony McGee,
16 hours ago
Verified
I'm very happy with my order
I'm very happy with my order. Everything is perfectly cut off. There is no dust on the parts. And every detail has a sticker. Great!
Andrii Nahula,
16 hours ago
Verified
will purchase again
will purchase again
John Burgess,
16 hours ago
Verified
Lovely worktop
Good cut, good job.
customer,
17 hours ago
Verified
Overall a great experience
Good price, easy website but they need to change couriers as APC Overnight are terrible.
Matthew Paxton,
19 hours ago
Verified
Nice veneer grain and a fair service
Nice veneer grain and a fair service. I was expecting the edges to be veneered too, so was a little disappointed to see they weren't.
Would use again.
Mr Carey,
21 hours ago
Verified
Very easy to use website and prompt and…
Very easy to use website and prompt and efficient service.
Caroline Jenkinson,
22 hours ago
Verified
Product well packaged and delivery was…
Product well packaged and delivery was above expectation
Medel ,
1 day ago
Verified
Bespoke ply cuts
I had multiple parts of a ply covered shed to repair. Ordered a number of different lengths and widths, ply wood arrived quickly, well packaged and high quality. Very well cut and exactly as measured. Always an excellent service.
Paul,
1 day ago
Verified
Perfect fit
Perfect fit - as usual!
David Nutt,
1 day ago
Verified
Great product and custom made desk top…
Great product and custom made desk top that fits my space perfectly. Designer worked with me to perfect the design and comms were great. Looks lovely! Only lost one star as it wasn’t delivered in the expected time window.
Abby Lloyd,
1 day ago
Verified
Great level of service and the base for…
Great level of service and the base for my traction engine was great
Martyn Harris,
1 day ago
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