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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Great service and first class product I have used Cutmy before and will do so again.
David Clayton,
18 minutes ago
Verified
Good service
Slight delay to delivery, but otherwise good service
Perry Barrett,
3 hours ago
Verified
Wonderful products and service..as long as you no customer service needed
The product is great and delivery times match the estimate given on ordering. If there's no need for customer service contact then the service is wonderful. However it is such a shame that customer service is so absent. Needed to add to an order - no ability for a phone conversation and email reply took weeks! So added additionally adding time and extra delivery cost. Please sort out your CS capabilities and processes.
Alex ,
4 hours ago
Verified
Cut to perfection!
After looking for an over bed unit for my bedroom for months, to no avail, I decided to design my own. I also had limited space for a dressing table so needed a curved wood to go over my radiator.
Every piece of my over bed puzzle was cut to perfection, and the finished result is incredible!
Thank you CutMy, will use you again for my living room project, and I thoroughly recommend you to anyone thinking of designing their won furniture or just buying shelves.
Joanne Laws,
5 hours ago
Verified
My shelves were cut accurately and…
My shelves were cut accurately and arrived in perfect condition due to excellent packaging.
Jane Heap,
5 hours ago
Verified
Brilliant service...
Wood arrived on time and was of a great quality. The panels went up perfectly and the room now looks amazing!
Rob,
7 hours ago
Verified
I really love this company
I really love this company, they go above and beyond to help. I work locally so being able to collect and speak to the production team is great.
customer,
14 hours ago
Verified
Good quality ,correct size,delivered on…
Good quality ,correct size,delivered on time,couldn't fault,will use again...
Ian britton,
15 hours ago
Verified
Easy to order
Easy to order, delivered without fuss and does the job well
IAN FLEMING,
15 hours ago
Verified
Many communication problems
Many communication problems but it is a good product.
Edward,
18 hours ago
Verified
Good communication and service.
Good communication and service.
Chris Woods,
18 hours ago
Verified
Spot on size very happy,
Spot on size very happy,
Alan Jackson,
18 hours ago
Verified
Very accurately cut cupboard shelf
Very accurately cut cupboard shelf
Steve,
19 hours ago
Verified
Well packaged
Well packaged, but took a while to get here.
Overall good!
Thanks
S French,
19 hours ago
Verified
Peace if mind as all the goods are cut…
Peace if mind as all the goods are cut precisely as per instructions .we'll recommended
Jean Paul Fevrier,
21 hours ago
Verified
Large cuts low prices - Reccomended
Ordered a number of cut pieces for a project and received all as specified. This would have taken a long time to do by hand and the price per piece was decent.
Adrian K.,
21 hours ago
Very good company
Very good company and honest from the start about a day or so delay. Ordered a 5mm panel in white for a custom bath panel. It came extremely well packaged and cut perfectly to the mm. much cheaper than other companies as well.
Mr Mark Billman,
21 hours ago
Verified
Excellent made fast delivey
Excellent made fast delivey
Brian,
22 hours ago
Verified
Good service
Good service
Neil,
22 hours ago
Verified
Ordered plywood which arrived on time…
Ordered plywood which arrived on time and exactly as described on the website.
Laura,
23 hours ago
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