How do I cut plexiglass?

[notbob]

Completely useless on a slab of 2" thick plexiglass. Who's the idiot?

nb

[Edward Reid]

Yep, that's the ticket. I use that all the time to cut acrylic (generic Plexi) for picture framing. That's thinner than window acrylic sheets, but works the same. Just score it MANY times the first time you use it. Too much scoring won't hurt (you might eventually score all the way through), but it you don't score it enough, it can crack away from the score. Make sure the two ends of the line are particularly well scored. And clamp your straightedge so it doesn't shift.

Traditionally you put the score on a sharp table edge and bang on the overhang. Since the OP is only cutting off 2", it may be a good idea to use a tool to grip and break the acrylic. May be hard to find a cheap one that will grip 2" though.

Edward

[Bob Villa]

Ya, his window is 2" thick...he must be the president or Bill Gates!

[willshak]

2 inch thick plexiglas to be used in a window? Is the rest of the house armored too? I converted 5 ~14" x 28" hopper type basement single pane windows to double pane using 3/32" thick plexiglas. I used the plexi cutter. It produces a lot cleaner cut than a power saw can produce, and a lot cleaner for the shop too, since there isn't plexiglas granules flying all over the place.

[notbob]

I'm sorry, but not having a crystal ball or able to read minds, I no idea. I jes know what works and what doesn't.

nb

[Twayne]

LOL! That's the strangest way of proving something I've ever seen! A list that does NOT show what I said? Cute.

I did err though; the OP said "about" 5/16 inch. So it could have been on either side of it, depending on how he measured or guessed its thickness.

Also, Plexiglas is NOT a simple acrylic sheet, acrylic is simply used to create it. Plexiglass has its own characteristics if you'll look up the compositions, which I'm sure you're going to "prove" differently as well as you did above! lol.

And the on-topic discussion was how to cut it, not what's it made of? The easiest way is to score it and snap it over a table/board edge, whatever. It's right on the protective cover of all the ones I've ever bought. And a tool for it is also recommended; think I paid $3.99 for the last one I bought.

HTH,

Twayne`

[Twayne]

An open mind and one that can read, will note the OP is working with about

5/16" plexiglass. Score and snap are definitely the way to go.

As for your attempt to go in a new direction, you're still wrong, although the machine to snap plexiglass is as expensive as a metal brake. You're a maroon looking for arguements where there are none. Thus, comms with you in particular are at an end; go ahead and rant - I just plain don't care if all you have is unrelated, useless infor for the OP.

[Ron]

With a $3.00 plexiglass cutter. Home Depot sells them.

[Ron]

Glass shops don't use saws. Only use saws for Lexan.

[Ron]

On Oct 16, 1:47=A0pm, "Twayne" wrote:.

Finally, someone with the correct answer.

[Ron]

Yeah, because the OP is installing 2" plexi in a window.

[Ron]

Yeah, I used that "goofy" method for over 20 yrs while I was in the glass business.

[Bob Villa]

I assume you're referring to "notbob" here...as I am in agreement with the scribe method.

[Ron]

The OP wasn't talking about "tubes", and yes I have cut 1/2" using that method.

[Twayne]

No; go read it. He has to cut off a 2" strip; that's different. But it can still be done.

[Ron]

I was being sarcastic. Guess I should have added a