The step drill bit is unique because you can use one drill bit for multiple applications to drill holes for more than one size. The step drill eliminates the tedious process of changing drill bits between each hole. Use button or socket heads instead (I prefer button). The most common uses for step drill bits are in aluminum or sheet metal. It doesnt matter if you are using one that is typically used for cutting two by fours, you will be able to cut it conveniently. I recently had a plastics place make me some 12" wide shelves with a turned up front to hold the sculptures I was putting on them out of 3/8" clear plexi. Otherwise, ensure that you are using an acrylic blade for every cut that you make. These sliding tees are also adjustable, so you can cut angles if desired. Commenting has been disabled. Is there a special bit to use with acrylic? Most step drill bits are self-drilling, so this should be easy to use. I just cut it with the blade in my bandsaw , which i think from memory is a 14 tooth 6mm wide blade. We have created these special content collections organized to give you a deep dive into a range of topics that matter. These have their own benefits, especially if you are using the circular saw or table saw. If you use fasteners, the holes must be large enough to clear, not so tight you have to work the fasteners through them. Using the oscillating tool slowly and cutting through the acrylic, perhaps even stopping on occasion to allow the blade to cool is the best choice. It will make a clean edge. Does the look of a tool/machine affect your buying decision? Doing so prior to the time that you break the acrylic at the mark will result in a much cleaner edge. The bit I have is shaped like a rounded arrow. Whichever way you cut it, it's not safer one way or another, it's about accuracy. Took all the saw marks out and polished the edge so you can't tell the difference. Sometimes when you make a small cut, the Plexiglass can break. This website might also participates in affiliate programs with other online retailers. First, allow the bit to contact the Plexiglass where you want to drill and mark it. For best results, I recommend the laser carbide 60-tooth saw blade when using a table saw cut plexiglass. Im not real keen on gumming up the tablesaw by doing this. Our website is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. UNLIMITED membership - Get access to it all. Like many different types of tools, using a laser is often done for a particular purpose. When Drilling Plexiglass With Step Drill Bit, 2. At least i think it is as it came from a youth offenders unit and was apparently very expensive. Is it a good choice and how can they be used properly? Is it a good choice? There are also some blades that are specific for cutting acrylic. For example, using a razor blade in a utility knife is a good idea. If you have a hacksaw available can you use it for cutting acrylic? I have cut a LOT of this stuff on my TS, with no signs of it being any worse for the wear, if you must use a circular saw, youll still need to get a decent blade made for plastic. use the finest blade you can find and run it fast. the hazards of a sharp drill is that it "digs in" cracking the plastic, while the blunted drill sort of wears thru. I just know it came from a young offenders unit and has been used to make several jigs and patterns. Scoring If you are cutting a smaller piece of Plexiglass with a utility knife, then you should score the line in a deep, straight fashion. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Once there's a tiny groove for the tool to ride in, it's pretty easy.forestgirl-- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl;-)Another proud member of the "IRocked With ToolDocClub". :>). At other times, however, the edge is going to be exposed and that is when you would benefit the most from using a blade made for acrylic. Thanks everyone for the information, sounds like I should be fine to cut it with what I have. What you are doing is making a score mark so that you can snap the acrylic. Plus tips, advice, and special offers from Fine Woodworking. We will consider them below. You may not copy the material in whole or in part on this site without permission. A place for community members to show off their customized PCs, discuss new ideas for their rigs and look for help getting their dream project off the ground. The best choice, however, is to use a power saw, such as a circular saw or jigsaw. One of the reasons why a hacksaw is such a great tool for cutting acrylic is because of the blade. You want to make sure that the edge is going to be clean enough so that you can dress it up and make it look as precise as possible. When cutting through Plexiglass using a utility knife, glass cutter, or box cutter, you can use the scoring method. Meaning it doesnt have a blade guard as a table saw does, making it highly dangerous to operate. Just used a normal combination blade. Acrylic, being brittle, can sometimes break from stress points such as threads and under wedging action such as flat head screws. You have not mentioned what blade you have on your saw. A razor can easily cut through a thin piece of Plexiglass, but you are not cutting the entire way through it. Just as in woodworking a router is sometimes used. Not everybody has a bandsaw available but if you are cutting Plexiglass and have one, can you use it? For small holes I usually run the drill in reverse and melt a hole through now. You'll be done in the time it would have taken to set up a powersaw, and safer. And place the piece of plywood over the top of the Plexiglass. If youre talking about a router table, forget it, the perspex would melt over everything and the cutter would not be reusable. The last time I cut acrylic I used the ts. And that plywood eliminates all the flutter and what youre left with is a clean, smooth cut from edge to edge with no chipping or flaking every time. Put the tools on a low speed setting to avoid overheating and melting the plastic back together. Its also a good idea to have on a long sleeve shirt, provided it doesnt get caught in the bandsaw because it is too loose. Finish the edge with a router. When drilling, build a channel first, and then you can drill through completely. You have to thru bolt; you can't thread into it. Instead of stopping at each step to measure the holes width, use tape and wrap it around the step drill bit at the stage where you want to stop drilling. Are you using an oscillating tool to cut acrylic? Not sure how wise that isbut I trust his 50 years of experience versus any reservations I might have! 1. Just done this with some 10mm plexi. I have the cutting tool which I use for the thin, non-glare acrylic for my picture frames. Hand saws also make an excellent choice for cutting any type of acrylic sheet. You should have no problem whatsoever.Unless the plastic is exceptionally thin,you probably won't even need a special blade either.It may be worth sliding a plywood or mdf false table into place to eliminate the risk of chipping.Routing can get interesting as you can generate enough heat to fuse the swarf into a mass behind the cut. I'll try that. If you have a variable speed circular saw, use a lower speed while cutting the acrylic. Generally speaking, you would want to use a circular saw or another power saw because they can cut through the area cleanly. Not for assembly or troubleshooting , but modification! When looking for these drill bits, if you look closely at a standard drill bit and a plastic drill bit, you will see the difference. Keep in mind that the Plexiglass cannot be thicker than the step drill depth when drilling. Tools regularly have been part of my life. It isnt going to be as beneficial as using a power saw, but if you practice before cutting on the acrylic, you might find that a hand saw is an excellent tool. Using a circular saw, what kind of blade is recommended for this? Thank you. Polycarbonate is more expensive, but won't shatter like acrylic so is safer and more durable if your object will be subjected to impact. I usually bring the blade up to it's full height. Also, I was going to use the drill press for the holes to mount the windows. Jigsaws are included among the different power tools that can be used to cut acrylic. Just take it slow. Some people have heard that it is possible to cut plexiglass with a box cutter. once you're done you can easily resharpen. Keep your hands steady on both sides of the material and always use a table saw guard. I thought it 10mm but it could be 12. Plexiglass drilling at home can be accomplished by using some of the following drill bits: Of course, you will need a drill driver to use all of the above drill bits. As he said standard twist drill don't work well (an understatement, for sure). A standard blade may work, but it will not work as well as one for acrylic. The blade youll need when using an oscillating multi-tool to cut Plexiglass is called (HSS Segment Blade); the (HSS Segment Blade) is has this particular shape looking similar to a half-moon shape, as you see in the image below. You can use it for making designs and it often results in a very nice looking finish. I never thought to change the speed and it cut ok. Are you sure that it was not polycarbonate? About: Hi, Im Julio. 2022 ePlastics | 1-858-560-1551 | info@eplastics.com, LuciteLux Satin Matte Frost Acrylic Sheets, Abrasion/UV Resistant Polycarbonate Sheets, Clear Polycarbonate Flame Inhibiting Sheets, UV & Abrasion Resistant Polycarbonate Sheets, Marine Grade Seaboard/Starboard HDPE Sheets, Free Standing Sneeze Guard with Pass Thru, Clear Acrylic Surgical Shield (Intubation Box), Free Standing Desk & Counter Barrier (Pack of 20). Become an UNLIMITED member and get it all: searchable online archive of every issue, how-to videos, Complete Illustrated Guide to Woodworking digital series, print magazine, e-newsletter, and more. You cant expect it to be used for a large-scale job of cutting Plexiglass, especially if you are trying to cut through it. You can use them for almost any purpose, but they are not always going to be the best choice when you have other tools available. I've cut the 1/4" flat stuff on the TS with a 10" combination Forest blade. You can also use the step drill bit to enlarge existing holes or create a countersink (a tapered, funnel-like hole) in thicker material. The best way to do so is to use a straight edge that is clamped to the acrylic and used by the jigsaw to maintain a straight line. In addition, the Dremel tool should be set to a speed of either 6 or 7. I don't know to be honest. Although it is important to choose the proper saw, it is better if you choose the proper blade. How to make a round dining table with hand tools? In addition, you may find that they result in a cleaner cut because they dont tend to melt the acrylic like other blades. Make sure that you are using a blade that is well suited for cutting acrylic if you are using an oscillating tool. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Ideas on how to frame acrylic sheet (for transparent room barrier), Epifanes clear varnish over penetrating epoxy, HELP! Our biweekly podcast allows editors, authors, and special guests to answer your woodworking questions and connect with the online woodworking community. I know it's not the same as a sheet, but the band saw and drill press did great jobs, better than my team and I (It's a Sr. Capstone project) could ever do by hand. Drilling in Plexiglass requires special commercially available drill bits. Turns out he just needs two small pieces -- 6" x 18" and 14" x 14". Click for full details. I made a base for my router out of 1/4 inch clear acrylic or polycarbonate, I don't remember which. Actually, it may be a great tool if used properly. just enough to remove the shearing action. In fact, there are times when you can simply cut the acrylic with a utility knife and a straight edge. I had a warrant officer who had separate drills for ferrous, non ferrous,and plastics - none of his staff would have been game to touch a piece of wood with these. I just used standard drills, taps and counter sinks. For example, if you need to stop in a half-inch hole. Next, with the partial cut made, flip the Plexiglass over so that the cut edge is against the crosscut carriages back. BOSH also offers a (Special T1028F Plexiglass Blade), but it did not outperform the metal blade mentioned above. For example, half a millimeter thick is a fragile material. Plastic Film If there is still a plastic film on the acrylic, it is better if you leave it in place. This holds the acrylic down to the table. When you need to cut Plexiglass and you only have an angle grinder available, is it a good choice? It is possible to cut Plexiglass with an angle grinder and it works quite well if you use the proper blade and work slowly, as to make a clean cut. Next, cut the entire length of the piece. It's held like a utility knife, but the design is different and it works better/easier. Metal tools have all of the same issues about sharpening and bed angles as do planes. If you treat it right you can use a lot of tools on it. If you are trying to cut it with a rip saw, on the other hand, you are not going to have the same benefit while doing so. If you move too quickly through the acrylic, it could result in cracking or chipping along the cut edge. I counter sunk the holes for the mounting screws and later drilled and tapped for 1/4 by 20 threads so that I could add a fence underneath. With each pass of the drill bit, youll see the hole get bigger and bigger. When husband has cut this it was with a blade like a box cutter or utility razor. Now, to avoid chipping a corner, start cutting only part of the sheet, then remove it and turn the table saw off. Is it the best choice for acrylic? Still, the blade did a great job when cutting Plexiglass. That being said, there is always a benefit to practicing on a scrap piece of material prior to the time that you cut any difficult or important cuts. JavaScript is disabled. Guide the Plexiglass through the saw by holding it firmly on both sides. The answer really depends on a number of factors. Have a straight edge available that is clamped in place and then continually run the box cutter along the straight edge to score deeply into the acrylic. It works quickly and effectively to make the cut when you do it properly. You could end up with a lot of scratches as it rubs against the tabletop. In addition, choose a saw blade that is made specifically for cutting acrylic so that it works as cleanly as possible. You can also consider the following tips to ensure that the acrylic you are cutting is as clean as possible. The real key to ensuring that everything goes as smoothly as possible is to use a fine-tooth blade.