How to Cut Acrylic Sheet

Acrylic Sheets

Acrylic sheets are a widely used plastic material. Acrylic resembles glass in appearance, but is not as fragile. It is used to make furniture and containers. Artists also employ acrylic sheets to create sculptures and dioramas. As acrylic is a thermoplastic, it must be cut in ways that do not generate high heat.

Things You'll Need

• Marking pen
• Coping saw
• Vice (optional)
• Emery cloth

Instructions

1. Place your acrylic sheet on a flat surface. If necessary, prevent the sheet from moving by securing it lightly with a vice. Do not tighten the vice too much, as you do not want to crack the acrylic.

2. Draw a line on the acrylic sheet at the edge of the area to be removed, using a marker. The area to be removed should be hanging off the table.

3. Use a coping saw to cut along the line. Do not twist off the excess acrylic. Wait until it comes free.

4. Discard the excess acrylic. Polish the cut edge of the acrylic sheet with the emery cloth.

Tips & Warnings

• If cutting a complex pattern, release the vice and gradually move the edge of the acrylic sheet off the table so as to expose the sheet to the blade of the coping saw. Reset the vice in each new position.

• Do not use a circular saw to cut acrylic sheet. Circular saws generate too much heat and will cause the acrylic to melt or burn.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• United States Plastic Corp. acrylic sheets and other plastics
• Sears coping saws, hardware, furniture, clothing, and other goods
• Ace Hardware emery cloth, sandpaper, tools