Unsubscribe at any time. Drill. Position the wood so that the wood hole is centered over the pilot hole in the plexiglass, and clamp in place. No excuses! Here is a video on how to properly drill through acrylic plexiglass. Take the acrylic out of the clamps. This point angle must be ground to 60-90°. These bits have a different... 3. There’s a risk that the glass will crack if you drill all the way through. Clamp or hold down the acrylic while you drill the hole. http://www.plasticsandpaints.com/products_and_services.html, 10 years ago If you just drill a pilot hole then jump right to a big size bit you will likely crack the plastic. Or if you have to make a lot of the same size hole, you can use Forstner bit and cool the bit with a squeeze from a water bottle after every few millimeters of cutting. Two scraps of 2x4 lumber work great for this. You should also back up the plastic piece with a scrap of plywood or MDO. A plastic cutting drill bit has a sharper point and less pitch than a conventional drill and will make a smooth hole without riding up the drill bit. Did you make this project? The cut line may be sharp and uneven after snapping the acrylic sheet. 90° point, 0° rake. 5 years ago Rotate the piece so that the cut line is on the edge of the work surface. The gradually go up in drill bit sizes until you reach your desired diameter. Then sand down the cut edge to remove any sharp or uneven areas. Here are some examples . Use the saw at a slower speed, or keep the material cool by spraying water over the cut point during the saw operation. Just switch out the blade as directed in your saw's owner's manual before making the cut. Use a 10" plastic cutting saw blade to cut acrylic on a miter saw or table saw. If not, adjust the straight edge until it does. Plexiglass can scratch easily, which is why it's sold with a protective film on the surface. Conventional high speed drill bits do not work well with hard plastics. Conventional high speed drill bits do not work well with hard plastics. If you would like to keep up to date with my latest posts about DIY projects, woodworking and more, you can follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram. Purchases made through these links may earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. The gradually go up in drill bit sizes until you reach your desired diameter. The intense heat caused by the friction of the drill bit will stress the plexiglass resulting in cracking and chipping. If you do, tag me on Facebook or Instagram so I can check it out and share it! Note the sharp angle of the head and the long stretched spiral. How do you cut plexiglass without it cracking and breaking? This is especially difficult if you're trying to make circular porthole windows or other unusual shapes. The plexiglass drill bits have geometric structures different from the traditional drill bits that allow them to puncture easily through the acrylic. Once you’ve got the right tip angle you’ll be able to bring the drill bit in and out of the acrylic sheets without chipping the material. I'll show you how to cut acrylic or Plexiglass sheets with three different methods, so you can choose the one that works best for your project! Then arrange the straight edge so it's just slightly on the line and clamp it to the work surface. On the markings, place masking tape on the mark to help prevent chipping during the drilling process. . Hold down one side with one hand, and use a quick downward movement to snap the acrylic with the other. This will stop any splitting or cracking. First you need to drill a small diameter pilot hole to get started. Definitely, if you’re thinking of being an expert in acrylic fabrication, then […] It also is a MAJOR help to put the plastic flat onto a sheet of wood. Much slower speeds and better support are definitely a good idea, if possible. Reader assumes all responsibility for personal safety, injury or damages when attempting to re-create projects by The Handyman's Daughter or other guest authors. Slow to medium speeds work best when working with acrylics. This blog is for entertainment purposes and is not professional advice. Most people use drills for metal but the cutting blades at the head are in the wrong angle. Stop drilling before you break through the other side. You can use acrylic or Plexiglass in place of glass for lots of DIY projects. Before you drill the Acrylic sheet, make sure you place a wooden block or sheet underneath to stop the bit breaking through the bottom of the Acrylic. First your drill bit needs to reground to a very shallow angle, second the hole needs to be marked on masking tape and the back of the sheet supported with a block of clean, flat timber or board. Make 5-10 scratches with the scoring knife along the straight edge, until you've cut about halfway through the thickness of the plexiglass. ... go to lowes or home depot and get a plexiglass blade this will allow you to score the plexi and snap it clean off or bring them the size you need & they will cut it for you for only the cost of the plexi. Insert an acrylic point drill bit into the chuck of the drill and set it to a medium speed. For more tutorials regarding DIY synth and Circuit bending visit www.thebetatesters.net. Apply a strip of painter's tape to the cut line to prevent cracking. Drilling acrylic is not difficult if you have good tools and are drilling the right kind of acrylic sheet. Failing that, you have 2 other options on sheet plexi, besides a step bit. Subscribe to get project ideas, home improvement tips, woodworking plans and more delivered straight to your inbox! In this case, a circular saw, miter saw or table saw with the appropriate acrylic blade might be a better option. Progressively enlarging a small hole can be a disaster in Plexiglas because it invites the bit suddenly jam in the hole and will crack it … This barrier will help avoid cracking of the sheet when drilling the final hole. You have to buy them at specialist stores. I'm also thinking up a project or two for these fun colored acrylic sheets! Use a sanding block and progressively finer grits of sandpaper to create a smooth edge. Clamp the plexiglass sheet to the work surface for stability. Obviously I couldn't have used regular glass for this project, and the acrylic worked perfectly! If you want to drill in acrylic without the steps, use special drills for plastics. The method by which you choose to cut your plexiglass will be determined by just how thick it is. Steps 1. Well, how small of a diamater pilot hole would you drill? I plan to create a window panel with a cutout for a portable air conditioner vent that I can screw into the frame. For the best results, you'll want to support both sides of the cut line to reduce vibrations. Changing in 2mm steps worked OK for me from 2mm to 12mm standard steel drill bits. The problem with drilling plastic is that conventional bits will "catch" on the plastic, pulling the bit into the hole with more force than desired, typically cracking the plastic being drilled. Tip angles on standard drill bits are commonly 118-130°. I thought it was from drilling too large too fast but I wonder if it may be from something else. The faster the drill, the hotter the bit gets. I use standard bits, but I put the drill in reverse and go slower. Ive gotten great results by using the size bit i need with a piece of scrap wood under the work and drill slowly with a drill press, I've never gotten a bad hole yet (although i do prefer the thicker varieties). They will "ride up" a conventional drill bit and crack. Don't forget your safety gear! Acrylic sheets (also known as Plexiglass) are a great alternative to glass, especially when safety is a concern. You can finish the hole, directly, if you have a routing table. You should also back up the plastic piece with a scrap of plywood or MDO. For most ACRYLITE® acrylic sheet drilling operations, bits with a 90° tip angle should be used. Before drilling it’s always a good idea to start a pilot hole when working with any finished material. Standard metal drill bits will work, but without extensive modification, the metal drill bit will crack and chip the brittle acrylic sheet. Ahh, in that case being slow and methodical would help. Install a 7 ¼" plastic cutting saw blade in the circular saw. 10 years ago The see-through sides make it easy for him to spot that elusive piece at the bottom. I hope this post was helpful! Acrylic may be stronger than regular glass, but it's still brittle! Since the plastic in the video is able to flex up and down (minutely) it is no wonder the larger bit immediately catches and cracks it. Our upstairs windows crank out, which makes it difficult to install an air conditioner when the weather gets too hot. Drilling Acrylic: The Ultimate Guide Today, you’re going to learn about the process of drilling acrylic material. exit the acrylic without chipping. Knowing the proper drilling technique for making holes in plastic can save you a lot of headaches and ensure that your holes are clean and evenly cut. Slow to medium speeds work best when working with acrylics. For thin sheets of … A bit with a 90° tip angle will generate smaller chips which are easier to evacuate, reducing melting and improving hole quality. We drilled, tapped, sawed, bent, heated, you name it, and I can't remember it ever so much as forming even a small crack. Drilling a hole (like for a screw, or to start a hole for the jigsaw) can cause it to shatter if you don't use the correct drill bit. Line the plexiglass sheet along the cut line. Use a silicone sealant to fill the crack … Replace the oversized drill bit with the desired size bit. This barrier will help avoid cracking of the sheet when drilling the final hole. Anyone got any ideas? Keep renewing and cleaning holes after each step and put a bit more detergent on the the drill tip each time. Make it 1/64" to 1/32" larger than your desired finish size. Be sure to use the same amount of pressure at the beginning and end of the cut so the groove is even throughout. Apart from the power drill, you also need to have a piece of wood, permanent markers or grease oil, masking tape, and spray … . Use these drill bits to produce clean, chip-free holes in acrylic and other plastics. Good advice, sometimes I'm in a bit of a hurry so I use a piece of masking tape on both sides where I am going to drill, it does help reduce the splintering effect, I also modify my most popular bits by re-sharpening them to a greater angle, say 60-70 degrees. Once you’ve nearly reached the other side, stop. They're easy to cut and form into creative shapes that might be difficult to make with wood. No seven years of bad luck in this house! Thicker slabs are best handled by scoring; those of intermediate thickness can be cut well with a scroll saw; the thinnest are typically managed with a handheld rotary tool. In this case drill bits specifically made for Acrylic, Plexi, Plastic, etc. Use an O flute up spiral plastic cutting bit to cut acrylic with a router. Craftics 3/16" Plas-Drill Bit . Cutting acrylic on the table saw or miter saw is the same as cutting wood, so long as you use the correct blade. Remember that the 1/4 was only a pilot hole to guide the rest of the circle cutter - still no cracks. Water or a water soluble oil works well. I am installing an acrylic shower surround and just realized the shower spot will meet the top edge forcing me to either cut the hole right at the edge or tear up my newly installed gyrpoc to move the shower spout. If you cut too fast, the acrylic will melt from the heat the friction creates, and your project will be a mess! Once you’ve nearly reached the other side, stop. Keep this film in place to prevent the straight edge from marking the clear acrylic. 5 years ago They look like this. Acrylic (or acrylate) is available in two types: cast and extruded acrylic. It sometimes helps to apply a strip of painter's tape to the cut line first. It was trmendously expensive then, but as I recall, virtually indestructable. Click on the link here yo but a set of Titanium coated drill bits for drilling acrylic and plastic. Retract your drill bit from the hole often to let it cool. I recommend using a circular saw jig, or a circular saw guide to keep your cuts straight and to prevent the blade from wandering. Answer + 4. Go slow. Lay your acrylic sheet on a flat work surface, and mark the line to be cut. I didn't want a glass mirror next to the front door where it could get bumped or broken if the door slams. The key to cutting acrylic with a jigsaw is to keep the speed low. But before you can repair that broken windowpane or build that fun project, you need to know how to cut Plexiglass. Always support the acrylic sheet with a scrap piece of wood that you don't mind drilling holes into. Place foil HVAC tape over the drill location on both sides of the plexiglas. on Introduction. Clamp both sides to the work surface, put on your safety glasses, and slowly make the cut. Use acrylic point drill bits to drill holes in acrylic. Drilling holes in acrylic requires the use of a drill bit specially designed for use with plastics. Same here, but I do always drill one small pilot hole to ensure perfect centering. We won't send you spam. When you’re drilling close to an edge or near a corner, the bit has a tendency to catch as it exits and can crack the Plexiglass. I clamped a board down; held the plexi sheet down by hand; went at a decent, but cautious pace; and drilled 10 holes without a problem. There was an error submitting your subscription. Here's what you'll need! Can I drill the edge and if so any tips to avoid splitting the wall surround?? Lay the sheet on a flat surface and, using a yardstick and a permanent marker (or a grease marker), measure and draw the line you wish to cut. It doesn’t matter whether you want to make small or big holes. Read my full Terms of Use and Disclosures here. 2. Reverse drill bit if there is any likelyhood of drill sticking or cutting too big a bite and then gradually go through into sacrificial wood back support. Unfortunately, if you want to cut curves in acrylic, you can't use the score and snap method. on Introduction. This will allow the bit to easily enter and exit the acrylic without chipping. The head and the bigger the hole the worse it gets ACRYLITE® acrylic sheet and form creative! Acrylic sheets n't want a glass mirror next to the work surface hold down the edge... For metal but the cutting blades at the bottom different from the edge to remove any sharp uneven... Ll always use a jigsaw with a circular saw line to prevent the straight edge until it does smooth! To medium speeds work best when working with many types of plastics hole saw to your drill... Synth and Circuit bending visit www.thebetatesters.net windowpane or build that fun project, can. 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