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 (a guide to which plastic you should choose) 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.
About author
James Bryant
Founder
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.
We're Here to Help
Our Help Centre is available 24/7 to explore FAQs, discover DIY ideas and advice, and even ask our community of fellow DIY enthusiasts.
Ordered oak veneered mdf board. Look and quality of veneer better than I had hoped for.
DEVON BEN,
17 hours ago
Verified
Cut plastic
Plastic cut to size and delivered quickly. I have used this seller before and will again for all my cut plastic needs.
Richard Turner,
19 hours ago
Verified
Excellent service
Excellent service. Arrived on time, the perfect size and well packaged.
Alex S,
1 day ago
Verified
Thanks very much.
Thanks very much.
Whitegate Joinery,
1 day ago
Verified
Quick turnaround
Great service / comms and delivery time.
Thank you!
Pissed off of Peterborough,
1 day ago
Verified
Perfect for the job in hand
Perfect for the job in hand.
Delivery took longer than expected.
W Carr,
1 day ago
Verified
Cut plastic to exact size
Cut plastic to exact size all fitted perfectly in my greenhouse i have inherited on my new allotment plot
Barry Customer,
1 day ago
Verified
Exactly as ordered and delivered on time
Exactly as ordered and delivered on time
Darran McDade,
1 day ago
Verified
Great product
Happy with the product (perspex table top), also with the customer service, they were helpful after I made a mistake with my measurements. The only thing I would say slightly negative is that I did order a polished edges (as I have very young children) but the table tops edges albeit polished - at the 'bottom' parts of the edging they are still very sharp, enough for a serious cut, god forbid a child would drag their hand along. As I am not sure if the perspex wouldn't crack if we tried to 'smooth' that edging ourselves, for now we've put a sellotape all around the edging and that made it ok.
Miss Silvia D,
1 day ago
Verified
Good price and service.prompt delivery.
Good price and service.prompt delivery.
Richard Rugman,
1 day ago
Verified
Brilliant service
Brilliant service, ordered what was required online and called to discuss which way I wanted the grain of the wood. Everything arrived in a timely manner and was perfect. No damaged edges or anything
Carl Swift,
1 day ago
Verified
very easy to organise
very easy to organise
john hawkins,
1 day ago
Verified
I'm a very happy returning customer.
I've used My Cut a few times now. I'm very happy with the quality of the wood and cut. Plus the wood is always packed well for delivery. I've actually just ordered another piece of wood cut to size.
Alan,
1 day ago
Verified
We ordered two specific sized 250x250mm…
We ordered two specific sized 250x250mm pieces in ash and maple for comparison and both pieces just perfect in quality and finish
ISL,
1 day ago
Verified
Easy to order on line -perfect sizing prompt delivery
Easy to order on line -
Guest,
1 day ago
Verified
Good communication
At the beginning there was a delay with the order, this was fine because the company gave me a heads up that there would be a delay. The product arrived well packed so no worries about any damaging. I would just say personally I think it was a bit expensive but I needed such a small quantity it wasn't worth buying my own frosted acrylic sheet and doing it myself. I would definetely recommend this company because they service is quick and reliable.
Customer,
2 days ago
Verified
The measuring process was simple, straightforward and worked well
The process of measuring, ordering and receiving the sheets was straightforward and the final product was excellent and fitted perfectly. I have no hesitation in recommending the company and the product
Raymond Couch,
2 days ago
Verified
Looks great!
Easy website and not that much more expensive than doing from scratch but far less hassle.
Elizabeth,
2 days ago
Verified
Spot on!
Spot on!
Firstly, outstanding packaging so as to prevent delivery damage - very important yet often overlooked.
Secondly, I know this company make the claim to cut to exact size... but they really did! The piece was for a specific place (as I'm sure all their work is) and it had to be millimetre perfect ...and it was!! I said 1161mm and it was exactly 1161mm, including the finished edge. Not a hair's breadth of gap can be seen - it's perfection - thank you!
Mark Ryan,
2 days ago
Verified
Hi, Good day to you Unfortunately, ordered product was not suited for my purpose. So kindly revoke the product ASAP. Thanks
Hi,
Good day to you
Unfortunately, ordered product was not suited for my purpose.
So kindly revoke the product ASAP.
Thanks
Paramalingam Pakiratharuban,
2 days ago
Subscribe to our email newsletter
Sign up here for our occasional email newsletter with new products, design ideas and discounts across our huge and growing range of products. (You can unsubscribe at any time of course.)