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 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.
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Simple and easy way to obtain small amounts of steel for DIY jobs. I got exactly what I needed at a sensible price.
Bruce,
23 minutes ago
Verified
Ivory tops
Took a bit longer for delivery but excellent product even though I measured one piece wrong!
Customer,
31 minutes ago
Verified
Excellent product and speedy delivery.
Excellent product and speedy delivery.
Beth Howe,
11 hours ago
Verified
Cut to accurate sizes, good quality
Cut an accurate sizes, prompt delivery for a great price Many thanks
customer,
12 hours ago
Verified
Service very efficient and easy to use…
Service very efficient and easy to use and order, also a quick turn around from ordering to delivery. Many thanks Keith
Keith Jones,
12 hours ago
Verified
Hassle free
Hassle free
Stephen Mckelvie,
13 hours ago
Verified
The company did well a pity about the…
The company did well a pity about the delivery people dos I would only give them 1 star
Denis Smith,
20 hours ago
Verified
It was really easy to order and very…
It was really easy to order and very easy to put up. A great price too
Gill,
1 day ago
Verified
Accurate and reasonably priced.
Due to no longer having my own workshed after a move to sheltered accommodation and thus unable to utilise my own tools, I did a web search for someone to help me. 'Cut My' was my my choice. All I can say is that they cut the ply of varying thickness absolutely accurately and at a reasonable price. The ordering was easy (once I got the hang of what was required) and not needing the items in any particular hurry and specifying basic delivery the order was delivered in a decent time. I have bookmarked 'Cut My' and if the circumstances arrive, will use them again. (Maybe a pair of hi fi speaker cabinets in the future!)
Ian Gray,
1 day ago
Fantastic company
Fantastic company, brilliant customer service. 3 parts of my order were supplied incorrect, I emailed late afternoon when I received the items, next day I received an email informing me that the correct sizes would be rushed to me, indeed they were, a few days later and the correct items were received. I will definitely use again for future projects.
Timtom,
1 day ago
Verified
Shelves were cut exactly to size and…
Shelves were cut exactly to size and fitted perfectly. They were packed really well and arrived in good condition. I have used Cut My twice so far and will definitely use them again when I need more shelves.
Mrs Woods,
2 days ago
Verified
Great service
Great service, quality product
Daniel Warren,
2 days ago
Verified
Very good quality and easy to install.
Very good quality and easy to install.
Daniel Watson,
2 days ago
Verified
Excellent service would definitely buy…
Excellent service would definitely buy again
Donna Carter,
2 days ago
Verified
Perfect
I’ve order bit wrong shade but otherwise cut perfectly and delivered quickly with no quality issues.
CollectPlus Customer,
2 days ago
Verified
Excellent product quality
Excellent product quality, well packaged and great price
Customer,
2 days ago
Verified
Really good reliable company. Highly recommended.
I used them quite a few times while refurbishing a kitchen. Outstanding service and outstanding products. Everything was first class. The delivery company they use are not great - just left packages propped up against front door. All in all though - 5 stars.
Derek Janes,
2 days ago
Verified
Fantastic product
Fantastic product, many thanks. Would use again !!
Sue Thompson,
2 days ago
Verified
Excellent product.
The product is excellent. The sizing and cutting to size is very useful.
Be cautious of the website, it is a nuisance in that if you go back to review anything it re-sets to its default setting. You need to be careful that it hasn't changed anything or you will find yourself paying £30 for a 100mmx 50mm piece of material!
Ian Morris,
2 days ago
Verified
Excellent good quality product
Excellent product was exactly what I was looking for to repair broken glass panels from my Greenhouse. Have never used Shatterproof window panels before very easy to apply to Greenhouse fitted perfectly and very sturdy and competitive price. Very satisfied with product and service. All goods was well packaged.
Emcg,
2 days ago
Verified
Easy to order and cost effective.
Simple and easy way to obtain small amounts of steel for DIY jobs. I got exactly what I needed at a sensible price.
Bruce,
28 minutes ago
Verified
Ivory tops
Took a bit longer for delivery but excellent product even though I measured one piece wrong!
Customer,
36 minutes ago
Verified
Excellent product and speedy delivery.
Excellent product and speedy delivery.
Beth Howe,
11 hours ago
Verified
Cut to accurate sizes, good quality
Cut an accurate sizes, prompt delivery for a great price Many thanks
customer,
12 hours ago
Verified
Service very efficient and easy to use…
Service very efficient and easy to use and order, also a quick turn around from ordering to delivery. Many thanks Keith
Keith Jones,
13 hours ago
Verified
Hassle free
Hassle free
Stephen Mckelvie,
13 hours ago
Verified
The company did well a pity about the…
The company did well a pity about the delivery people dos I would only give them 1 star
Denis Smith,
21 hours ago
Verified
It was really easy to order and very…
It was really easy to order and very easy to put up. A great price too
Gill,
1 day ago
Verified
Accurate and reasonably priced.
Due to no longer having my own workshed after a move to sheltered accommodation and thus unable to utilise my own tools, I did a web search for someone to help me. 'Cut My' was my my choice. All I can say is that they cut the ply of varying thickness absolutely accurately and at a reasonable price. The ordering was easy (once I got the hang of what was required) and not needing the items in any particular hurry and specifying basic delivery the order was delivered in a decent time. I have bookmarked 'Cut My' and if the circumstances arrive, will use them again. (Maybe a pair of hi fi speaker cabinets in the future!)
Ian Gray,
1 day ago
Fantastic company
Fantastic company, brilliant customer service. 3 parts of my order were supplied incorrect, I emailed late afternoon when I received the items, next day I received an email informing me that the correct sizes would be rushed to me, indeed they were, a few days later and the correct items were received. I will definitely use again for future projects.
Timtom,
1 day ago
Verified
Shelves were cut exactly to size and…
Shelves were cut exactly to size and fitted perfectly. They were packed really well and arrived in good condition. I have used Cut My twice so far and will definitely use them again when I need more shelves.
Mrs Woods,
2 days ago
Verified
Great service
Great service, quality product
Daniel Warren,
2 days ago
Verified
Very good quality and easy to install.
Very good quality and easy to install.
Daniel Watson,
2 days ago
Verified
Excellent service would definitely buy…
Excellent service would definitely buy again
Donna Carter,
2 days ago
Verified
Perfect
I’ve order bit wrong shade but otherwise cut perfectly and delivered quickly with no quality issues.
CollectPlus Customer,
2 days ago
Verified
Excellent product quality
Excellent product quality, well packaged and great price
Customer,
2 days ago
Verified
Really good reliable company. Highly recommended.
I used them quite a few times while refurbishing a kitchen. Outstanding service and outstanding products. Everything was first class. The delivery company they use are not great - just left packages propped up against front door. All in all though - 5 stars.
Derek Janes,
2 days ago
Verified
Fantastic product
Fantastic product, many thanks. Would use again !!
Sue Thompson,
2 days ago
Verified
Excellent product.
The product is excellent. The sizing and cutting to size is very useful.
Be cautious of the website, it is a nuisance in that if you go back to review anything it re-sets to its default setting. You need to be careful that it hasn't changed anything or you will find yourself paying £30 for a 100mmx 50mm piece of material!
Ian Morris,
2 days ago
Verified
Excellent good quality product
Excellent product was exactly what I was looking for to repair broken glass panels from my Greenhouse. Have never used Shatterproof window panels before very easy to apply to Greenhouse fitted perfectly and very sturdy and competitive price. Very satisfied with product and service. All goods was well packaged.
Emcg,
2 days ago
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