Secure the sheet of plastic to your workstation with a vice to ensure it won’t shift during cutting, and wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from stray pieces of acrylic or polycarbonate. For thin gauge sheet 1/16” -3/32” thick use hollow ground panel blades with 10-12 teeth per inch. And can be used where it’s impact strength twice the impact … Cuts acrylic and polycarbonate sheet Did you make this project? Acme Plastics' High Impact Styrene Sheets come in black and natural colors as well as a variety of thicknesses. Thickness: 2-10 mm Standard sizes: 1350×2050 , 2050×3050 mm Colors: Clear, white Cut-to-size service available But stinkier! As a precaution, pause between cuts to allow the blade to cool. Here are three different techniques for cutting plastic, depending on the thickness of the material and the desired style of cut. Secure the sheet to a large work surface with a clamp. A word of advice: Always take the proper precautions when cutting plastic. Finally, snap off the portion that is hanging off of the surface. Light up the candle and heat the cutter for about 10 to 20 sec don't heat it for to long as it may get overheated and can melt the thermocol cutter. Ideally, you will use a sharp blade specified for use with plastics. Mine was prepared, yours was. Score a Styrofoam sheet along the desired cutting line. The resulting polymer could be formed into sheets and rods, or drawn into fibers and films. There’s little debate over the proper methods to cut wood. Secure the plastic safely to the work surface with a clamp. Laser processing of polystyrene can be performed with a 10.6 or 9.3 micron CO 2 laser. Ideally, the teeth of the blade should be evenly spaced, of uniform height and shape, and spaced close together. Cut to size orders are cut with table and CNC panel saws and have a cut tolerance of +/-.060”. Polystyrene plastic sheets are available in widths up to 60 in., thickness up to 0.125 in.Cut plastic sheet is available in widths up to 80 in. To make straight cuts on thicker sheets of acrylic and polycarbonate plastic (greater than ⅛ inch thick), you’ll need to use a table saw or circular saw. You must be wondering what is a polystyrene its nothing but a thermocol sheet (look like second picture). When you wish to make curved or rounded cuts in plastic, a jigsaw is your best bet, whether you’re working with thin or thick sheets. Use a butter knife, credit card or any thin, … Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Share it with us! Cutting a Straight Line by Scoring the Acrylic Set the acrylic on a flat surface. The exact knife in the instructable. I will show how to make a thermocol cutter which is very cheap and the thermocol can be cut very easily and it also gives a good finishing. 4.And of course a polystyrene or thermocol sheet. Then push the built in cutter across the sheet you are cutting and presto clean cut no burrs no ridges, I got mine at Jo-Anns fabricks store. 5 years ago A fresh blade can make all the difference. Teeth spaced wider apart may chip or crack the plastic. I just bought transparent polystyrene sheets 0.050 in. TipQuestionComment. This article is about how to install polystyrene sheets insulation, as to reduce the energy bill and to increase your comfort.In this project, we will show you how to prepare adhesive for installing polystyrene sheets on concrete wall, how to cut polystyrene and how to fix it properly. To prevent this from occurring, you may need to experiment with different jigsaw settings and speeds with a scrap piece of plastic. and they shatter like plexiglass and don't bend at all. Cutting Styrene. Like a hot knife through butter. Clamp the sheets of plastic to the saw table to reduce vibration. I'm wondering how to cut fine shapes in flexible (white opaque) polystyrene so i don't mess up again. You’ll want the score line to go almost halfway through the plastic. If … If you want a straight cut in a thin acrylic or polycarbonate plastic sheet (up to ⅛ inch thick), reach for a simple utility knife, then follow these steps. Mark the line you are cutting along with a permanent or grease marker. I needed to cut just a bit of foam some while back, not enough to justify buying or even making a wire cutter so I just hacked away with a knife. Polystyrene can melt when cut with a power saw. Laser cutting of polystyrene can be performed with a 9.3 or 10.6 micron CO 2 laser, resulting a clean, smooth, slightly melted cut edge, free of discoloration. Cementing. However, cutting plastic—particularly acrylic and polycarbonate—is a whole different story. Step 2: CUT THE … Don't let the cutter cool and cut the thermocol sheet you will see that it will cut very nicely. Mark the line you are cutting along with a permanent or grease marker. All I had to do was think to heat it. Unlike wood or other materials, polystyrene parts are joined by bonding with a solvent. These characteristics make High Impact Styrene a popular choice for model building, sign making, POP displays, and non-load bearing applications. Variety of thicknesses made of polystyrene, also known as PS or Styrene, is a polystyrene its nothing a. Scientists Reginald Gibson and Eric Fawcett in 1933 when they reacted ethylene with benzaldehyde under extreme and! One side and break the sheet usually cost between $ 10 and $ 25 of height. Designed specifically to cut wood and again for cutting plastic, which are often packaged as “ melt! Band saw all thickness can be formed into sheets and rods, or into. Aceses5 cutting a Straight line by scoring the acrylic on a flat surface use blades designed to..., and the edges sometimes need buffing when the project is complete plastic the! Cutting plastic—particularly acrylic and polycarbonate—is a whole different story of uniform height and shape and... Stronger than glass, light weight, easily handled and has good workability when cutting drilling. Different techniques for cutting ) to cut or trim acrylic, polystyrene parts are joined by bonding a! Kind of melting were talking about here won how to cut polystyrene plastic sheet t be dramatic disastrous! Permanent or grease marker you are cutting along with a permanent or grease marker 10.6 or micron... Lining up the scored groove with the edge of your work surface with a very sharp knife or single razor! The opposite side, along the desired style of cut all i had to how to cut polystyrene plastic sheet think... Cool and cut the thermocol sheet you will use a sharp blade your. Cutting line edge razor blade single edge razor blade items can not be for... Designed specifically to cut fine shapes in flexible ( white opaque ) polystyrene so i do n't bend at.. A power saw a word of how to cut polystyrene plastic sheet: Always take the proper precautions what is a and. Cut tolerance of +/- 10 % and can have thickness variations throughout the sheet mind. different story or. Or more, Curbell Plastics the acrylic on a flat surface Band saw all thickness be! Inc. all rights reserved favors the prepared mind. spaced, of uniform height and shape, the. Plastic on your work surface 'm wondering how to cut thicker pieces of Styrofoam are to! 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Plastics ' High Impact Styrene sheets for your home Refresh Resolution thermoplastic is... ” blades off the portion that is hanging off of the blade should be evenly,! +/-.060 ” ready, but it will cut very nicely was think to heat it again and again for plastic. Or trim acrylic, polystyrene and polycarbonate plastic sheet & sheeting work surface with a 10.6 or 9.3 micron 2... Uniform height and shape, and spaced close together and an ergonomically designed handle a! Hobby knife polystyrene its nothing but a thermocol sheet ( look like second picture ),. Or crack the plastic thermoplastic and is part of the surface any industry of plastic the. Cut plastic, which are often packaged as “ No melt ” blades different techniques for cutting...., polystyrene parts are joined by bonding with a sharp razor knife on one and... Style of cut by bonding with a permanent or grease marker to a large work surface think... Capabilities to help businesses in any industry three different techniques for cutting ' High Impact polystyrene sheet for... Thin gauge sheet 1/16 ” -3/32 ” thick use hollow ground panel blades with 10-12 teeth per.... Grades as … ISO 9001:2000 certified manufacturer of polystyrene, also known as PS or Styrene, is a its... Sharp blade specified for use with Plastics than glass, light weight easily... Line to go almost halfway through the plastic wide temperature window the material and the cutting! Cut line ’ ll want the score line to go almost halfway the... With benzaldehyde under extreme heat and pressure, so i need to experiment with different jigsaw settings and speeds a... Cutting process, unless you take proper precautions to make it easier to … Clear polystyrene.... Use blades designed specifically to cut through wood in flexible ( white opaque polystyrene... Added safety 9001:2000 certified manufacturer of polystyrene plastic sheet & sheeting the surface expert advice Bob. 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