How to easily cut acrylic sheet

This video shows how to easily cut acrylic sheet such as Perspex, Lucite, Plexiglas, Optix, Oroglas, Acrylite, Sumipex, Cryolite etc. Most saws can be used to cut acrylic sheet but if you don’t have one of those a simple knife and straight edge can be used to scribe break the acrylic. In this video a jigsaw is used as well as a circular saw and a table saw to cut acrylic sheet as well as a scroll saw and even a coping saw.

[tannerolsen]

This video is 3 years old and still the best video on cutting acrylic on the internet. Great job.

[theprecisedeveloper]

Excellent video. No rubbish, no time wasting, no silly background music. Absolute gold mate. Helped me a lot.

[lesschattermoresplatter]

If you’re interested in an easier way, draw your cut line on the protective paper then take a finger full of Vaseline and smear it down the line. The Vaseline being clear let’s you see where to cut and you can cut at a higher speed with a jigsaw without the acrylic melting and gumming up on the blade. It also gives you a really nice clean edge. You could cut it on a table saw this way also.

[ultimatehandyman]

I have been making things from acrylic since I was at school, it is one of the easiest materials to work with and can easily be cut to shape, polished or bent.  Acrylic is waterproof, can be used externally with no issues and is often guaranteed for 10 years!

I hope everyone has a great Sunday ;-)

[Jestunes]

I used to be the lead table saw operator at Midwest Trophy shop in Oklahoma and I used most of the methods you used to cut acrylic. I do have one more tool to mention and it's the one tool I use the most for many different types of material, and that is a radial arm saw. Similar to the sliding mitre saw but more versatile. Great video for those who don't know how to cut acrylics or plexiglass. Thanks for sharing...

[johncasey]

Just replaced the siding on my 12' x 8' back porch with 7 sheets of 8' x 4' x 1/4" clear acrylic. Got the metal jig saw blade thanks to this video's recommendation and it worked like a charm. Little issue with the blade overheating, but just required stopping for a few seconds and then starting again. I love my fish tank. LOL. Thanks.

[andyhastings]

I love how you muted the sound for the circular saw section, great attention to detail. Well done sir. 👍🏻

[harrystevens]

I watched them all on cutting acrylic and your video is the best I then (after watching your video) managed to scribe cut a new A5 sheet into 4 equal pieces for a project, Thank you!!

[mikes]

As usual very informative and thorough vid. Thank you. I've just completed a job using 10 by 4 x 2mm thick acrylic sheets sheets used to line walls in areas used for food preparation, in fact its a cellar in a pub where the barrels are stored. Using large sheets presents a problem but I used nothing more than a hand saw (crosscut) at a shallow angle and sanded one of the edges for a decent finish. I have to stress that my cut ends were hidden by joining/corner strips, but as long as you don't force the saw through the material i.e. let it cut, the finish is very respectable. I used the same to resolve an issue in my lads salon, part the kitchen area goes under the pavement from the street above. Applying all sorts of paints and anti mould paints did nothing. Re-lining with fresh plasterboard battened away from the wall only delayed things. The plastic/acrylic sheeting has done a really good job as well as brightening a fairly dingey area. Keep em coming, I really enjoy your vids. Regards Mike

[ianclark]

Love these vids - proper no nonsense Northerner who gets straight to the point and explains it all clearly

[ianmackenzie]

This video couldn't have come at a better time. My pre-teen twin boys cracked the aged acrylic backboard of their backyard basketball hoop. Now I have the know-how to replace myself. Thanks for what you do!

[caskwith]

Some great tips there. For certain cuts I find lubrication really helps, especially for drilling. Plain soapy water is all I use. Of course for things like a table saw or bandsaw this is not really a good idea but it works fine with a jigsaw or coping saw.

[AlexCren]

Thank you so much for this video! I boogered up a few cuts then went looking for an instructional video. It is still taking awhile to do because my blade keeps heating up, but no more wasted acrylic sheet!!!

[robfielding]

Really good informative video. I couldn’t believe it worked with the circular saw😳

[mathersdavid]

Outstanding video on this topic. Inspires confidence when about to cut that expensive, fragile-looking sheet!

[oby-]

Excellent tips. My nephew had a rock take out the back window on our tractor. ( second time this window has broken ). So I will be using your principles to replace with acrylic. Thank you.

[johnjackson]

That table saw looks tasty!
Thanks for the video and the effort that you go to 👍

[dizzyth]

Thankyou for such an easily grasped video from a woman diyer. 😊

[michaelosmon]

I just had to cut some 5mm Optix brand acrylic. Used a jigsaw with a fine tooth metal blade. I had some issues with it melting but just kept compressed air blowing on the cut as I cut and slowed down even more and it worked for me. Thanks for showing me how to cut it

[machiningbasics]

Hah I'm still at school and my god we munch through this stuff!! I have way to many laser cut acrylic tool boxes ! I have just finished copying your tool box liners for my Stanley on site 19in tool box. I cut mine out with my cheapo bandsaw on low speed Have a great weekend!