Cutting acrylic or other plastics isn’t a whole lot different than cutting wood, Richard. Feed it too slowly and friction from the blade may melt the acrylic, resulting in a poor-quality cut. Or as an alternative, cut pieces slightly oversize initally, then use a template to bring the piece to final size and create smooth edges, shown below.
It can be challenging to find the right band saw blade for plastic, as there are all kinds of band saw blade for plastic brands to choose from, such as POWERTEC, OLSON SAW, Imachinist, AYAO, DEWALT. We have done a lot of research to find the top 21 Best Band Saw Blades for Plastic available. Our experts tested a variety of band saw blades for plastic at all prices from $6 to $29 in the market. For more of our top picks, read on! Also, check out our buying guide for some suggestions on how to choose the right band saw blade for plastic.
Blades are stainless steel with a diamond-grit edge that cuts hard, abrasive materials such as carbon fiber, ceramics, masonry, glass, composites, quartz, and silicon. Carbide grit bonded to alloy steel blades cuts through hard materials such as hardened steel, graphite, fiberglass, composites, and nickel alloys including Hastelloy and Inconel.
best bandsaw blade for plastic Related Question:
What blade is best for cutting plastic?
Cutting Thick Sheets of Plastic 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. Use blades designed specifically to cut plastic, which are often packaged as “No Melt” blades.
Can band saw cut through plastic?
Plastics may be cut using multi-axis CNC saws or manual circular or band saw blades. Below are guidelines for sawing several performance plastics. Thick-walled parts should be sawed with relatively thin blades to avoid excessive frictional heat generation. Well-sharpened, strongly offset saw blades are recommended.
Can I use a bandsaw to cut plexiglass?
For cutting large quantities or extremely thick (more than 1″) pieces of Plexiglass, a bandsaw is the perfect tool. As compared to our previous tools, bandsaws require more safety considerations such as goggles, gloves, and a large work area for cutting.
How do you cut thick hard plastic?
Cutting hard plastic with a saw: You can effectively cut thick hard plastic with a hand saw, jigsaw, or a table saw. For each type of saw, pick a blade with a high tooth count, which will give you a smoother cut.
How do you cut plastic without cracking it?
Using a Hand Saw The important thing is to use a fine-toothed blade. You can use a hacksaw, hand jigsaw, or fine-toothed saw. Although it will take some work and muscle power, a hand saw is perhaps the best way to get a clean cut without breaking, snapping, or melting your plastic.
What can I use to cut plastic?
You can use a hacksaw, fine-toothed saw, circular saw, or jigsaw to cut plastic. If you use a hacksaw or circular saw, you’ll also need a plastic cutting blade. Avoid using saws or blades with large teeth because they will chip or break the plastic and create rough edges.
Can a metal saw cut plastic?
Scroll saws are great because they can be used for just about any type of material. You can use them for making fine cuts in hard and softwoods, plastics, and various kinds of metals including copper and even steel.
What blade do you use to cut plexiglass?
To cut plexiglass neatly, you should use jigsaw blades that are bi-metal and have ten teeth per inch (10 TPI). You can also use blades that are hollow ground and very sharp. Avoid blades that are very fine because they can melt the plastic and may clog it.
What kind of blade Do I need to cut plexiglass?
For best results with Plexiglas® MC acrylic sheet, circular saw blades should be the largest diameter possible and contain 60 carbide-tipped teeth with a triple-chip-tooth design. Teeth should be shaped with a 5° to 10° positive rake angle and have sharp cutting edges with adequate clearance.
What is the best tool to cut plexiglass?
Fit a circular saw or table saw with a fine blade with crosscut teeth to prevent chipping the piece during the cut. Line the plexiglass sheet along the cut line. Use the saw at a slower speed, or keep the material cool by spraying water over the cut point during the saw operation.
How do I choose a bandsaw blade?
Use coarse tooth blades (2 or 3 TPI) for re-sawing and cutting thicker materials. For general wood cutting duties in typical 3/4″ material, use a 4 TPI blade for coarse, fast cutting and a 14 TPI blade for slower, smoother cutting. A blade in the 6 to 8 TPI range provides good general-purpose performance.
Is more TPI better?
Woodworkers quickly learn that the number of teeth-per-inch (TPI) on the blade has a big impact on the quality of a cut. The general rule of thumb is “the more TPI, the smoother the cut.” The true answer, however, is just a little more complicated than that, as you’ll learn once you understand how saw teeth work.
What does TPI mean on a bandsaw blade?
You must select the correct Teeth Per Inch (TPI) for the thickness of material you are cutting.
How can the edges of plastic be smoothed and polished?
Begin by smoothing out the edges of your acrylic with 180 grit sandpaper and wet sand the edges. Rinse your sandpaper as needed to stop it clogging up. As the edges level and smooth move onto the sandpaper with the grit of 320 – 360 to give a more polished finish.
Can a box cutter cut plastic?
Using only a box cutter and a ruler (and a clamp if you need one) you too can cut plastic. *for this tutorial, i used scrap plastic. You should never take the protective film off of your plastic until the last possible minute to avoid scratches.