What kind of jig saw blade to use to cut plexiglass or another cutting method

[PILOON]

I tried various lubricants and actually discovered liquid soap is a good lubricant for jigsaw cutting.
Masking tape also prevents scratches.
I like lubricating because if the blade jambs or sticks U risk shattering the plexiglass.

 

[Sonny580]

I have a thing,---looks like a glass cutter only has a sharp point instead of the wheel.---works super, no chipping, cracking, etc.! thanks; sonny580

 

[CADplans]

I have cut multiple plastics, including Plexiglas and Lexan, with the same method, using a table saw.

Use a carbide blade, BUT, mount the blade backward,, it cuts perfectly.

With the blade mounted normally, there is too much bite,, the plastic shatters.
With the blade reversed, you get an amazing cut.

That only works for straight cuts,, Maybe a bandsaw with the blade reversed would profile?
I never needed to try it,,,

 

[Rocky J]

I also use the 4 inch grinder with the black cut off wheel made to cut steel. I can cut a circle the size of a 5 gallon bucket. I just lay it on top and score it once then it is easy to follow it around a few more times till it is cut.Its not like cutting plywood with a circular saw, with this you stay up on top , you can feel it and see it. It leaves a melted small burr around the cut but rolls off easy with my thumb, touch the edges with a file so they are not sharp enough to cut me. We had the Plexiglas panels out of the front of a bunch of old projection TV we scrapped and needed windshields for our 4 wheeler and was on a budget, never cracked a one.

 

[johneic]

Thanks guys!, I really appreciate the help,

J

 

[jimmyj]

Use a fine tooth blade for hard woods or metal, also putting a strip of 2" masking tape over the cut will let you draw a cut line, prevent edge chipping, and shoe scuffing from the saw.

This, plus cutting at a very slow speed. I have cut thin lexan this way too (which isn't easy to cut, it's so brittle).

 

[Mendonsy]

Another thing that will help a lot when cutting thin material is a saw guide to keep the material from vibrating with the saw blade. I made two of these to fit my saber saw. This is the 12" one, the other one is 48" long.

 

[newbury]

Another thing that will help a lot when cutting thin material is a saw guide to keep the material from vibrating with the saw blade. I made two of these to fit my saber saw. This is the 12" one, the other one is 48" long.

That or clamp/tape some wood strips to prevent vibration.
Fine blade, slow speed forward, tape on both sides.

 

[TractorGuy]

I have cut a lot of it at work and usually use the table saw. Feeding the plastic slow makes a smoother cut but most of my projects were finished on a milling machine. I also purchased one of the scoring tools from a local glass shop and that works okay on thinner stuff. I would clamp a metal straight edge on the material for scoring. I had a long shear I used the clamp on to hold the material down to snap it. This method always leaves a sharp edge so if I wasn't planning to finish it on the milling machine I at least had to sand it.

All that said I prefer using Lexan (polycarbonate) whenever possible. It can be sheared on any shear that can handle whatever thickness you are using and can also be formed on a metal brake.

 

[roadhunter]

I have a thing,---looks like a glass cutter only has a sharp point instead of the wheel.---works super, no chipping, cracking, etc.! thanks; sonny580

This ^^.

I've cut thousands of pieces of plexi when I worked at a picture framing ship in high school. You simply score and snap.

A basic tool like this is made for cutting plexiglas.
Logan Acrylic Plastic Cutter 79-1 for Plexi Glass and Thick Plastic and Acrylic | eBay