Cuttin my plexiglass

S

Slogan

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Joined

Sep 2, 2002

Location

VA

• Sep 16, 2002

• #1

well, as soon as i get pics i will post them.. but until then ill jsut tell you... the whole side of my case is plexiglass, and i jsut recieved my new thermaltake2 smart case 2 fan (which is a real frickin nice fan) and its an 80mm fan... my prob is, i gotta drill a hole in my plexiglass... i want to use a circle (hole) cutter to get a nice job done, but will this crack my plexiglass??? are there anyways i can cut this hole without cracking my plexiglass??? if so plz help....thnx

 

The Spyder

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Joined

Mar 25, 2002

Location

Oregon

• Sep 17, 2002

• #2

It wont crack it if:
1. You go SLOW
2. You drill a little, stop- remove the bit- let it cool
3. GO SLOW!

 

weponhead

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Joined

Jul 10, 2002

Location

maryland

• Sep 17, 2002

• #3

I dunno how much this would help seeing as i have yet to do this but maybe clamping it to a piece of 3/4 plywood .. or thicker.. "be sure to put a towel between the clamp and the plexi as it will scratch" and it might help some im not real sure but it couldnt hurt.

 

BinarySuperman

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Joined

Nov 13, 2001

Location

NY

• Sep 17, 2002

• #4

oh man i cracked acrylic so many times with a holesaw, then i became smart and used a dremel, with my stedy hand i made a nice hole.

 

M

Malt_Vinegar

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Jul 18, 2002

• Sep 17, 2002

• #5

I always use a high quality holesaw, and run water over the surface whilst drilling. That way the temperature remains low, and reduces melting/cracking, and results in a very clean, easy cut

 

Crash893

"The man in black fled across the desert,

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Joined

Mar 13, 2001

• Sep 17, 2002

• #6

is it heat that makes it crack i always thoguth it was the pressure or soemthing?

 

M

Malt_Vinegar

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Jul 18, 2002

• Sep 17, 2002

• #7

crash893 said:

is it heat that makes it crack i always thoguth it was the pressure or soemthing?

Click to expand...

well, i use the water to stop it melting, also as a lubricant of sorts*..However, i expect cracking is from pushing too hard, using a poor/wrong holesaw, and or using a low RPM drill..

Basically, if u have the correct tools it will work like a dream

*running water over the drilling helps remove the cut material out of the way, and allows more efficient drilling

 

Lusankya

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Joined

Aug 14, 2002

Location

Da Windy City / Chicago

• Sep 17, 2002

• #8

Tape up the area so you don't slip the bit across the plastic. DO NOT stop the drill while it is in the plastic.. you'll break something trying to get it out again.. the plastic will melt into the bit and make it almost 1 solid peice.

 

M

Malt_Vinegar

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Jul 18, 2002

• Sep 17, 2002

• #9

Lusankya said:

Tape up the area so you don't slip the bit across the plastic. DO NOT stop the drill while it is in the plastic.. you'll break something trying to get it out again.. the plastic will melt into the bit and make it almost 1 solid peice.

Click to expand...

running water stops this

 

o0OBruceLeeO0o

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Aug 18, 2002

Location

Charlotte, NC

• Sep 17, 2002

• #10

I read somewhere to put a peice of wood under it too, that it helps prevent cracking?

 

Cowinacape

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Aug 4, 2002

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Surrey Canada

• Sep 19, 2002

• #11

o0OBruceLeeO0o said:

I read somewhere to put a peice of wood under it too, that it helps prevent cracking?

Click to expand...

Backing it up with something, is to help keep you from acctually busting through the plexi ( i have done this more than once my self ) they do the same thing working with wood as well, back it with a pice of scrap wood, so the bottom piece of wood helps to keep the bit from pushing it's way through the first one, and rather drills/cuts it's way trough.

Like has been said over and over all ready, patience young jedi

Dan