- Joined
- Dec 30, 2000
- Location
- New Jersey
What is good at cutting Lexan?
-
Welcome to Overclockers Forums! Join us to reply in threads, receive reduced ads, and to customize your site experience!
What is good at cutting Lexan?
- Thread starter JML
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2002
- Location
- Oregon
jigsaw with a lots of tooth per inch blade, a holesaw, and a knife 
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2002
- Location
- Lewiston Maine
A table saw for good straight lines and notches use a band saw / jig saw (24+ teeth pi) for round edges ect. Hole saw for fans and drill for making vents
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2000
- Location
- Lawrenceville, GA
I use a Roto-Tool. It's a saw that looks like a drill but the drill bit actually cuts. Makes a very clean cut in about anything.
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2002
- Location
- VA
dremel
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2001
- Location
- Glendora, California
jigsaw, blade 21tpi or more (23 or 25 should work perfect)
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2002
- Location
- Denver, CO
Idealy, a laser would be the best thing to cut lexan. But chances are good that you don't have one laying around the house, in which case, a 2.5 amp+ jigsaw will do (with a 25 tpi). The Bosch teeth are very nice and strong.
Or you can use a dremel like I did my first time cutting it. Went through 4 wheels and it took a good hour to cut through 12 inches.
Or you can use a dremel like I did my first time cutting it. Went through 4 wheels and it took a good hour to cut through 12 inches.
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2001
- Location
- St. Catharines, Ontario Canada
I used a Lexan Knife. Good for straight edges, but not much else.
- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Location
- MN- Minneapolis
Oni said:
I also used one of these....worked fine but its takes a little while and involves a bit more elbow grease than the other methods.
- Joined
- May 23, 2001
- Location
- Asteroid B-612
Variable-speed jigsaw and multi-purpose (or plastic specific) blade. If you try to cut it too quickly or you use a blade with too many teeth you'll end up refusing the pieces together when it melts from friction. But I live using a table saw (with ABS/Plastic specific blade) or a band saw since they don't have that problem.
I've had bad luck with dremels and plastic. If you need to cat really small cuts or adjutment a dremel should do okay, but any large cuts it will be worthless and time consuming. I only use my dremel for detail work or edge finishing. In which case I use coarse etching or sanding bits.
I personally don't use holesaws unless I have access to a drillpress.
I've had bad luck with dremels and plastic. If you need to cat really small cuts or adjutment a dremel should do okay, but any large cuts it will be worthless and time consuming. I only use my dremel for detail work or edge finishing. In which case I use coarse etching or sanding bits.
I personally don't use holesaws unless I have access to a drillpress.
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2001
- Location
- Greensboro, NC
A table saw or band saw works good, if ya don't have one in your computer room ask some handyman type friends.
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2000
If you want some fancy cuts look in the yellow pages for water or laser cutting. I know a place local to me that does laser cutting. I'm tempted to give them a call and see how much I can have a few pieces of lexan zapped for. I have no idea what it would cost but its worth looking into.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2001
- Location
- Arizona
Bender said:
if i my dremel melts lexan i believe a laser would to so you mihgt get bad burn marks on the edges go with water if you can
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2002
I used my dremel with the little router attachment....NOT the router table, but just the router head thingy. Just set that up with a straight edge and off you go. I'm not sure how well it would work for curves.....if you have good control, then it should work great.
Oh yea, there should be a router bit that works for plastic...it came with my dremel, so I dunno cost/availability.
Anyway, when using a router to cut it, you won't have the problem of it fusing back together. BUT, you will have the problem of the melted plastic gumming up the bit.....that, and a lot of little plastic chunks lying about....they get in the groove and they block the router...very annoying.
Oh yea, there should be a router bit that works for plastic...it came with my dremel, so I dunno cost/availability.
Anyway, when using a router to cut it, you won't have the problem of it fusing back together. BUT, you will have the problem of the melted plastic gumming up the bit.....that, and a lot of little plastic chunks lying about....they get in the groove and they block the router...very annoying.
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2001
- Location
- Arizona
DaveSauce said:
yeah thats what i meant by melting then turning into hot guey stuff that burns you
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2001
- Location
- Baltimore, MD
I just cut some yesturday for my wife. I am making a doll case for her. I figured I would try it on her stuff before I make my new computer case.
I used a Craftsman Rotory Tool with the spiral saw bit. It cut perfectly. I will suggest that you use a good solid straight edge and some strong clamps to hold it in place. I used a 4ft steel ruler.
You will get little peices of plastic stuck to what you cut, but they brush off quickly.
I used a Craftsman Rotory Tool with the spiral saw bit. It cut perfectly. I will suggest that you use a good solid straight edge and some strong clamps to hold it in place. I used a 4ft steel ruler.
You will get little peices of plastic stuck to what you cut, but they brush off quickly.
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2001
- Location
- Arizona
exacto kinife works well too
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2001
- Location
- Nothingness is Everything.
"If you want some fancy cuts look in the yellow pages for water or lazer cutting. I know a place local to me that does lazer cutting."
lazer = light amplification by the ....zebra?....emission of radiation?
hehe....sorry man...
=_=
lazer = light amplification by the ....zebra?....emission of radiation?
hehe....sorry man...
=_=
I used my dads hand held circular saw to cut my lexan ... "lack of a table saw " and i tried to use a holesaw on my lexan but i was using my dads handheld drill.. i would rather have a drill press... i also used a jigsaw with a .. 32 tpi blade? ripped right through , and if you keep your speed up and push through you shouldnt get any melting "i didnt"
Similar threads
