cutting clear plastic?

gnahc79 · 07-02-04, 10:13

I'm making a little box to hold my XM Roady receiver for my car, which will be mounted on a Panavise indash mount. I want to be able to stash the receiver away when I'm not in the car. I plan on getting some clear plastic, probably ~1/8" thick. Right now I have a Dremel. Will it work? I'm looking to cut a box that's a little over 4"x2.5"x1". I'm worried about melting the plastic and/or taking forever with the Dremel.
I'm going to see if the shop will cut pieces that small for me, but if not I gotta DIY this one

.

kbshadow · 07-02-04, 11:31

I did something similar.

I went to TAP plastics and bought a piece of Smoked plastic in their scrap bin for a dollar, they cut it on their plastic saw for something like 50Cents a cut, came out perfect, the dark smoked plastic really looks great.

Bob

gnahc79 · 07-02-04, 11:39

sweet, that's where I'm headed. TAP is awesome, I went there to get a plastic top for my dining table

.

txz28 · 07-02-04, 06:42

If the plastic you are getting is some acrylic Plexiglas material, I would recommend that you use a fine tooth saw. A sabre saw, band saw, or even a hack saw would be a good choice. I have even used a table saw, but it tends to splinter with a table saw.

Once you have cut it, sand the edges with progressively finer sandpaper. Once you have progressed to the finest sandpaper and the edges are smooth, then you can use a dremmel polishing wheel to eliminate the white marks on the edges. It sometimes takes some polishing compound. I have never used a dremmel for this. I have always used a polishing wheel on a bench grinder, but there is no reason a dremmel would not work.

txz28 · 07-02-04, 06:44

One other thing I forgot to mention. Do not let the heat build up as you cut it. It will cause it to melt. Take your time.

fusionnv · 07-05-04, 09:33

Quote:

Originally posted by gnahc79
sweet, that's where I'm headed. TAP is awesome, I went there to get a plastic top for my dining table .

They might also sell plastic cutting bits for the dremel type tool. I know they sell them at the plastic store in my city. The way it is designed it cuts down on chips and makes a smoother edge. But remember do not do it too high speed. It will melt.