Reptile & Amphibian Forums

np

I'm not really sure as I've never had spectacular results.

My best guess is with a non-kerf, high teeth# saw blade.

After that the edge can be trimmed with a router armed with a bit designed for acrlyic.

I've always had to use a file to smooth out the edges and that can take a while.

You can cut it just like glass.
At least I do. Not to say that the sawblade wouldn't work. I am not saying anything against that idea, let me make that clear.

I just wanted to chime in and say that I use a plexiglass "scriber" to score a line, then it breaks with a fairly smooth cut.

I am not an expert on it though. Still learning to do it myself so maybe someone who does it all the time, might want to share some tips.

Troy

But my only experience with a scribe did not go very well. The acrylic was certainly low quality and I suspect the scribe had cut yards of glass in it's lifetime. It practically looked like an antique.

Hopefully someone will chime in... that's why I waited a day to post.

Hi Chris
I cut about a dozen panels of acrylic (and not great quality acrylic at that) with a brand new scribe. The trick is to score as deep a groove as you have patience for. Then the break turns out pretty darn good, although some cleanup with a file will be necessary. Not a flawless edge, but good enough for applications like a door or window for a cage. But what a pain in the neck.

I imagine that the plastic cage makers who offer acrylic doors or cages either have access to high-quality tooling to cut the acrylic, or else contract the work out. They aren't using scribes I bet.

I think it was last year a woman who build a lot of acrylic arboreal cages for display was posting on this forum. I believe she used one of those rotary tools with a special bit to cut acrlyic.

I was given a lower quality rotary tool (Roto-Zip, I believe) as a gift when they first came out. While it's been a useful tool, the base on my particular model was much too flimsy to cut a straight line in acrylic, even with a straight-edge.

I've also read posts on other forums from two different acrylic cage makers. One used a router with a straight edge, the other had access to a $100,000 programable table router. The latter could basically place a full sheet of acrylic on the table, program in his dimensions and press start. Within mintues he'd have perfect pieces that would only require minimal further edge prepping.

There are some excellent acrlyic cage building links on the web. Almost all have to do with aquaria but have a lot of useful tips for herp applications. Not having any use for acrylic other than doors, I've not bookmarked the sights nor have I paid much attention to them.