How to Cut Plexiglass

[@edhostetter8572]

Jon, I tried the 7 1/4" Irwin #21830 circular saw blade (120 tooth) intended for cutting vinyl siding in my 10" table saw to cut 1/8" thick acrylic. It worked like a charm and made a nice crisp cut with no chipping. Thanks for the excellent advice and for the cost savings of using a $10 blade!

[@gertsy2000]

Be good to see a demo of the circular saw at work. A dedicated Diablo Acrylic Jigsaw blade is best for this when you need to cut curves. Making sure the sheet is flat and braced so it doesn't vibrate is super important. Lining the cut line with painter's blue masking tape will add extra protection for the surface of the acrylic from the foot of the saw. Spending $10 on a new sharp acrylic Jigsaw blade to cut a $50-$200 sheet of Acrylic is a good investment. Also newer oscillating work tools will cut thin acrylic well with a 3 quarter circle blade.

[@joanchantler2498]

Wow - Great tips and visual aid on saw speed. THANK YOU. This guy knows his stuff!

[@alanmcrae8594]

Great and very clear advice from a real pro! Okay, before I saw this video I tried to make a long, straight cut on the 12" long side of a 36" piece of 1/4" plexiglass with my jig saw. Despite my best efforts at controlling the blade speed of the jig saw, it melted the plastic and wandered off my straight edge guide repeatedly. Nuts! Then I jumped on KZbin and looked for how to cut plexiglass with a circular saw blade, preferably with my DeWalt sliding miter saw. Thanks to Jon I'm heading over to Hope Depot to get the right blade and then I'll try again.

[@whatthe40s]

That was a very awesome explanation of linear speed of cutting. Thank you so much!

[@carpenter828]

Thank you for the illustration on the blade speed. Something I've understood, but have had difficulty explaining to my friends. I will be telling them about this. Thank you.

[@AskJonEakes]

Send your friends this link: joneakes.com/jons-fixit-database/2226-at-what-speed-should-my-saw-blades-spin-

[@ponsaravanan]

Great video. Like the detail about the cutting angle. going to run my circular saw guide in reverse direction.

[@m777howitzer4]

This man is a televangelist for DIY

[@bijan4727]

Hi. This was very educational. I want to see if I got it right. Are you saying I can insert circular saw blade into a table saw ? Please advise. Thanks. How about for making a circle?

[@RussellTHouse]

Mr. Eakes, I thought your point about linear tooth speed was very interesting...I had never before considered that. You further stated that using a smaller diameter blade on a larger saw would yield a better cut (I assume you meant for plexiglass). So if I were to mount a 6" plywood blade on a 7-1/4" saw AND reverse the blade, would that yield the best cut for that material?

[@AskJonEakes]

For lots of detail on that blade speed, check out this article on my website: joneakes.com/jons-fixit-database/2226-at-what-speed-should-my-saw-blades-spin-

[@stevehaynes2857]

I just cut 5mm matt black plexiglass to a precision rectangle with 5 perfect holes using a 10 watt diode laser. You gotta love how technology is moving so fast.

[@patriciakloeppel9863]

new suscriber wow iv learned alot today i will be back

[@Minsc]

Learned quite a bit. Great video.

[@ForeverThriveLife]

Great Video. same advice applies to drilling holes with a hole saw, put your drill in reverse and get a cleaner cut

[@kirkwilliams5740]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us through this video.

[@els1f]

That was WAY more interesting than I expected! I just wanted to see why every piece I cut looked ridiculous 😄

[@edward-x3s6f]

I remember this guy on tv great to find him here 👍

[@AskJonEakes]

Thanks for tuning in all these years later! Visit Jon's website for more helpful info, as we have some interesting projects coming down the pipeline.

[@cherimemacfarlane3290]

Worked wonderfully. Thanks.

[@davivify]

Thanks for the informative video. Was hoping to see you actually cut the material. Next time?

[@AskJonEakes]

This was a Zoom webinar (with a green screen shop) recorded back before many people even knew what Zoom was. I am setting up a studio shop now, so yes, this is on the list. Jon

[@dokerbohm9209]

well shown well spoken well done video thanks for the advice

[@mrjohn1058]

OUTSTANDING EXPLANATION 😱🖤💪🏽✅🤓

[@sticksbass]

would a 5.5 blade in a 7.25 circular saw help?

[@AskJonEakes]

For plexiglas -- YUP.

[@felixreali7101]

wow, this was actually very interesting to watch. thanks for sharing. great tips :)

[@piterb.5444]

You are a genius!!!!!

[@davidcurtis5398]

I've cut a lot of plastic and I usually just double stick the plastic or plexi to a scrap piece of wood and use the wood as a backer. I cut very small cuts and go through the plaxi in about 3 or 4 cuts and I get a fine cut with a normal table saw blade.

[@paulangeli9710]

I have an electronic speed control box I use for my router. Does that work on the type of motors used in traditional circular saws?

[@AskJonEakes]

You always have to be very careful to not overheat a saw that is not made to be run on variable speed. A dimmer speed control can just burn out your saw -- and electronic speed control may work but watch the temperature of the windings.

[@drychalice]

Let's see it in action.....

[@andreasshizas5977]

I was doing this 15 years ago

[@meandyou917]

And where is your video?!!!

[@Harlanmote]

They make a tool just for cutting that stuff. I use it to make boat windshield.

[@reikonr7173]

Which one is it?

[@reikonr7173]

Which one is it?

[@brianseaman4094]

Can you name the tool?

[@goosecouple]

I think he looks like Richard Feynman or vice versa.

[@Landrew0]

"Fantastisch" in any language.

[@diehardfan173]

Too much back-and-forth in the last 10 seconds! Are you saying a smaller blade works better with a larger bladed machine?

[@AskJonEakes]

Circular saws are optimized for one blade. Put a smaller blade on that saw and the teeth will be moving slower - hence less risk of burn or melting Plexiglas.

[@francistorsney3530]

Tttt I don't know k day for me to get ot

[@Alan_Edwards]

Not very helpful. Never really cut any plexiglass. All talk no action.

[@felixreali7101]

no demonstration of the cut but he gave great tips.

[@meandyou917]

🤣🤣🤣

[@user-kcrpine]

You’re right. The video was terribly unhelpful, but fortunately for us your comment saved the day. Such detailed instruction and all without hypocritical complaint is most appreciated!

[@Alan_Edwards]

@@user-kcrpine Huh?

[@ram43x80]

Not bad but nobody cares about blade speed

[@AskJonEakes]

You may not care, but the material you cut certainly does. Move a Tooth through any material too fast, or too slow and you get a poor cut. Run a circular saw blade too fast and you can throw off carbide teeth. Here is more detail on tooth speed: joneakes.com/jons-fixit-database/920-Saw-blade-safe-rotational-speeds.