rocketfeuille 0 #1 November 24, 2003 This one's for those who've worked with plexiglass... I'm thinking about making some frames for some of my photography and was considering placing the prints between two sheets of plexiglass with a small screw in each corner... What are my odds of success? How easy is it to work with plexiglass? How easy would it be for me to cut it? Put the screws in without cracking the whole thing? Thanks for your help. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brodes 0 #2 November 24, 2003 Thats a great idea, cant see why it wouldnt work. my experience with plexi...take your time with the screws and it shouldnt crack. You need a fine bandsaw blade or similar to cut it too, motorised will be muchhhhh easier, then wet rub the edges with sandpaper (i think yo ucall it emerypaper) then buff and polish. voila! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites PhreeZone 20 #3 November 24, 2003 Proper use of pilot holes and having them the right size will greatly increase your odds of success. Also using the proper thickness will help, Min I'd consider is 3/8 and 1/2 would be better. Use a pilot hole thats the same size as the shaft of the screw, counter sink the hole too. A course threaded screw is better. Make sure that you go slow and at a slow enough RPM that you don't melt and cause heat damage to the plastic. Have something under it that you can drill into to prevent splintering as you break through or start from both sides and meet in the middle. Simple project, I've done a few before.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites darkvapor 0 #4 November 24, 2003 I would look into using polycarbonate instead of acrylic sheets (that's what Plexiglass (the brand name) is). Lexan is GE's brand name for polycarbonate. Use Lexan or another polycarbonate sheet product. Acrylic turns yellow with age and UV exposure, and becomes brittle. It also can shatter either with age, or with excess pressure. Polycarbonate is shatterproof (essentially), and is EASILY machinable. I have drilled plenty of holes in polycarb sheet without any pre-drilling. Just use a relatively new sharp bit. Polycarbonate will also not dull or turn color with age. I usually get polycarb products from a local GE Polymers distributor, but you can probably find it in other places. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites akarunway 1 #5 November 24, 2003 lexan will yellow w/ uv light and age also. also will become brittle w/age. takes longer than plex tho. it's also very expensive. 1/8" or 3"16 max for a project that size. they also have special drill bits for acyrlics. if you you a normal steel bit use a variable speed drill and drill very slow whilst holding your hand down on the plex where drilling or you will be buying another piece. cut with a jigsaw(they have special blades for this also) or skillsaw with the a fine tooth blade on backwards. there materials scratch very easily so dont peel the protective paper or cover w/ masking tape b/4 cutting. don't any abrasives when cleaning. soapy water and clean cotten cloth or soft paper towels. i owned a sign co. for years and learned a lot the hard way. contact a local plastic co. and i'm sure thet will help you or pm meI hold it true, whate'er befall; I feel it, when I sorrow most; 'Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites billvon 3,070 #6 November 24, 2003 To cut or drill plexi, sandwich it between two pieces of thin plywood or particleboard. They will provide backing to prevent scarring or splintering of the edges. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites n23x 0 #7 November 24, 2003 Plexiglass (from hardware store) normally has protective wrap on both sides. Leave that on during all your cutting and drilling, and then pick it all off once you're done to preserve the finish. The wood-plexi-wood sandwich also works well, but it's a little more time intensive. If you had the possibility to do so, I'd recommend not attempting to actually thread a screw into it, rather, just drill thru-holes into it, and cap off the back side with a bolt. (not the most prefferable, i know, but trying to thread into plexi can be a religious experience). just my .02 .jim"Don't touch my fucking Easter eggs, I'll be back monday." ~JTFC Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
PhreeZone 20 #3 November 24, 2003 Proper use of pilot holes and having them the right size will greatly increase your odds of success. Also using the proper thickness will help, Min I'd consider is 3/8 and 1/2 would be better. Use a pilot hole thats the same size as the shaft of the screw, counter sink the hole too. A course threaded screw is better. Make sure that you go slow and at a slow enough RPM that you don't melt and cause heat damage to the plastic. Have something under it that you can drill into to prevent splintering as you break through or start from both sides and meet in the middle. Simple project, I've done a few before.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darkvapor 0 #4 November 24, 2003 I would look into using polycarbonate instead of acrylic sheets (that's what Plexiglass (the brand name) is). Lexan is GE's brand name for polycarbonate. Use Lexan or another polycarbonate sheet product. Acrylic turns yellow with age and UV exposure, and becomes brittle. It also can shatter either with age, or with excess pressure. Polycarbonate is shatterproof (essentially), and is EASILY machinable. I have drilled plenty of holes in polycarb sheet without any pre-drilling. Just use a relatively new sharp bit. Polycarbonate will also not dull or turn color with age. I usually get polycarb products from a local GE Polymers distributor, but you can probably find it in other places. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
akarunway 1 #5 November 24, 2003 lexan will yellow w/ uv light and age also. also will become brittle w/age. takes longer than plex tho. it's also very expensive. 1/8" or 3"16 max for a project that size. they also have special drill bits for acyrlics. if you you a normal steel bit use a variable speed drill and drill very slow whilst holding your hand down on the plex where drilling or you will be buying another piece. cut with a jigsaw(they have special blades for this also) or skillsaw with the a fine tooth blade on backwards. there materials scratch very easily so dont peel the protective paper or cover w/ masking tape b/4 cutting. don't any abrasives when cleaning. soapy water and clean cotten cloth or soft paper towels. i owned a sign co. for years and learned a lot the hard way. contact a local plastic co. and i'm sure thet will help you or pm meI hold it true, whate'er befall; I feel it, when I sorrow most; 'Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,070 #6 November 24, 2003 To cut or drill plexi, sandwich it between two pieces of thin plywood or particleboard. They will provide backing to prevent scarring or splintering of the edges. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
n23x 0 #7 November 24, 2003 Plexiglass (from hardware store) normally has protective wrap on both sides. Leave that on during all your cutting and drilling, and then pick it all off once you're done to preserve the finish. The wood-plexi-wood sandwich also works well, but it's a little more time intensive. If you had the possibility to do so, I'd recommend not attempting to actually thread a screw into it, rather, just drill thru-holes into it, and cap off the back side with a bolt. (not the most prefferable, i know, but trying to thread into plexi can be a religious experience). just my .02 .jim"Don't touch my fucking Easter eggs, I'll be back monday." ~JTFC Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
