Anyone ever cut plexiglass with a power hand saw?

[Axis of Weasel]

does it work?

I got one of these saws. I need to cut .25" plexiglass.

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImage/91fe3a81-fba3-4bef-bd14-ad83dbc855b8_300.jpg
from Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100498589&N=10000003+90373+503174)

i figured i should ask here before buying anything

[Dave66]

does it work?

I got one of these saws. I need to cut .25" plexiglass.

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImage/91fe3a81-fba3-4bef-bd14-ad83dbc855b8_300.jpg
from Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100498589&N=10000003+90373+503174)

i figured i should ask here before buying anything

The saw will melt the plexiglass. Easy way is to mark where you want the cut, score the paper backing carefully with a razor blade, X-acto knife or similar, using a straight edge, putting the plexi on a flat table with the marks at the edge, clamp it, then snap the plexi sharply down. That'll give you a clean edge to dress as you please. May take you a time or two to get the hang of it, but it does work. I do the same thing with acrylic sheets.

Dave

[Ty]

that saw will only melt the plexi if you use the wrong blade with it, you need to get the right blade, and it will cut just fine.

I have the exact saw, and have cut lexan (plexi) with it before, but I cat rember exactly what blade I used, but you have to try a few of them.

but if it is a straight line, you are better off scoring and snapping it like Dave suggested.

and if you cut it with the saw, take a blowtorch to the edge of it to clean up the cut marks and make it crystal clear.

[hpt84]

Scoring did not work for me. I had to cut .25" plexiglass too. It is either I didn't do it right or it is too thick. I believe it is the later. I end up using a circular saw. It didn't melt the glass. If you decide to use a saw, please wear thick glove and eye protection. I try it without glove and it hurts. This is tiny pieces of plexiglass not sawdust. I personally would go with a power saw if you have one. If you never score before, it may be a waste of your time. I spent hours trying to score. The circular saw took a minute.

[Lady Hobbs]

I had mine cut at the lumber yard and they used a table saw.

[Tooch]

I used to be a zamboni driver at an ice rink. When one of the pieces of glass would shatter, we would temp. use thick plexi until the new glass piece came in. We would just cut it with a circular saw. It melted little pieces, but you could easily brush those off.

[~Erik3.8.07~]

i've used a hack saw and it worked fine

[crackatinny]

I had to cut a new windscreen for my boat once and used an angle grinder.

In the local glass shop, I know they use a table saw with a fine blade.

The saw you want to use should be fine with a hacksaw type blade in it, but it will be hard to get a perfectly square edge.