Working With Acrylic - Large Stock

[rrasco]

For those that build larger items out of acrylic, what do you use to work with the acrylic? Specifically, what are you cutting with? If I was going to cut a 4' piece of acrylic, what would be the recommended tooling to do so? A home-grade table saw would seem like it wasn't big enough, but I'd be concerned with trying a circular saw and a straight edge. So....what do you use?

[The_wolfeman]

I know people that use a typical table saw to rip 8' pieces without any issue. Just make sure you have a catcher to help with the feed. I've personally ripped 6' pieces with the same type of saw, again with a catcher. Most "home use" table saws are usually somewhere in the area of 3'x3'


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[rrasco]

Basically the same dilemma as any stock on a home-grade table saw, extra hands required. I wish I had the room to build a big table around a table saw.

[The_wolfeman]

You could always grab a few 2x4s and build a make shift saw horse to catch for you. Doesn't take much.

Or get a level a 2x4 (or any rigid straight edge) and clamp it to the acrylic and run your circular saw that way. I would recommend you sandwich the acrylic with 2x4 pieces so you're not putting pressure directly on the acrylic. It eliminates any possible room for error. Unless you don't clamp firm enough.


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[allan]

I've got a granite top rigid table saw if you want to cut it over here... I can assist with the, uh, holding it as it is cut. I'm not much of a catcher. :-)

[rrasco]

Thanks Allan, but I'm curious for more frequent use.

I'm thinking my best option is to build a table or catching mechanism for a table saw.

[The_wolfeman]

22266

This would be ideal.


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[rrasco]

Good call.

[Sherita]

I use my sawponies, a couple of 2x4's and my circular saw with a laminate blade. I use a piece of angle iron as a straight edge. Clamp it down and use it as a guide for your saw. If you stick a couple pieces of 1x4 crossways under the acrylic sheet you can easily manage by yourself. I do it all the time. Sounds more complicated than it is.

[krazykrakr2186]

I've got one of these stands, works fairly well and it's height is adjustable as well. I has lots of small rollers that move in all directions or one large directional type roller.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_339863-47120-SGY-WS1_0__?productId=3341278&Ntt=kobalt+stand&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNtt%3Dkobalt%2Bstand&facetInfo=