cutting lucite with hole saw

artemis0007 · 06-19-2002, 06:38 PM

Hi all!
ummm.. the topic basically explains it all. I read in another post that melting plexi can release cancerous vapors, but what about using a hole saw to cut the plexi? Any bad fumes or side effects I should know about before I try it out?

Thanks!

jtroutma · 06-19-2002, 09:55 PM

From what I understand about the thread you are talking about.....as long as you dont allow the plexi to heat up to the point of burning, you should be fine.

WebMasta33 · 06-19-2002, 09:57 PM

Just cut the lexan in a bucket, or pour water on the lexan and you'll be fine.

artemis0007 · 06-19-2002, 10:10 PM

doesn't water + power drill = bad?

WebMasta33 · 06-20-2002, 12:36 AM

Yes... .but small amounts of water poured on hole saw keeps it cool, which is good.

So long as you don't get water on the drill, you should be fine...

Basically, you'll just burn the plastic if you use a hole saw, with nothing to cool it. Hell, I've set MDF on fire using a 5" diameter hole saw with a Dewalt Industrial grade 120vAC drill.

But seriously... just something to cool it... hell, you could just hold an ice cube up to the hole saw as you drill, that should be sufficient.

artemis0007 · 06-20-2002, 02:42 PM

If I drilled in a bucket of water, then should the plexi be submerged a little (~2mm under the water line)?

Thanks for the replies!

WebMasta33 · 06-20-2002, 03:38 PM

That'll be fine.

mhayenga · 06-20-2002, 07:06 PM

Just cut it in a well ventilated area i.e. outside. I've been praticing enough with lucite since I'm making a case out of it to know its not bad stuff and is actually easier to work with than I thought. I have no problems drilling, bending(via a heatgun), or cutting it on a table saw. Just go slow and easy with the stuff and it will reward ya for it.

artemis0007 · 06-20-2002, 10:55 PM

so i guess i shouldn't go full blast with the power drill huh. Short spurts of drilling (5-10 sec drill, 5-10 sec rest, etc) seem okay? or is longer continous drilling prefered?

Thanks!

ARTbyTROY · 06-27-2002, 03:57 PM

You want to be very careful when cutting plexi with a hole saw, first make sure you mask the area where the hole is to be drilled, both front and back, this will add a little strength to it. I clamped my window to a flat board and used a variable speed drill with an 80mm holesaw. You want to keep the holesaw spinning at a fair clip but not so fast that it melts the plexi, the problems arise when you go too fast and then slow way down causing the blade to lock up (melting and then cooling plastic). Do not rock the holesaw if it gets stuck, try reversing the drill to free it up. It is easy to remove any melted plexi from the edge of the hole if you do go too fast, it just snaps right off. Water would keep the plexi from melting as stated above.

06-19-2002, 06:38 PM	#1
artemis0007 Cooling Savant Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Davis, CA USA Posts: 113	cutting lucite with hole saw Hi all! ummm.. the topic basically explains it all. I read in another post that melting plexi can release cancerous vapors, but what about using a hole saw to cut the plexi? Any bad fumes or side effects I should know about before I try it out? Thanks!

06-19-2002, 09:55 PM	#2
jtroutma Cooling Savant Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SLO, CA Posts: 837	From what I understand about the thread you are talking about.....as long as you dont allow the plexi to heat up to the point of burning, you should be fine. __________________ Athlon64 X2 4200+ @ 2.5Ghz (250FSB x 10) OCZ VX 1GB 4000 @ 250FSB (6-2-2-2 timmings) DFI LANParty nForce4 Ultra-D SCSI Raid 5 x (3) Cheetah 15K HDDs LSI Express 500 (128MB cache) OCZ PowerStream 520W PSU ATI X850XT PE (Stock) DTEK WhiteWater + DTEK Custom Radiator Eheim 1250

06-19-2002, 09:57 PM	#3
WebMasta33 Cooling Savant Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Nebraska Posts: 526	Just cut the lexan in a bucket, or pour water on the lexan and you'll be fine. __________________ ========== --Soyo KT333 DRAGON Ultra (Platinum Edition) --AMD 1.4 @ 1.54 (11x) --768mb of PC2100 (@140FSB) --Asus v8200 GeForce3 @ 210/490 --Maxtor 40gb Quiet + 2 IBM 40gb 60GXPs (removable) + 8gb WD --Audigy --Maze 3, DD Gf3 block, 2x BIX, Eheim1250 ===========

06-20-2002, 12:36 AM	#5
WebMasta33 Cooling Savant Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Nebraska Posts: 526	Yes... .but small amounts of water poured on hole saw keeps it cool, which is good. So long as you don't get water on the drill, you should be fine... Basically, you'll just burn the plastic if you use a hole saw, with nothing to cool it. Hell, I've set MDF on fire using a 5" diameter hole saw with a Dewalt Industrial grade 120vAC drill. But seriously... just something to cool it... hell, you could just hold an ice cube up to the hole saw as you drill, that should be sufficient. __________________ ========== --Soyo KT333 DRAGON Ultra (Platinum Edition) --AMD 1.4 @ 1.54 (11x) --768mb of PC2100 (@140FSB) --Asus v8200 GeForce3 @ 210/490 --Maxtor 40gb Quiet + 2 IBM 40gb 60GXPs (removable) + 8gb WD --Audigy --Maze 3, DD Gf3 block, 2x BIX, Eheim1250 ===========

06-20-2002, 03:38 PM	#7
WebMasta33 Cooling Savant Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Nebraska Posts: 526	That'll be fine. __________________ ========== --Soyo KT333 DRAGON Ultra (Platinum Edition) --AMD 1.4 @ 1.54 (11x) --768mb of PC2100 (@140FSB) --Asus v8200 GeForce3 @ 210/490 --Maxtor 40gb Quiet + 2 IBM 40gb 60GXPs (removable) + 8gb WD --Audigy --Maze 3, DD Gf3 block, 2x BIX, Eheim1250 ===========

06-19-2002, 10:10 PM	#4
artemis0007 Cooling Savant Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Davis, CA USA Posts: 113	doesn't water + power drill = bad?

06-20-2002, 02:42 PM	#6
artemis0007 Cooling Savant Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Davis, CA USA Posts: 113	If I drilled in a bucket of water, then should the plexi be submerged a little (~2mm under the water line)? Thanks for the replies!

06-20-2002, 07:06 PM	#8
mhayenga Cooling Neophyte Join Date: May 2002 Location: Earth Posts: 46	Just cut it in a well ventilated area i.e. outside. I've been praticing enough with lucite since I'm making a case out of it to know its not bad stuff and is actually easier to work with than I thought. I have no problems drilling, bending(via a heatgun), or cutting it on a table saw. Just go slow and easy with the stuff and it will reward ya for it.

06-20-2002, 10:55 PM	#9
artemis0007 Cooling Savant Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Davis, CA USA Posts: 113	so i guess i shouldn't go full blast with the power drill huh. Short spurts of drilling (5-10 sec drill, 5-10 sec rest, etc) seem okay? or is longer continous drilling prefered? Thanks!

06-27-2002, 03:57 PM	#10
ARTbyTROY Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: MiChIgAn Posts: 12	You want to be very careful when cutting plexi with a hole saw, first make sure you mask the area where the hole is to be drilled, both front and back, this will add a little strength to it. I clamped my window to a flat board and used a variable speed drill with an 80mm holesaw. You want to keep the holesaw spinning at a fair clip but not so fast that it melts the plexi, the problems arise when you go too fast and then slow way down causing the blade to lock up (melting and then cooling plastic). Do not rock the holesaw if it gets stuck, try reversing the drill to free it up. It is easy to remove any melted plexi from the edge of the hole if you do go too fast, it just snaps right off. Water would keep the plexi from melting as stated above.

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