QA

Quick Answer: How To Cut Plastic Easily

The best tool for cutting thin plastic (¼ inches or less) is a utility knife. Examples of thin plastic are plastic banding, plastic packaging, and plastic sheets. A utility knife is the best option because it provides a good grip and control. A utility knife works in a similar way to scoring glass.

What do you cut plastic with?

You can use a hacksaw, fine-toothed saw, circular saw, or jigsaw to cut plastic. What is this? If you use a hacksaw or circular saw, you’ll also need a plastic cutting blade. Avoid using saws or blades with large teeth because they will chip or break the plastic and create rough edges.

Can you cut plastic with scissors?

Cutting Weaker Plastics by Hand. Use scissors for simple arts and crafts projects. If you’re cutting thin plastic, like a soda bottle or soft sheet, you can use scissors. Make sure that you’re firmly holding your plastic in your non-dominant hand and cut carefully, using a flat surface to brace your plastic.

How do you cut thin plastic without cracking it?

You can easily cut thin plastic sheets less than 1/16 inch (. 063) thick with a utility knife. Harder clear plastics such as polycarbonate may require multiple passes with a knife, but the result will be a clean cut finished edge with no chips or cracks.

How do you cut hard plastic with scissors?

The best way to cut plastic with scissors is to use specialty cordless scissors found in major home improvement stores. These power scissors can cut through plastic and nearly any other kind of material.

How can I cut plastic at home?

Depending on the type of plastic you need to cut through, use a fine-toothed saw, a hacksaw, or a non-melting table saw blade. You can also drill small holes to make the plastic easier to cut through, or slice through thick plastic with a piece of string.

Can a box cutter cut plastic?

Using only a box cutter and a ruler (and a clamp if you need one) you too can cut plastic. You should never take the protective film off of your plastic until the last possible minute to avoid scratches.

How do you cut plastic by hand?

Cutting hard plastic with a saw: You can effectively cut thick hard plastic with a hand saw, jigsaw, or a table saw. For each type of saw, pick a blade with a high tooth count, which will give you a smoother cut.

How do you cut plastic in small pieces?

A plastic shredder is a machine used to cut plastic into smaller pieces for granulation. Unlike plastic granulators, shredders are designed specifically for larger plastic waste, like car bumpers, pipes, drums, and other items too big for granulators. In the process, large plastic items are fed into the shredder.

What is a hot knife tool?

The Hot Knife is an electric tool with a heated blade that can be used to cut and shape other materials. In the conservation lab, the heated element can be used to cut through foam as easy as cutting butter with, well, a hot knife.

Can a Dremel cut hard plastic?

The Dremel 561 cuts hard wood up to 3/8″ and soft wood up to 5/8″. Also cuts plastics, fiberglass, drywall, laminate, aluminum and vinyl siding.

What do you use to cut thick plastic?

Cutting Thick Sheets of Plastic To make straight cuts on thicker sheets of acrylic and polycarbonate plastic (greater than ⅛ inch thick), you’ll need to use a table saw or circular saw. Use blades designed specifically to cut plastic, which are often packaged as “No Melt” blades.

What is a plastic cutter?

Logan Acrylic Plastic Cutter 709-1 is a hand held cutting tool for scoring plastic and acrylic sheets. Inexpensive and handy for quick sizing of acrylic for general framing. Use in conjunction with any suitable straight edge or most Logan equipment including Team Systems, Compact, Artist Elite and Simplex series.

Can you cut plastic with a soldering iron?

I don’t know if anyone else does this or not, but soldering guns/irons work really well for cutting plastic. Just let it get good and hot, and it cuts through the plastic like a hot knife through butter.

How do you file down hard plastic?

Place the coarse file at the end closest to your holding hand and press the rough side down onto the edge of the plastic. Pull the file over and downward, away from where your hand is positioned, moving inward toward your body. Continue to file repeatedly, until you create a smooth surface.

Can you cut corrugated plastic with scissors?

Corrugated plastic sheets are available in thicknesses from 2mm to 5mm and can be cut to size by the manufacturer or easily cut and trimmed on site using basic tools like a utility knife or scissors. This material is also flexible and bendable and can be shaped into totes, displays, or other dimensional items.

Can you chainsaw plastic?

Yes. Chainsaws do a good job cutting plastic. The types of plastic these chains can cut include: Polyethylene.

Can you use a blender to shred plastic?

Even though we purchased a new blender for the project, we recommend using an old blender. You won’t be able to use it with food after shredding plastic, it’s almost impossible to clean. We don’t recommend shredding big plastic parts. We usually cut them into smaller pieces to make sure the blender doesn’t get damaged.

Can I cut plastic with an angle grinder?

Enables safe, durable and easy cutting with angle grinders on soft materials. For cutting wood, nail-embedded wood, plastics and drywall.

Can you cut plastic with an oscillating tool?

Cutting plastics is another job that you can make short work of with your oscillating multi-tool. Most of your plastic cutting applications will not require a specialized blade. Your standard wood cutting oscillating tool blades will work just fine for cutting most plastics.

Can I use a wood drill bit on plastic?

Yes but there are challenges with the kind of pressure a standard jobbers drill creates in cut. The problem in the web of the drill creating too high of thrust forces when cutting the plastic. This can result in unwanted fracturing on the sides and bad breakout when its through the hole.

How do you cut a hole in a plastic bin?

Secure the container. Drill 5-10 holes in the plastic. Cut between each hole. Secure the plastic container. Heat the needle. Punch holes in the plastic with the needle. Pass the thread through the hole. Position the thread in your hands.

Can you file plastic?

Plastic may seem like a difficult material to work, with due to its composition: However with little filing skill, you can shape it into virtually any object. File plastic to remove rough edges. You must follow a rhythmic technique in order to shape plastic into an attractive finished product.