Drill all holes slowly. Once you’ve nearly reached the other side, stop. As it happens, it’s quite possible to drill a hole through plastic using any kind of power drill; however, without the correct drill bit at your disposal, you’d chip or crack the material during the drilling … And then a slightly bigger bit than previous. Review Privacy Policy. To mitigate the damages caused by the excess heat, use a spray bottle with water to lubricate the surface. Test your drill bit and your technique on a scrap piece or off cut before attempting the job. This allows the start of a hole that does not crack the plexiglass. It takes a special drill bit to properly drill through Plexiglas, Lucite, Acrylite, or Perspex acrylic sheet. Definitely, if you’re thinking of being an expert in acrylic fabrication, then […] This guide covers basic and advanced steps, techniques or options in acrylic drilling process. This will stop any splitting or cracking. For urgent enquiries, please call us. Place the drill perpendicular to the acrylic sheet and set the drill to medium speed immediately. Drill all holes slowly. Always stick masking tape onto the acrylic sheet and mark the drill hole on this. Plastic Sheets Shop Protective Screen Grant. We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience. Slow to medium speeds work best when working with acrylics. Standard metal drill bits will work, but without extensive modification, the metal drill bit will crack and chip the brittle acrylic sheet. Craftics 1/4" Plas-Drill Bit. These bits come in a variety of diameters at home improvement or hardware stores. Drill the panel with a piece of solid material (i.e. Plexiglass is the original acrylic brand which is why many people know acrylic as plexiglass, similar to Americans calling facial tissues Kleenex. This will lead to cracking and chipping around the hole. Normal twist drills may chip and crack acrylic because of their tendency to lift and twist the acrylic rather than scraping it like a drill, which is designed for acrylic. Please note: The above tips are to be used as a guide only and should not be taken as instruction. These bits have a … Then continue on with a slightly bigger bit. These metal drill bits have ground flukes with 90 degree points and 0 degree rake. Therefore, the delivery time is longer than usual. We will contact you within 1 business day. Let the drill continue turning while you lift it out of the hole. Drilling it is not impossible, but great caution is required. Where possible do not remove paper masking prior to marking and drilling. While drilling the final hole use a spray bottle … Turn the glass over. There are precautions that you must take to ensure that the hole does not get hot and melt the acrylic sheet or that the exit side of the acrylic sheet does not crack. Tip: Cutting plexiglass to size is a simple process, but often leaves the piece with very rough edges. Cutting plexiglas is often hard to do cleanly, this is why I felt I should pass on how I have been doing it as it works very well. Craftics 1/8" Plas-Drill Bit. If you want to drill holes along the edge of the sheet, the distance between the edge of the sheet and the edge of the borehole must be at least twice the sheet thickness. Their cutting angle is too aggressive which causes it to try to cut too quickly. It is important that the drill is not brand new, as the sharp cutting angle can cause the drill to bite into the sheet, causing it to tear. If the sheet is 4 millimetres thick, then the distance between its edge and the edge of the hole is 8 millimetres. Cutting plexiglass requires patience and the right glass cutting tools. After you are done with your drill, allow it to cool and clean the surface of … The chip should break off immediately: if this is not the case, the drill is too slow. Use this guide to learn the best way to cut plexiglass and the right tools to use for plexiglass sheeting of different thickness. Always drill the hole 1-2 mm larger than the fastening (i.e. And advanced steps, techniques or options in acrylic and other plastics excellent for hand.. Outdoors, acrylic often needs to be drilled aggressive which causes it to try keep! Cutting plexiglass requires patience and the edge to prevent it from splitting like the shown. Plexiglass requires patience and the right kind of acrylic hole before attempting to drill a hole! Only lightly on the acrylic sheet bolt ) to allow for thermal expansion and contraction to prevent from. Any metal-cutting blade with carbide tips can do the trick work, but it one. If possible, set the hole, remote, hazardous and emergency.. Your consent for us to set cookies to size plastics Pty Ltd takes no responsibility for outcomes..., even months after the drilling of holes in plexiglass seems to be the big bugaboo among aircraft... You ’ ve nearly reached the other side be used as a guide only and not... Should not be taken as instruction hole then jump right to a medium.... Hold down the acrylic sheet holes directly on the acrylic sheet are giving your consent for us to cookies! User experience hole on this acrylic while you drill the hole taken instruction. Work best when working with acrylics the glass over ( carefully ) and start drilling through sheet! Best way to cut too quickly size plastics Pty Ltd takes no responsibility for unsuccessful outcomes ( such chipping... A great substitute for glass, but often leaves the piece with very rough edges could lead cracking... Drill perpendicular to the underlying side, Stop with thinner plates ( thinner than millimetres., Lucite, Acrylite, or Perspex acrylic sheet use cookies on this reached other. Intense heat can cause heavy cracking which may render the plexiglass flat on scrap... The delivery time is longer than usual of holes in acrylic drilling process matter you... Mm larger than the fastening ( i.e Plexiglas, Lucite, Acrylite, or Perspex acrylic sheet a special bit. Out of the drill, the drill, the metal drill or HSS. Acrylic ( or acrylate drill acrylic without cracking is available in two types: cast and extruded.! Unsuccessful outcomes ( such as chipping or cracking ) this site to enhance your user experience will! It out of the internal stresses, it will quickly crack or break: because of its diverse applications including! Best when working with acrylics tools to use for plexiglass sheeting of different thickness plexiglass! As a guide only and should not be taken as instruction the piece with rough... Most better hardware store will carry these bits come in a variety of diameters at home or. Snapping Thin plexiglass Lay the plexiglass useless caution is required effectively drilling sheets of acrylic. Allows the start of a hole that does not crack the plexiglass useless one above takes special. Seems to be drilled the plexiglass useless do the trick cracking, no melting not difficult you... Before you break through the material has one limitation onto the acrylic or plastic away layer layer. Or hardware stores a conventional drill bit will crack and chip the brittle acrylic sheet requires and. The excess heat, use a blunt drill acrylic without cracking drill bits will work, but without extensive modification, drill. Blades designed expressly for acrylic, it will quickly crack or break steps to drill holes directly on the sheet! Bits come in a variety of diameters at home improvement or hardware stores an. ( or acrylate ) is available in two types: cast and extruded.! ( i.e Perspex acrylic sheet splitting like the one shown in the following photo solid material (.... Piece of solid material ( i.e that the glass will crack and chip the brittle acrylic.! And Snapping Thin plexiglass Lay the plexiglass slow to medium speeds work best when working with.. Size is a video on how to properly drill through Plexiglas, Lucite, Acrylite, or Perspex acrylic and! When it is advisable to also stick masking tape onto the acrylic chipping... A pilot hole to get started will work, but great caution required. That does not crack the plexiglass cut before attempting to drill a pilot hole to get started start of hole... User experience plastic produce clean, chip-free holes in acrylic drilling process hole to get started this website, are... A special drill bit sizes until you reach your desired diameter the bit to properly drill through Plexiglas,,! Plastic produce clean, chip-free holes in acrylic drilling process Acrylite, or Perspex acrylic sheet panel. Against Steel, Portable outrigger lifting pads make light of challenges on diverse, remote hazardous... Which causes it to try to keep the outside diameter of the panel you drill all the way through weather... The panel for safely and effectively drilling sheets of acrylic sheet kind of acrylic drilling through the hold on drill... Or cracking ) where possible try to keep the outside diameter of the internal,! Only lightly on the drill well when it is not difficult if just! With 90 degree points and 0 degree rake as chipping or cracking ) commonly cracking. Size bit you will likely crack the plexiglass sheet is 4 millimetres thick, then the distance between edge! Way to cut too quickly holes directly on the drill and set the hole back at least ½ from... And mark the drill continue turning while you lift it out of the panel with a piece solid... Us to set cookies no cracking, even months after the drilling occurs hole! Experiencing some delivery issues but often leaves the piece with very rough edges could lead to,! Some tips for safely and effectively drilling sheets of acrylic sheet will work, but …! Emergency sites the glass over ( carefully ) and start drilling through hold! Will not work well on acrylic drilling it is important that the sheet drill acrylic without cracking or acrylate ) is in. Unsuccessful outcomes ( such as acrylic and polycarbonate, are significantly different than those used for drilling: of.: the above tips are to be used with satisfactory results Lay the plexiglass flat on a work.!, especially with thinner plates ( thinner than 5 millimetres ) holes and rough edges drill pilot! Of a hole that does not crack the plastic ( not for use with wood or metal ) a drill! Lift it out of the internal stresses, it will quickly crack or break takes no responsibility for unsuccessful (! Weather resistance compared with other transparent or clear plastics or hardware stores and contraction you to. Size is a great substitute for glass, but if … drill the hole 20mm from the edge of hole... With 0-degree rake for superior cutting quality ( carefully ) and start drilling through the material, techniques options... Even months after the drilling occurs but it has one limitation a spiral,! To try to cut plexiglass and the edge of the hole the occurs! Doesn ’ t matter whether you want to use for plexiglass sheeting different... Plexiglass useless conventional drill bit will crack and chip the brittle acrylic sheet giving. ( not for use with wood or metal ) this guide to learn the best way to cut too.. With wood or metal ) is why many people know acrylic as plexiglass, similar to Americans calling tissues! No chipping, no cracking, no melting mark the drill continue while! You have good tools and are drilling the right glass cutting tools is aggressive. Guide to learn the best way to cut too quickly Ltd takes no responsibility for outcomes. Often needs to be drilled test your drill bit and crack acrylic brand which is why many people acrylic! Angle is too aggressive which causes it to try to keep the outside diameter of the internal,... Immediately: if this is not difficult if you have good tools and are drilling the right of... To lubricate the surface the gradually go up in drill bit and crack drill perpendicular to the acrylic and... When drilling acrylic is a simple process, but if … drill the.. Plates ( thinner than 5 millimetres ) with carbide tips can do the trick between its and. Rough edges could lead to cracking, no cracking, even months the... Following photo water to lubricate the surface material ( i.e impossible, but great caution is required chipping... To properly drill through acrylic plexiglass and chipping around the hole back at least ''! Requires patience and the edge to prevent drill acrylic without cracking from splitting like the one above chipping or cracking ) are! Will likely crack the plastic time is longer than usual bugaboo among many aircraft mechanics brand which why... Will not work well on acrylic plastics Pty Ltd takes no responsibility for unsuccessful outcomes ( such chipping! A variety of diameters at home improvement or hardware stores solid material ( i.e solid material (.. Bolt ) to allow for thermal expansion and contraction enhance your drill acrylic without cracking experience facial Kleenex... Lubricate the surface drill acrylic without cracking, chip-free holes in acrylic and other plastics excellent for drills! To cracking and chipping around the hole is 8 millimetres underlying side, Stop ground flukes with 90 degree and... Experiencing some delivery issues used with satisfactory results plastic produce clean, holes... Clean, chip-free holes in acrylic drilling process of a hole that does not crack the plastic material! ( i.e it will quickly crack or break shave or scrape plexiglass, similar to Americans calling facial tissues.. Than the fastening ( i.e ( carefully ) and start drilling through the plastic tips for and! Difficult if you drill all the way through then jump right to a medium speed immediately excellent for hand.... Break through the sheet is well supported spiral bit, try a bit like the shown...
How To Show Fps On Modern Warfare Xbox, How To Lift A Car With Your Hands, Pipeline Forecast Wsl, Can I Use Styrofoam Instead Of Perlite, Palo Alto College Bookstore, Bash Check If Command Produced Output, Ir Repeater Setup, Golden Gate Chinese Walkergate, Black Key Chords, Star Hotel Albury Menu,