Need help cutting two 7" holes in 2mm Plexi-Glass

[Neil4Speed]

Hello All,

I thought I might be able to do this by hand, but I'd rather not mess it up. Just wondering if there is any place in Calgary that would be able to drill two 7" holes in a piece of Plexi-Glass that I would provide to them (already marked)

[schurchill39]

Jig saw, cut just inside your line then sand or file smooth.

[Mitsu3000gt]

Wouldn't a drill press & a hole saw do a cleaner job? I used to drill holes in Lucite all the time, but I am not sure how similar that is to Plexiglass.

[AndyL]

Router and jig... Hole saws in plexi (especially thin) tend to make it crack.

[Neil4Speed]

Originally posted by Mitsu3000gt
Wouldn't a drill press & a hole saw do a cleaner job? I used to drill holes in Lucite all the time, but I am not sure how similar that is to Plexiglass.

Sorry, I actually have Lucite (acrylic). I thought they were the same thing.

Thanks for the feedback... now I need to find out where I can try some of this equipment.

[mr2mike]

Can't really help but any time I've cut lucite, you need to go slow. It heats up, stinks and starts to melt.

[Mitsu3000gt]

Yeah if you go too slow, the drill bit can catch and you'll crack it with the torque of the drill. Too fast for too long and you'll melt it. Best way I found was medium-high RPM, and very gradually and lightly drill a tiny bit at a time, backing off every couple seconds for it to cool.

[legendboy]

depending on how large the piece is I can machine that hole easily and accurately.

Acylic tends to be very brittle. Jig saw may crack it