Official Luthiers Forum!

What is the best way to cut Lexan? I intend to use it as a template so I want the edges to be nice and smooth. I've cut acrylic and other plastics with a bandsaw only to have the kerf close up when the melted plastic puddled together. Same thing happened with a tablesaw, except I was also burned when it tossed a glob of melted plastic onto my hand.

_________________
Aoibeann

Lillian, I just use my table saw, band saw and spindle sander to cut and shape Lexan (which is a name brand for polycarbonate material). Acrylic can melt easier than polycarbonate. You should be fine using your saws and sander on it.

_________________
My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Thanks Rod.

_________________
Aoibeann

Oh yeah. Cuts much cleaner and no burns.

_________________
Aoibeann

I cut it on the band saw to within 1/4" or so of my final line and then touch it up on an OLD belt on the belt sander. Then use a small sanding block to soften the edges a bit.

_________________
Don't confront me with my failures--I have not forgotten them.

Those edges are sharp. Thanks for pointing that out.

_________________
Aoibeann