This allows the start of a hole that does not crack the plexiglass. Plexiglass is the original acrylic brand which is why many people know acrylic as plexiglass, similar to Americans calling facial tissues Kleenex. Therefore, the delivery time is longer than usual. Scoring and Snapping Thin Plexiglass Lay the plexiglass flat on a work surface. Acrylic (or acrylate) is available in two types: cast and extruded acrylic. The extruded type is, in fact, unsuitable for drilling: because of the internal stresses, it will quickly crack or break. For urgent enquiries, please call us. Turn the glass over. The special tip design carves through the plastic (not for use with wood or metal). Coefficient of Sliding Friction Against Steel, Portable outrigger lifting pads make light of challenges on diverse, remote, hazardous and emergency sites. Standard spiral drill bits will not work well on acrylic. Try to keep firm downward pressure (hands or clamps) on the panel whilst drilling through to avoid the Acrylic lifting or pulling up the drill bit suddenly. Stop drilling before you break through the other side. Turn off any hammer setting on the drill. 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. To mitigate the damages caused by the excess heat, use a spray bottle with water to lubricate the surface. Buy a plexiglass drill or plexiglass drill bits that can be used with a regular drill. When drilling acrylic, it is important that the sheet is well supported. Review Privacy Policy. If the sheet is 4 millimetres thick, then the distance between its edge and the edge of the hole is 8 millimetres. It doesn’t matter whether you want to make small or big holes. Knowing the proper drilling technique for making holes in plastic can save you a lot of headaches and ensure that your holes are clean and evenly cut. Craftics 1/8" Plas-Drill … These bits have a … These drill bits for plastic produce clean, chip-free holes in acrylic and other plastics excellent for hand drills. Place the sheet on a flat surface that supports it well and which the drill can run in to, for example, a wood board. These bits come in a variety of diameters at home improvement or hardware stores. If possible, you can also clamp the acrylic sheet along the borehole/boreholes by placing one or more slats along the boreholes and clamping them with glue clamps. timber) beneath the Acrylic for support. Drill all holes slowly. A good way is to drill a hole with one of your smallest drill bits. While drilling through plastic can be done using any power drill, it’s important to have the correct drill bits so you don’t chip or crack the material. After you are done with your drill, allow it to cool and clean the surface of … While drilling the final hole use a spray bottle … It takes a special drill bit to properly drill through Plexiglas, Lucite, Acrylite, or Perspex acrylic sheet. Test your drill bit and your technique on a scrap piece or off cut before attempting the job. We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience. DeWalt Brad Point Bit Set. I hope this post was helpful! Their cutting angle is too aggressive which causes it to try to cut too quickly. Drilling holes in plastic may seem like an easy task, but plastic is a brittle material and is prone to crack and splinter if you aren't careful. Most better hardware store will carry these bits, but if … It also has outstanding weather resistance compared with other transparent or clear plastics. There’s a risk that the glass will crack if you drill all the way through. Where possible do not remove paper masking prior to marking and drilling. When you’re drilling close to an edge or near a corner, the bit has a tendency to catch as it exits and can crack the Plexiglass. This will stop any splitting or cracking. Do not mark the drill holes directly on the acrylic or on the protective film. Spade drill bits can also be used with satisfactory results. You can drill acrylic with a normal steel drill or an HSS drill. Always use a small pilot hole before attempting to drill the main hole. Step 1 Drill holes in the plexiglass at the points that you want to put bolts or screws through it to attach it to another medium. By continuing to use this website, you are giving your consent for us to set cookies. It is advisable to also stick masking tape to the underlying side, especially with thinner plates (thinner than 5 millimetres). We will contact you within 1 business day. Drilling Acrylic: The Ultimate Guide Today, you’re going to learn about the process of drilling acrylic material. Acrylic (or acrylate) is available in two types: cast and extruded acrylic. Cut To Size Plastics Pty Ltd takes no responsibility for unsuccessful outcomes (such as chipping or cracking). For this step you will need the scoring tool (Or box cutter or x … Craftics 1/4" Plas-Drill Bit. Standard metal drill bits will work, but without extensive modification, the metal drill bit will crack and chip the brittle acrylic sheet. Flip the glass over (carefully) and start drilling through the hold on the opposite side. These metal drill bits have ground flukes with 90 degree points and 0 degree rake. Once you’ve nearly reached the other side, stop. 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. This guide shows some tips for safely and effectively drilling sheets of Acrylic. The flukes are ground to 90-degree point with 0-degree rake for superior cutting quality. During the break, you should also use some spray lubricant to make the drill bit wet, not only to prevent the heat from damaging it but also to keep the acrylic from cracking, chipping and even melting. If you just drill a pilot hole then jump right to a big size bit you will likely crack the plastic. Drill the panel with a piece of solid material (i.e. Drill bits for plastics, such as acrylic and polycarbonate, are significantly different than those used for drilling wood or metal. Plexiglass is a great substitute for glass, but it has one limitation. Plexiglass, Lexan, Plastic Drill Bits These are the bits you need for drilling Plexiglass, Lexan polycarbonate, PETG, and other clear plastics. This is another Brad point drill bit set that works great for drilling into … Place the drill perpendicular to the acrylic sheet and set the drill to medium speed immediately. screw or bolt) to allow for thermal expansion and contraction. Then continue on with a slightly bigger bit. Slow to medium speeds work best when working with acrylics. Plastic drill bits shave or scrape plexiglass, acrylic or plastic away layer by layer. No chipping, no cracking, no grabbing, no melting. Try to keep firm downward pressure (hands or clamps) on the panel whilst drilling through to avoid the Acrylic lifting or pulling up the drill bit suddenly. Cutting plexiglass requires patience and the right glass cutting tools. 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. 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 … Heat is a problem when drilling acrylic because it causes the acrylic to melt and/or crack. Definitely, if you’re thinking of being an expert in acrylic fabrication, then […] Drilling in cast acrylic sheet is easy to do; in this article, we give you some tips to make drilling acrylic a piece of cake. First you need to drill a small diameter pilot hole to get started. The flukes are ground to 90-degree point with 0-degree rake for superior cutting quality. A plastic cutting drill bit has a sharper point and less pitch than a conventional drill and will make a smooth hole without riding up the drill bit. Drilling acrylic is not difficult if you have good tools and are drilling the right kind of acrylic sheet. Let the drill continue turning while you lift it out of the hole. "ride up" a conventional drill bit and crack. Press only lightly on the drill, the drill must sink itself through the material. Always drill the hole 1-2 mm larger than the fastening (i.e. Plastic drill bits can drill through plastic. Clamp or hold down the acrylic while you drill the hole. This guide covers basic and advanced steps, techniques or options in acrylic drilling process. Acrylic is a plastic with excellent strength, stiffness and clarity. Where possible try to keep the outside diameter of the hole 20mm from the edges of the panel. There are special blades designed expressly for acrylic, but any metal-cutting blade with carbide tips can do the trick. Tip: Cutting plexiglass to size is a simple process, but often leaves the piece with very rough edges. The drilling of holes in Plexiglass seems to be the big bugaboo among many aircraft mechanics. Drilling acrylic is not difficult if you have good tools and are drilling the right kind of acrylic sheet. These drill bits for plastic produce clean, chip-free holes in acrylic and other plastics excellent for hand drills. 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. Here is a video on how to properly drill through acrylic plexiglass. This post seeks to highlight the steps to drill holes without seeking professional help. Before you drill the Acrylic sheet, make sure you place a wooden block or sheet underneath to stop the bit breaking through the bottom of the Acrylic. This point angle must be ground to 60-90°. Support the drill well when it is almost through the sheet, and allow the drill to run into the underlying support. If possible, set the hole back at least ½" from the edge to prevent it from splitting like the one above! Because of its diverse applications, including many outdoors, Acrylic often needs to be drilled. And then a slightly bigger bit than previous. Craftics 1/8" Plas-Drill Bit. Drill the panel with a piece of solid material (i.e. This will allow the bit to easily enter and exit the acrylic without chipping. Base plate in which the drill can run out, Making a DIY laptop stand with acrylic sheet, All you need to know about glueing polycarbonate, How to paint polycarbonate: 7 expert tips, Bending polycarbonate: everything you need to know, Five unusual shaped mirrors to brighten your home, Milling PVC: top tips for a successful result. Insert an acrylic point drill bit into the chuck of the drill and set it to a medium speed. Dibond® vs Alupanel: is there any difference? Drill The intense heat caused by the friction of the drill bit will stress the plexiglass resulting in cracking and chipping. Here is yet another great drill bit that is made specifically for plastic materials … If you drill a few holes in wood or aluminium first, the sharp edge will be worn down a little and you can then use the drill for drilling acrylic. Always stick masking tape onto the acrylic sheet and mark the drill hole on this. The chip should break off immediately: if this is not the case, the drill is too slow. This will lead to cracking and chipping around the hole. 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. Due to the coronavirus, we are experiencing some delivery issues. Use a blunt metal drill or back off the rake angle. Tip angles on standard drill bits are commonly 118-130°. Plastic Sheets Shop Protective Screen Grant. Drill all holes slowly. The gradually go up in drill bit sizes until you reach your desired diameter. Please note: The above tips are to be used as a guide only and should not be taken as instruction. The extruded type is, in fact, unsuitable for drilling: because of the internal stresses, it will quickly crack or break. If you want to use a spiral bit, try a bit like the one shown in the following photo. No chipping, no cracking, no grabbing, no melting. Craftics 1/4” Drill Bit. The intense heat can cause heavy cracking which may render the plexiglass useless. For thin sheets of … What I've done is sandwich the acrylic sheet between 1/4" thick plywood sheets, this keeps it from flexing & cracking, drill a pilot hole first, then use a drill press with a hole saw attachment. Turn off any hammer setting on the drill. Drilling it is not impossible, but great caution is required. Larger tip angles commonly cause cracking and blow out as the bit exits the sheet. Use this guide to learn the best way to cut plexiglass and the right tools to use for plexiglass sheeting of different thickness. Irregular holes and rough edges could lead to cracking, even months after the drilling occurs. timber) beneath the Acrylic for support. Continue turning while you drill all the way through wood or metal ) experiencing some delivery issues well supported underlying... Screw or bolt ) to allow for thermal expansion and contraction bit into the chuck the. Back at least ½ '' from the edges of the hole is millimetres... 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Start drilling through the material Plas-Drill … Stop drilling before you break through the material reached the other.. Damages caused by the excess heat, use a spray bottle with water to lubricate the surface simple! Degree points and 0 degree rake … drill the hole 20mm from the edge of the hole at. It to try to keep the outside diameter of the internal stresses, is. We are experiencing some delivery issues not for use with wood or metal ) drilling: because of panel! Too aggressive which causes it to try to keep the outside diameter of the hole,...