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Turkey Guns & Shooting => Turkey Guns => Topic started by: sugarray on March 21, 2011, 03:48:26 PM

Title: How to cut plexiglass?
Post by: sugarray on March 21, 2011, 03:48:26 PM
I am done shooting, but would like to have a better way to make a 10" circle around my pattern.  I have a piece of plexiglass that I think I can get another circle out of.  Question is:

How would you cut it?
Title: Re: How to cut plexiglass?
Post by: ILIKEHEVI-13 on March 21, 2011, 03:57:12 PM
What I did if this will help is just went to my local glass company and had them cut me 2 10" circles from glass.  One is thicker than the other.  But they work perfectly for counting shot.  They are cut perfect and won't scratch up like plexiglass will.  You just don't want to drop them.  I think I paid like $15 for both of them.  
Title: Re: How to cut plexiglass?
Post by: sugarray on March 21, 2011, 03:58:30 PM
I went to my local place and they wanted like $40 bucks for one.  That may have been plexiglass though.  I'll try again, maybe.
Title: Re: How to cut plexiglass?
Post by: ILIKEHEVI-13 on March 21, 2011, 03:59:45 PM
Here ya go.

[attachment deleted by admin]
Title: Re: How to cut plexiglass?
Post by: ILIKEHEVI-13 on March 21, 2011, 04:01:36 PM
That's how I squeeze the most out of my 10" numbers and draw perfctly round circles.   :you_rock:
Title: Re: How to cut plexiglass?
Post by: ILIKEHEVI-13 on March 21, 2011, 04:10:41 PM
Yea I think they wanted $20 for plexiglass.  That's what I had them make me at first until I went to pick it up.  You should hve seen it.  It looked like a jigsay puzzle piece.  I looked at the guy and said nope won't work and told him that it sucked.  It has to be perfectly 10 all the way around.  He said you want glass then.  I said if it can be cut perfectly yes.  He knew I was upset.  I came back and he gave me 2 for $15.   :z-guntootsmiley:
Title: Re: How to cut plexiglass?
Post by: sparelink on March 21, 2011, 04:17:02 PM
to cut a circle that are a few different ways that it can be done.

first and easiest is to drill a home in the middle of the plexi. then screw/nail it to a 8 in square piece of ply or similar. then t take it to a bandsaw and measure out 5 inches from the center and turn the plexi when cutting.

next was is to get a jig saw with a circle cutting jig and do it that way.

another way is to just free hand cut it but make sure you cut it like 10.25d and then sand it down into a perfect circle.
Title: Re: How to cut plexiglass?
Post by: Skeeterbait on March 21, 2011, 04:31:03 PM
I used a dremmel, a circle cutting attachment, and a flush cutoff bit.  Just have to keep rpm down so it cuts and doesn't melt the plexi.  Instead of just cutting a circle, I cut a ring.  The inside of the ring is a 10 inch circle and the outside of the ring is a 12 inch circle.
Title: Re: How to cut plexiglass?
Post by: archery1 on March 21, 2011, 05:24:01 PM
WOW. JUST GET A PROTRACTOR ?  ALOT CHEAPER AND DRAWS A PERFECT 10" CIRCLE
Title: Re: How to cut plexiglass?
Post by: Jayhawkeye on March 21, 2011, 05:50:28 PM
my local glass shop charged me $8 for one 10" Plexiglas circle.  no hassle of cutting needed...
Title: Re: How to cut plexiglass?
Post by: Skeeterbait on March 21, 2011, 07:03:11 PM
Quote from: archery1 on March 21, 2011, 05:24:01 PM
WOW. JUST GET A PROTRACTOR ?  ALOT CHEAPER AND DRAWS A PERFECT 10" CIRCLE


It is nice having a precut clear circle so you can move it around on the pattern looking for the most dense part of the pattern before drawing your circle.
Title: Re: How to cut plexiglass?
Post by: whiskey on March 21, 2011, 07:13:39 PM
Plexiglas is tough to cut. There is a scoring tool that we use to cut plexi, but it would not be great for circles.

I will send you a PM with some more info.

Title: Re: How to cut plexiglass?
Post by: ILIKEHEVI-13 on March 21, 2011, 07:24:37 PM
Quote from: Skeeterbait on March 21, 2011, 07:03:11 PM
Quote from: archery1 on March 21, 2011, 05:24:01 PM
WOW. JUST GET A PROTRACTOR ?  ALOT CHEAPER AND DRAWS A PERFECT 10" CIRCLE


It is nice having a precut clear circle so you can move it around on the pattern looking for the most dense part of the pattern before drawing your circle.

Exactly!
Title: Re: How to cut plexiglass?
Post by: I hate turkeys on March 21, 2011, 09:13:16 PM
I found a 10" dinner plate. Don't tell the wife she dosen't know I use it.
Title: Re: How to cut plexiglass?
Post by: Buxndiverdux on March 21, 2011, 09:24:37 PM
I'm in the glass business. Glass is cheaper and easier to cut. Plexiglass is ok, but it scratches real easy. Go to your local glass shop and ask for 1/4" plate glass with standard seamed edgework. It should last a long time unless you drop it on concrete.
Title: Re: How to cut plexiglass?
Post by: ILIKEHEVI-13 on March 21, 2011, 10:00:42 PM
Quote from: Buxndiverdux on March 21, 2011, 09:24:37 PM
I'm in the glass business. Glass is cheaper and easier to cut. Plexiglass is ok, but it scratches real easy. Go to your local glass shop and ask for 1/4" plate glass with standard seamed edgework. It should last a long time unless you drop it on concrete.

I'm thinking they etched both of mine around the edges.  They are real smooth.  
Title: Re: How to cut plexiglass?
Post by: Buxndiverdux on March 22, 2011, 06:09:40 AM
Quote from: ILIKEHEVI-13 on March 21, 2011, 10:00:42 PM
Quote from: Buxndiverdux on March 21, 2011, 09:24:37 PM
I'm in the glass business. Glass is cheaper and easier to cut. Plexiglass is ok, but it scratches real easy. Go to your local glass shop and ask for 1/4" plate glass with standard seamed edgework. It should last a long time unless you drop it on concrete.

I'm thinking they etched both of mine around the edges.  They are real smooth.  

There are all kinds of edgework options. I suggeseted the cheapest option. All you need for this application is something that won't cut you. If the glass tech is good. You will be able to draw perfect circles with standard edgework.
Title: Re: How to cut plexiglass?
Post by: honker22 on March 22, 2011, 03:31:31 PM
I just use a 5 gallon bucket.  The bottom of mine is 10.25" in diameter... Sorry guys the secret is out, all my #s are 10.25" circle
Title: Re: How to cut plexiglass?
Post by: Skeeterbait on March 22, 2011, 09:29:10 PM
Slick I don't know why I didn't think of that.  I cut a ring but I make mine only one inch wide so the internal is 10 and the external is 12.  But fact is I seldom look at a 12.  But a 20 outside would be useful.  Gonna be a rather big template but it will be more useful.  Now I am going to have to cut another one.
Title: Re: How to cut plexiglass?
Post by: boggszilla on March 22, 2011, 10:07:59 PM
26 gauge sheet metal ring.talk to a local hvac guy,may get one free.
Title: Re: How to cut plexiglass?
Post by: hookedspur on March 22, 2011, 10:09:55 PM
Quote from: slickyboyboo on March 22, 2011, 03:40:52 PM
I wouldn't mind having a 20" plexi circle, with a 10" circle cut out of the center, that way you could make both your 10 and 20 circles at once.
:agreed:
Title: Re: How to cut plexiglass?
Post by: BOFF on March 22, 2011, 10:45:01 PM
I just cut out a 10" circle out of clear visqueen plastic.
Have to be slow in tracing circle, but it was free besides the time it took to cut it out.




God Bless,
David B.