tips for cutting plexiglass

[brubakes]

I wondered if anyone has tips on cutting plexiglass for covering my control panel.  It seems no matter how careful I am I still get cracks when drilling for the panel's buttons.

[Maddoc1007]

Have you tried using masking tape over and under where you want to drill before drilling.

[brubakes]

1 minute ago, Maddoc1007 said:

Have you tried using masking tape over and under where you want to drill before drilling.

I've left on the protective clear covering but haven't tried masking tape.

[Porl Hendy]

As @Maddoc1007said I'd recommend masking tape. I would try a different holesaw if still struggling after masking tape. And take your time, it can seem like it takes forever but u will get cracks for sure if u speed through

[brubakes]

Thanks for the suggestions.  I will try using masking tape when I remake the control panel cover.  I'll use a holesaw as well.  I was using a forstner bit.

[kmoney]

What I did when I did when I built my control panel is I drilled out my holes in the wood control panel first and then clamped the plexiglass to the control panel. I then drilled a hole with a regular drill bit just big enough to fit a flush cut router trim bit in each button hole. I then adjusted the router so the ball bearing on the flush trim bit rode inside the hole of the wooden control panel as the guide. The flush cut bit cut the plexiglass perfect without almost no effort and all my holes aligned up exactly because my control panel was used as a guide.

[ckp]

I heard Home Depot will cut it to size for free.

Oh yeah, but probably not the button holes!

http://www.ehow.com/how_4881739_drill-holes-plexiglass.html

 

Edited March 5, 2017 by ckp