Plexiglass and acrylic sheets can be highly durable materials, but if you thought you needed specialized tools, you'd be glad to know that you don't.
A great way to get a clean cut is by using a utility knife that is going to make a deep line in the sheet, but where do you go about finding a knife that is perfect for the job?
And how can you do so in an inexpensive way?
In this article, we'll show you some knives that are perfect for the job and have a range of designs and features that will make your cutting job more straightforward.
Read on to find out how to improve your cutting jobs significantly.
What Sort Of Knife Will Work Best?
For this job, any sort of utility blade will work, but for thicker types of sheets, you might have to look into scroll saws, but for this example, any retractable cutter should be able to do the job with no issues.
It's also a good idea to go for a knife that has a solid handle for better control and some spare blades as you're going to need a few if you have quite a lot of material you need to cut.
You also want a blade that won't require too many scores to get a deep enough cut that will make it easier for you to pick the cut piece out as you want a clean and tidy finish.
But where can you find knives like these, and how certain are you that the one you have your eye on will do the job effectively?
We'll turn to a few picks of some notable types of knives below.
The 3 Best Knives To Cut Plexiglass Or Acrylic Sheets
BAISALJI Sheet Cutting Scoring Knife
This knife is specifically designed to cut acrylic or other plastic material, which has blades that are hard and brittle, so it's going to be challenging to separate the blade from the handle.
You can place the hook knife under the sheet and align the protrusion of the hook knife with the groove just hooked out, and then press down on both sides of the groove.
This might take some time to get a perfect cut, but you'll find this knife makes it so you won't have to think too much about the impact of your cuts, as you can then adjust the pressure you apply to the knife.
You might find the handle isn't the comfiest, and the blades take some maneuvering to get into the blade, but these can be improved by using it more.
You might have to buy some blades separately if you go through the ones that come as standard, but this is something that can be offset by an effective cutting method.
Hyde Tools Cutting Tool
This is a simplistic design with a blade that is hardened and made of steel which can go from a light to a deeper cut very easily.
You can line it up with any straight edge, and you'll find that it glides the blade even better, but you still may have to put some extra work in to make those deeper cuts.
You might also find that this type of cutting knife will struggle with any thickness of ¼ and above so you might be wearing out the blade quicker for limited success.
WORKPRO Premium Utility Knife
This knife has a three adjustable position razor that can slide and retract quickly and locks safely inside the metal frame when not in use.
You'll also find that standard SK5 blades, so you won't struggle too much to find the right blade fittings, which is going to save you a lot of hassle if you're using this knife quite often.
We like the fact that you don't need to unscrew anything to release the blade, as all you need to do is hold down a button while you replace the blades, which doesn't limit its functionality with materials that go beyond plexiglass and acrylic.
The 3 Best Knives To Cut Plexiglass Or Acrylic Sheets
Tips To Get The Perfect Cut
With some utility knives that are perfect for your cutting job, there might be ways that you can optimize your cutting to ensure that you get a clean and consistent break in your sheets.
Below are a few tips to help you get finishes for sheets that will complement any home improvement job you might be working on.
Work On Your Cutting Technique
This might seem the easiest thing to get right, but there are times when you might not get the clean and straight cut that you're looking for.
You want to start by laying the sheet on a flat surface and using a marker to measure and draw the line you wish to cut.
Then you want to hold a yardstick to the marked line and run a dull side of a utility knife to score the sheet.
Now you want to keep on scoring as many as 10-12 times or until there is a deep groove, and then you can flip the sheet over and do the same for the other side.
Then you want to hold your scribed line to the edge of the work surface and secure it with a clamp.
Then you can apply some pressure to the sheet and snap off the portion that extends beyond the worktop.
Switch Out Your Blades
If you're installing some skylights, for example, and you have to cut a few pieces for this, you might find your blade begins to dull over time.
It's a mistake that some overlook, but it's a good rule of thumb to try out the blade on a practice surface if you haven't used it for a while, or you will notice your cuts beginning to have less of an impact on the cut that a sharp blade would.
This way, you can keep your work moving, and switching out can be as easy as holding down a button while you switch out the blades.
Conclusion
You might have heard that you can use a box cutter for this task, but be aware that the blade might not be as pronounced or sharp as you would see on a utility knife, so you would have to make several cuts before you'd have to turn the sheet around.
If you're trying to cut a sheet that is too thick for your knife, you might want to consider a glass cutter or a circular saw, which you might have to do some practice with to get a clean cut.
Whatever your job is, you want to take it steady and not rush the process as you don't want any chips or cracks as a result of any oversights.
Now you're equipped to deal with plexiglass and acrylic, you can identify what knives work for you and how to effectively cut a sheet so that you can go about your work process with ease.
Thank you for reading.