How do i cut polycarbonate sheets?

Catwoman63 · 19-04-2013, 12:43 PM

Hi all,

I need advice please on what tools to cut double layered polycarbonate sheets?

Thanks

TillyTortoise · 19-04-2013, 12:47 PM

There is a section on this PDF from wickes on how to cut twin wall polycarb

http://www.wickes.co.uk/content/ebiz...ges/gil/52.pdf

ClareandCo · 19-04-2013, 01:10 PM

Either a hand saw although we use an electric jigsaw for ease and speed, making sure it is supported well on a "Workmate" or similar.

Catwoman63 · 19-04-2013, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TillyTortoise

There is a section on this PDF from wickes on how to cut twin wall polycarb

http://www.wickes.co.uk/content/ebiz...ges/gil/52.pdf

thanks Ross, im using my work internet so it wont let me load it, but will take a look when i get home x

Catwoman63 · 19-04-2013, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClareandCo

Either a hand saw although we use an electric jigsaw for ease and speed, making sure it is supported well on a "Workmate" or similar.

im good at hand sawing, i hand sawed all my wood (mad i know)

i havent got an electric saw so it will have to be by a manual method i.e hand saw, are they reletively easy to cut? x

Pussygalore · 19-04-2013, 02:33 PM

very carefully and have a practise on a waste bit first, its very easy to crack it.

Catwoman63 · 19-04-2013, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pussygalore

very carefully and have a practise on a waste bit first, its very easy to crack it.

thank you, im not feeling as confident as i was before i posted this thread, i dont want to ruin the sheets i have just bought, i thought i could use a stanley knife or something?? its not the thick stuff its quite thin the twin wall x

**Alan1** · 19-04-2013, 02:59 PM

a fine toothed saw

Catwoman63 · 19-04-2013, 03:05 PM

My hand saw isnt a fine toothed one, so will have to buy a cheapish fine toothed saw from travis perkins they are 5 minutes away from me. Not feeling as confident now, will give it a go because i cant give up before i have even tried. If i ruin one then i will just have to buy another one they cost me £10 each from Amazon x

RacingSnake · 19-04-2013, 03:25 PM

I used a fine toothed saw to cut the big sheet in half at the shop so I could get it home.
Was a complete pain in the backside.

So despite the chap in B&Q telling me you can't cut it with a Stanley knife, that's exactly what I used.
I used a long level that I have (can use a plank) as a straight guide and ran the Stanley knife down (with some pressure behind it), it might have needed 2 or 3 'goes', but it left me with a very clean, very straight line. One which I'd never have got with a saw, and one that took me second rather than minutes

Stanley knife all the way.

19-04-2013, 12:43 PM	#1
Catwoman63 Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: South East England Posts: 6,739	How do i cut polycarbonate sheets? Hi all, I need advice please on what tools to cut double layered polycarbonate sheets? Thanks __________________ BEV XXX 0.3.0 - T Horsfieldii (Xena, Zelda & Lilly) 2.2.0 - TG Terrestris (Zeus, Astreus / Zagreus & Alexia) 1.2.0 - Zebra Finches (Gunner / Bonnie & May) 0.1.0 - SBT (Hazel) 1.0.0 - FBD (Ted)

19-04-2013, 12:47 PM	#2
TillyTortoise Senior Member Adult Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales Posts: 2,327	There is a section on this PDF from wickes on how to cut twin wall polycarb http://www.wickes.co.uk/content/ebiz...ges/gil/52.pdf __________________ Ross

19-04-2013, 03:05 PM	#9
Catwoman63 Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: South East England Posts: 6,739	My hand saw isnt a fine toothed one, so will have to buy a cheapish fine toothed saw from travis perkins they are 5 minutes away from me. Not feeling as confident now, will give it a go because i cant give up before i have even tried. If i ruin one then i will just have to buy another one they cost me £10 each from Amazon x __________________ BEV XXX 0.3.0 - T Horsfieldii (Xena, Zelda & Lilly) 2.2.0 - TG Terrestris (Zeus, Astreus / Zagreus & Alexia) 1.2.0 - Zebra Finches (Gunner / Bonnie & May) 0.1.0 - SBT (Hazel) 1.0.0 - FBD (Ted)

19-04-2013, 03:25 PM	#10
RacingSnake Member Hatchling Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Reading Posts: 582	I used a fine toothed saw to cut the big sheet in half at the shop so I could get it home. Was a complete pain in the backside. So despite the chap in B&Q telling me you can't cut it with a Stanley knife, that's exactly what I used. I used a long level that I have (can use a plank) as a straight guide and ran the Stanley knife down (with some pressure behind it), it might have needed 2 or 3 'goes', but it left me with a very clean, very straight line. One which I'd never have got with a saw, and one that took me second rather than minutes Stanley knife all the way. __________________ Code: .~~~. _ .~~~. _ ./____/'_) ./____/'_) {_}-{_} {_}-{_}

19-04-2013, 01:10 PM	#3
ClareandCo Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,350	Either a hand saw although we use an electric jigsaw for ease and speed, making sure it is supported well on a "Workmate" or similar.

19-04-2013, 02:33 PM	#6
Pussygalore Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cambridge Posts: 6,479	very carefully and have a practise on a waste bit first, its very easy to crack it.

19-04-2013, 02:59 PM	#8
Alan1 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sunny Scotland Posts: 21,512	a fine toothed saw

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