trick to cutting this plastic?

[emeraldcoupe]

guess this is lighting related. need to replace some yellowed panels in the kitchen, is there a trick to cutting this stuff? I've been using a razor blade but it's pretty tough plastic.

 

[maxpat82]

a shrap point used 90deg.
it's more a scraping action then a cutting action you want.

when you pull on it the "blade" is almost flat to the piece you are cutting.
and it remove plastic shaving when "cutting"


for small 1 time usage: you can use a old pair of scissor and just put the blade vertical and shave the plastic. (use glove to protect from the scissor cutting edge)

 

[MrBalll]

I put one on a 2x10 I had laying around. Then drew a straight line with a marker. Slowly and lightly scored a line down about 1/3 of the plastic with a typical razor blade. Then just bent it over the side and snapped it.
Not an extremely clean cut but no one will ever see it as it's tucked up in the light housing.

 

[Platonic Solid]

We use a table saw, but then again we cut them by the 100s. Here's the Plaskolite cutting instructions (link).

 

[emeraldcoupe]

thanks guys

 

[The Cobbler]

carbide tipped plastic laminate ( formica) knife , scratch several times & break it off

 

[lakelandcat]

Try turning the blade around backwards on your table saw or circular saw. Thats the way I cut siding. Take it slow and it works good, the problem with the defuser sheets is that it can sometimes be brittle. Keep it at room temp.

 

[PhysicsDude]

Try turning the blade around backwards on your table saw or circular saw. Thats the way I cut siding. Take it slow and it works good, the problem with the defuser sheets is that it can sometimes be brittle. Keep it at room temp.

^ this is how I've always cut them. You still have to go REALLY slow or else it may crack. Still faster and easier than scoring with a knife, IMO.

 

[rsanter]

I score them with a new blade in a razor knife then snap them