Cutting Plexiglas on a SawStop - blade?

Can’t comment on the sawstop issue. I cut plexiglass with my regular Frued combo blade and get a nice smooth cut.

-- Visualize whirled peas

Doesnt the plexiglass melt onto the blade?

-- My terrible signature...

Cannot comment on the sawstop either but have cut it on a few saws.Slow feed rate and you will be fine.

-- They just don't get my chub on.-Bertha on modern handplanes

Nope. At least not in my experience. I just feed it like I would a piece of 1/8 in. plywood and it seems to work fine.

-- Visualize whirled peas

no prob. go slow there will be build up of melted Plexiglas under plex. so watch for it. carb. blade is ok. If the edges need to be clear dust them with a torch But be careful !!

-- Al, South E. Az., But it's a dry heat.

The blade doesn’t matter too much, as long as it’s sharp. You’ll still have to sand the edges to get them smoooooth. A small amount will “melt” onto the blade but will also pop right off.

-- Sam Hamory - The project is never finished until its "finished"!

Most people I know use a fine tooth blade turned around so it runs backwards. I would also apply some masking tape on the cut line. This will help eliminate chipping. Make sure the plastic is held down tightly to the table and use a zero clearance insert. Another way would be to sandwich the plastic between two thin pieces of plywood and feed slowly.

I cut lexan with a normal Freud blade, but in an abundance of caution I do it in two passes to prevent shattering. I raise blade height to half the thickness of the lexan, cut one side, then flip the workpiece and finish the other.

-- Dan in Minneapolis, woodworking since 11/11.

That’s a good idea, Dan. MrRon, I don’t have a zero clearance insert, but I could sandwich the plastic. Or maybe it’s time to get a zero clearance insert…

Make sure your plexi is “cast.” otherwise it will melt on the blade.

Oh yeah, I also use a ZCI.

-- Dan in Minneapolis, woodworking since 11/11.

I cut Plexiglas with my Forrest Woodworker II blade all the time. It does not melt the plex the but the chips are full of static and stick everywhere.

I have cut plex with other blades that required a score cut before a complete cut to eliminate chip out but my Forrest blade doesn’t require that!

Using my Forrest blade leaves the edges smooth enough that a progression of sandpaper to 400 W/D paper will clear them up. If I want it super clear edge I use the polishing compound Novus in its various grades!

-- "I never met a board I didn't like!"

You have to be very careful cutting Plexiglas /Lexan on a TS.
I had multiple experiences of the Plexiglas shattering and sending shrapnels all over the place.
Now I wear a face shield when doing that

-- Bert

Good to know, Bert, thanks – I’ll wear one!

I hope you don’t have to cut a lot of that stuff, its toxic as heck. I’d use a plain old steel panel blade. Something with like 180 teeth cuts great and less risk of fracture. If its thicker than about 3/4 inch I’d go with a Freud thin kerf rip blade. I’ve cut this stuff before and it’s not fun. Be sure to wear a face shield.

-- Failure does not stop me, it makes me try harder..... because I'm crazy.