posted
After you cut a sheet of plexiglas with a saw, the edge can be a bit rough. No big deal if it's going in a sign box, but if it's hanging on a wall, what tool will polish the edges nice and smooth?
A sign salesman once brought me a small plexiglas sign that he wanted me to match. The edges were smooth, polished and slightly rounded so they wouldn't cut your hand. He said the previous sign guy did it for him but he didn't know what tool was used. Any ideas?
posted
We use a big snap blade knife. We drag it back and forth over the edges. Learned that from the local glass cutters and installers. It takes some work, but is worth the time. Then you could use some fine grit sandpaper as long as you are carefull not to hit the surface. But the knife should do the trick all by itself.
posted
The sharp side of a rasp, a sander, then a polisher, works great if you want a nice shine too. That is what I used to use for thin and thick acrylic and polycarbonate. Have fun, Pete.
-------------------- Deb Fowler
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible - Walt Disney (1901-1966) Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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posted
Pete...I do a lot of interior plex pieces here's what I do...mask both sides of the plex (or leave the protective paper on(so you ddon't scratch the face and back)...sand the edge with 120 grit paper till all the cut marks are gone then sand with 400 til it's smooth...now here's the secret to professional polished look...remove the mask wipe of all plex dust with a damp rag ...take a propane torch and slowly move across the edge (flame straight into the edge) and watch it go to a high gloss (practice on a scrap...if you stay too long in one place you will blister and scorch ...so it takes some practice but anyone can do it. There's another way to do it but it's risky so best to stay with this.
This works great for clear or colored plex...
Post back if you think you need more info...
"werks fer me it'll werk fer you"
-------------------- "Werks fer me...it'll werk fer you"
posted
Once you get it sanded smooth...Take a torch and "Flame Polish" it..just play the torch back and forth......over the edge....not too close.....and you will come up with an edge smooth as glass.....with just a little rounded over edge....Practice on a piece of scrap plexi till you get the feel of it.... Works great for me. Shep'
-------------------- Arvil Shep' Shepherd Art by Shep' -------- " Those who dance are thought to be mad by those who cannot hear the music " Posts: 1281 | From: Mt Airy NC | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
Peter Our setup here includes the following:
1.A jointer used in woodworking to take the edge down to fine.
2.A sander...can be orbital. hand or belt for taking down to 400/600
3. Oxygen/hydrogen tanks with a jewelers tip torch on end for "flame polished" edge.
4. 2 hp baldor buffing wheel with soft felt running at just under 1375 rpm for unusual configurated peices(used alot in award type work)
so...depending on the type of edge you are working with, there are a few different ways to acheive the effect...the most important is to avoid "frosting the edge...and VERY IMPORTANT...ONCE THE EDGE IS FLAMED, DO NOT WIPE WITH MINERAL SPIRITS...THIS WILL CAUSE THE WORK TO CRACK!
hope this helps ya and I can elaborate if need be
-------------------- Robert Beverly Arlington, Texas Posts: 1023 | From: Arlington, Texas | Registered: Jan 2001
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posted
As the other guys have said, you can use the square edge of a knife or steel rule to scrape the cut marks back to almost nothing. You can also use a buffing mop attached to a bench grinder or flexible drive with a little wax applied to polish the edges. The flame will give you a better finish faster once you're used to it, the buffing wheel is just another way to skin the cat.
[ January 27, 2003, 11:37 PM: Message edited by: David Fisher ]
-------------------- David Fisher D.A. & P.M. Fisher Services Brisbane Australia da_pmf@yahoo.com Trying out a new tag: "Parents are the bones on which children cut their teeth Peter Ustinov Posts: 1450 | From: Brisbane Queensland Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Hadta jump in here, 1. Cut plexi with Router & carbide bit, not a skilsaw or table saw. 2. Sand edges to 400 grit. 3. Flame polish(move quickly) as previously noted.
Chris
-------------------- Chris Bryant Puyallup, WA Posts: 49 | From: Puyallup, Washington 98374 | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
For sanding up to a mirror finish you can't beat micro mesh sandpaper. It will work on wood, steel, plexiglass, silicon wafers... you name it. You don't need a flame or buffing wheel to get a glass like finish on plexiglass.
The grit is bonded into a latex rubber layer with a cloth backing. Grits go above 3000. I normally use it wet with some joy detergent mixed in the water. You can also do lexan with their polishing liquid.
You can get sheets, pad or sanding belts made. It costs more but lasts a long time.
ernie
-------------------- Ernie Balch Balch Signs 1045 Raymond Rd Malta, NY 518-885-9899 Posts: 405 | From: Malta, NY | Registered: Jan 2003
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posted
You can also use any type buffing wheel and plastic polishing compound, which we buy at the local Ace Hardware store.
-------------------- Kent Smith Smith Sign Studio P.O.Box 2385, Estes Park, CO 80517-2385 kent@smithsignstudio.com Posts: 1025 | From: Estes Park, CO | Registered: Nov 1998
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