Plastic Sheets

How do you cut plastic sheets?

While there are many types of plastics, the recommended way to cut most plastics is with a high-quality table saw with a blade specially designed to cut plastic. These specialty blades usually feature carbide teeth and are often referred to as "No Melt" blades. If you don't have power tools, the simplest and most beginner-friendly way to cut plexiglass is by using a scoring tool. However, keep in mind that you should only use this method on plastic sheets that are 1/4 of an inch thick or thinner.

To cut thicker sheets of plastic, it's best to use either a jigsaw or a table saw that's outfitted with a special blade that's designed specifically for cutting plastic. If these blades aren't available, a regular blade with a high tooth count will do the job – but it may cause jagged cuts or cracks.

When cutting plastic using any power tool, you must use both eye and ear protection as well as be properly trained on how to use these tools to minimize the chance of injury.

Take a look at our video on plastic cutting methods.

What is the thickest plastic?

Plastic sheeting is a pliable film and comes in rolls. Plastic sheeting's thickness is measured in mils, which is a measurement that equals one-thousandth of an inch, or 0.001 inch. A mil is commonly mistaken for a millimeter (mm) but they are not the same since 1 mil equals 0.0254 mm. Plastic sheeting is generally available from 3 mil up to 60 mil.

Plastic sheets are rigid and come in panel form. Plastic sheets' thickness is commonly measured in inches or millimeters (mm). Sheets are generally available from 1/8 of an inch (or 3mm) up to 4 inches thick (or 96mm).

The general rule for plastic is, the thicker the plastic, the stronger it is.

What plastic sheets does Acme Plastics carry?

Acme Plastics carries a large selection of acrylic & plexiglass sheets, polycarbonate sheets, expanded PVC sheets, HDPE sheets (high-density polyethylene), and styrene sheets. Acme Plastics also has engineering plastic sheets including ABS, Acetal, Delrin, Nylon, PEEK, and PTFE. In addition to sheets, most plastics are also available as rods and tubes.

Which plastic is best for my project?

There are many types of plastics available with different mechanical properties and choosing the right kind for your project is essential. Certain plastics are popular for specific uses due to their advantages such as strength, resistance to chemicals, operating temperatures, etc. Some examples are:

• Transparent components - Acrylic, Plexiglass
• Outdoor applications - HDPE (high-density polyethylene)
• Greenhouse & roofing applications - Multiwall Polycarbonate
• Bullet resistance & security applications - Bullet Resistant Polycarbonate
• Model building - Styrene
• Gears and mechanical parts - Nylon and Acetal
• Bottles & containers - PET (polyethylene terephthalate)
• Molded shells & cases - ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)
• High-temperature applications - PPS, PSU, PEEK, Vespel

What color sheets does Acme Plastics offer?

Acme Plastics offers most plastic sheets in white, black and natural color options. If you are looking for more colorful choices, Acme Plastics offers cast acrylic sheets in a range of colors and different opacities like Transparent Tinted Bronze (2412 P), Transparent Amber (2422 P), Translucent Green (2092 L), Translucent Pink (3199 L), Translucent Blue (2050 L) and Opaque Brown (2418 O). Click here to see our offering of acrylic cast colors.

What can clear plastic sheets be used for?

Depending on the type of plastic, clear plastic sheets have many uses for consumers and businesses. Acrylic and polycarbonate are clear plastics that offer greater strength and stiffness than other clear plastics. Common uses for clear acrylic plastic sheets are signs, point of purchase displays, LCD screens, furniture as well as window and glass replacement. Common uses for clear polycarbonate sheets are roofing applications, fencing, greenhouse walls, weather protection as well as impact and bullet-resistant applications.