Can you cut acrylic with a table saw (universal wood blade)? Or is this a very bad idea, as it will badly melt the acrylic and make a mess of everything; or dull the blade or something like that?
2 Answers
Universal wood blade might not be the best for this. Blades with a high tooth count (100 or more for a 10" blade) will work best. Try to find a blade with a low rake angle (teeth should look straighter rather than laying down at an angle). Blade height should be adjusted so the blade sticks above the material 1/2 or more rather than just clearing the material as is common with wood.
For thinner material, you want very tight clearance between the blade and the throat plate. This helps prevent chipping because the material is supported as much as possible. This might mean making a custom throat plate or buying a low clearance plate made for your saw.
Your fence needs to be strait and sturdy, and again for thin material make sure theres not a gap under the fence where the material can slide.
It could work if you do everything just right. Hold it securely so it can't chatter, move it through at just the right speed, and make sure to keep tight to the fence during the entire cut.
If you go too slowly it will melt, leaving you with gobs of plastic on the edges of your cut. If you go too quickly you'll shatter it. The only way to know for sure with your saw and your blade and your skills is to give it a try.
answered Mar 22, 2018 at 12:27
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You can add a constant water stream to keep the blade cool. Commented Mar 22, 2018 at 13:18
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on most tablesaws the motor is out of the way of the blade (to avoid sucking in dust into the cooling ports) and most components are stainless. Commented Mar 22, 2018 at 13:56
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1No, most high-quality tables are cast iron and rust at the first hint of moisture. There may be some aluminum involved, but rarely stainless steel. Commented Mar 22, 2018 at 16:37
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2Perhaps even sandwich the acrylic between some scrap wood. Commented Mar 22, 2018 at 17:32