Perspex mimics glass very well, and for this reason, there is so much you can achieve from the material. Unlike glass, the material is easily manipulated and you can do it yourself. Moreover, the products are more stable than glassware. They are able to resist heavy impact and scratches thus guaranteeing you long-term use. In Sydney, Perspex sheets are employed in an array of home applications. From renovation duties such as shelving, roofing and piping to making crafts such as home decors and furniture pieces, there is so much to enjoy from Perspex sheets. But before you make any craft or do a renovation at home, you should know how to handle Perspex or acrylic plastic sheets brands.
1. Cutting
To make straight cuts, you need a plastic-scoring blade or a traditional saw such as a jigsaw, table saw or band saw. You are required to score lines of weakness on the Perspex sheet using the blade or saw. Then place the weakened sheet on a flat surface and apply a swift pressure to separate the pieces.
2. Bending
To easily bend Perspex sheets, you need heat, about 2000. You can use a toaster oven but you should leave its door open. Alternatively, you can use a heat gun to weaken the sheets. When the sheets are heated, you can bend them easily against a flat surface.
3. Joining
Perspex sheets are easily joined by acrylic glue. The glue chemically bonds the pieces and can withstand slight to moderate pressure. You should hold the joined pieces for about 15 minutes to allow the glue to dry.
4. Drilling
Perspex can be drilled successfully but there are two situations that you always avoid: heating and twisting the material. The heat that’s generated by the drill can melt or crack the material while twisting it can cause it to fractures. Accordingly, only use polished ir specifically-ground drills that are customized for Perspex.
5. Polishing
Finally, if the craft that you’ve made has glossy edges, you should flame polish it. This requires you to brush the rough edges across a moderately strong flame. However, you should not flame the glued ends as they may weaken.
Bottom-line
Perspex is popular material for windows, shower doors, skylights, aquarium, and picture frames among other uses. Whether it is a craft that you want to make or just a home renovation that you want to achieve, Perspex sheets will serve you better. Once you understand a few basics of working with Perspex, the possibilities of what you can make with these versatile materials are endless.