[CQ-Contest] how to cut cast acrylic?

[Michael Tope]

Doug,

Laser cutting is best if you want an optical quality edge,
but probably not cost effective for this application :):)

If you have access to a bandsaw, use a fine pitch blade
similar to what you would use to cut steel (a coarse "raker"
blade will crack the material).  You can also use
a table saw with a thin fine pitch plywood blade.
Reciprocating saws (sawzall or jigsaw) will tend to
crack the material due to the back and forth motion
(especially if its thin).

If you want it to look pretty, you can sand the edges
with progressively finer grades of sandpaper. Alumina
polish will even get you back to a near optical quality
edge finish.

73 de Mike, W4EF...........................

----- Original Message -----

From: "DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL" <kr2q at optonline.net>
To: <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2003 6:15 PM
Subject: [CQ-Contest] how to cut cast acrylic?


> Hi all:
>
> For my CONTESTING antenna, I just took receipt of a piece of 12" x 12" x
> 0.25"cast acrylic sheet.  Any suggestions on how best to cut this up into
> smaller, rectangular pieces?
>
> Thanks...
> de Doug KR2Q
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>     The world's top contesters battle it out in Finland!
> THE OFFICIAL FILM of WRTC 2002 now on professional DVD and VHS!
>        http://home1.pacific.net.sg/~jamesb/
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>