Window trickle vents for secondary glazing?

[a twig]

How do PPers cut their acrylic sheet? I tried the methods suggested by the supplier (score and snap or sandwich between wood and saw) and still ended up with cracks, bits splitting off etc.

Is there a better way?

 

[Feltwell]

It's dreadful stuff to cut.

I've tried various methods, hand and machine, I even bought a specialist blade for my cordless circular saw and it still chipped like mad.

Now, I get it cut to size by the supplier, which costs very little - "Plasticman" were good for mail order, it arrived very well packed. The problem is, most of my windows are out of square, some by a long way.

So, now I get the sheet cut slightly oversize on height for my sashes - the width I get done to the right size, as the windows have generally got parallel sides at least! I put it on the sash, trim up one side with packing pieces to get it just right, measure what needs to come off, take it down again and do a final cut on a bench with a handheld router against a good straight edge guide. That works really well - with a nice sharp router bit I get a very clean cut indeed. I leave the protective film on when cutting.

Any rough cutting required to get it to shape before finishing off with the router I do with a very fine toothed hand saw, this still chips a little though. Any cut outs required I do very carefully with a fret saw to rough shape then finish off with hand filing.

 

[worms]

How do PPers cut their acrylic sheet?

I've used the Dremel with a spiral cutting-bit and a suitable straight-edge guide. Produces a lot of acrylic dust (wear a face mask and safety glasses!) but gives a good result.