cutting lexan

'evening, all
I am about to go and buy a sheet of Lexan to use in place of glass for the front of a project I am doing and I am wondering which is the best way to cut the stuff? I know there is a knife one can buy to do the job but I heard that it can be done on a table saw. I have one of those but I am hesitant about cutting the Lexan with a 40T combination blade. Is this blade acceptable or is a 60 plus tooth blade preferable?
Thanks
Mike

I cut some Lexan last summer to replace a broken window in the screen door at the cottage. I used the Knife method but you have to score it rather deeply or it won't break on the line and boy does it flex a lot before it snaps. Needless to say when I went back to get another sheet I used a jigsaw up against a straight edge and it worked perfectly, just don't move too fast, I think it was a medium toothed blade Bosch # T 227 D for Alum. and PVC.

Mike
The table saw will do a fine job with almost any blade you would use to cut sheet goods. Best to leave the protective plastic on the surface while cutting. Lexan shears really nice in any shear you would use for metal as well. If you require clear edges on the cut use a propane torch and pass the flame slowly along the edges of the lexan.
Good luck, Dan

blade in the table saw and mitre saw to cut lexan.

Lots of info in this google search...



http://www.google.com/search?q=triple+chip+blade+lexan&hl=en

I've got a Freud TK906 50T combo in the saw and it does a fine job. The tricks are to hold it down, it'll crack if it chatters, and to feed briskly so it doesn't burn. Cuts fine on my combo blade. Yes, leave the skin on it.

Here's a pic of a stack and the blade that cut it.

M

MIKE at

www.mikesworkshop.com

Has some good tips on this subject.

Regards, Don.

http://www.mikesworkshop.com