Plexiglass can be edited in a variety of ways, including sawing, milling, or cutting. However, something can happen with all of these machining techniques: the cut or milled edge is dull or maybe even coarse after machining. Also, large, once shiny and crystal transparent Plexiglass surfaces can become dry and dull. You can eliminate all these deficiencies by polishing the Plexiglass. Below we show you different techniques and inexpensive alternatives to efficiently polish Plexiglass.
The different processing options of Plexiglass
Acrylic glass is extremely versatile and therefore appreciated by DIY enthusiasts beyond measure. You can saw, cut, mill and much more Plexiglass. Usually, however, there is the problem that the cut edge can be dull, dull, and even roughened depending on the application.
Cutting and milling edges
The same is true of numerous articles made of Plexiglass. These become over time, dull, dull, and have multiple small scratches on. But as well as cutting and milling edges, you can remedy these shortcomings. The specialized trade provides you with various unique products that are particularly suitable for polishing Plexiglass.
Plexiglass surfaces
But most of them are very expensive, and the purchased quantities are rather low. You can also polish Plexiglass much less costly – edges as well as Plexiglass surfaces.
Step by step instructions for polishing Plexiglass
- Sanding or polishing paste (block) based on grease, fine to wonderful
- Sandpaper in different grain sizes, depending on the machine used
- Steel scraper blade (polish cutting edges)
- alternatively, HSS saw blade
- Cylindrical grinder or orbital sander
- polisher
- Device for gentle clamping (vise, screw clamps, etc.)
1. Polish the cut edges of Plexiglass
a) Remove the cutting edge
With the scraper blade, first, remove the cut edge. You can also remove the side burr well with the steel scraper blade. It must be a steel blade, as all other materials are too soft. Instead of the scraper, you can also use an HSS saw blade to pull off. You pull off the Plexiglass interface with the saw blade backs.
b) Grind the cutting edge
Now grind the cut edge in three passes of 400 grit over 600 to 800 to 1,000 to 1,200. Always press with feeling and never drag too long on any part of the plexiglass because of heat.
c) Polish the cutting edge
Now pick up the polishing wax with the polishing machine and work the same way over the cutting edge as you did with the grinding machine. Again, you must never polish too long in the same place. Polishing must be carried out in up to 5 work steps (3 to 5 times).
2. Polish Plexiglass surfaces
The same polishing paste (instead of a wax block) can also be used to polish large Plexiglass surfaces. However, it may be necessary to use polishing and grinding adhesives in different grades (from coarse to very fine).
Again, you must press the polishing machine to the Plexiglass (never too tight) and move forward quickly so that the Plexiglass never gets too hot. Repeat the work steps with increasingly delicate polishing wax until you use “very fine” in the last polishing pass.
You can refurbish the surfaces of Plexiglass windows, letterpress, or even of acrylic baths and shower trays as good as new.
Leave a Reply