bb

"bent"

28/11/2006 7:24 PM

size &/or "Wonder" wheel, grinding disk, or blade on TS for safe cutting of acrylic light shield plastic

again

http://canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp;jsessionid=FsJ2VRLqoqk6zV52th4JCHhJAM74b1KeC568GVrxLv5wBZQrmLU9!1025536914!172915483!7205!7305?postal=m4g+2r9&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443277381&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396672971&bmForm=form_set_price_list&bmFormID=1164757430880&bmUID=1164757430880&bmHash=75212f682c95d534a61db92475f0c1b773a15348

is my TS. It has an 15A, 3hp, 10", 5000rpm, standard 5/8" round arbor, and
came e with a 1/8" 36-tooth carbide tipped combination blade. I also have a
10" 200-tooth alternating kerf blade I bought for plywood. I am not sure if
this m/c has anything in common wit soft-start technology.

I need to cut a new piece of that thin plastic sheet for a fluorescent light
housing I am making, as well as replace another cover have. I have to cut
them through 4' lengths. it is very thin, like 1/16"ish.

I am curious if I will ever get the need to buy any type of special
wheel/disk/blade that will fit in my TS that is designed for cutting
plastics and other non-wood materials.

I have just been to Canadian Tire and Home Depot. HD has something called a
"Wonder" disk/wheel, which abrades in chips as opposed to cuts like a blade.
Well that is the theory of grinding when it comes to metal, significantly.

Could I cut this thin prismatic pattern acrylic plastic sheet (sign says
acrylic doesn't yellow as opposed to styrene) with either of the wood blades
I already have? The plywood blade actually has the two words "WOOD" and
"PLASTIC" printed on it.

However, barring that, and assuming I now need to buy an "abrading
disk/wheel' I come to my questions:

The "Wonder" disk at HD is 8" I think, maybe 7". I didn't look at it
closely, but maybe it is a little different that a regular grinding wheel of
the (concrete/metal/cut-off) variety, and may have applications above and
beyond, regardless of its (not max of 10") size, which would allow for
future uses. I think it may have a more open structure. There are a lot of
regular grinding disks that come in lager sizes, including 10", in metal
and concrete cut-off type. They may be intended for other tools, and can/do
say on the package "for use with tools having metal guards" (like circ saws,
and grinders). In fact I am not even sure about the wonder wheel use on a
TS. So is it safe? I would say my options are either 8" (or 7") "Wonder"
wheel, or up to, & definitely including 10" 3/32" or 1/8" metal-type cut-off
grinding wheel. Could get the concrete, but probably thicker and therefor
n.a. All of the wheels have a safe max. rpm, I just checked them all. Not
sure about the guard/soft-start stuff though.



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This topic has 8 replies

bb

"bent"

in reply to "bent" on 28/11/2006 7:24 PM

28/11/2006 9:57 PM

well if anybodys still coming in here to look, are these types of wheels
safe, and how about the sizes, I would think if it is safe, the bigger the
better, and I have no idea of a miinimum. A 10" 3/32" metal cut-off 6000
(or 7200) rpm, 5/8" arbor is $6. Same with 1/8". Isn't this usefull. What
about abs and pvc, say pipe?



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Mm

"Mike"

in reply to "bent" on 28/11/2006 7:24 PM

29/11/2006 5:36 AM


bent wrote:
> well if anybodys still coming in here to look, are these types of wheels
> safe, and how about the sizes, I would think if it is safe, the bigger the
> better, and I have no idea of a miinimum. A 10" 3/32" metal cut-off 6000
> (or 7200) rpm, 5/8" arbor is $6. Same with 1/8". Isn't this usefull. What
> about abs and pvc, say pipe?
>

I would not use an abrasive type wheel on a table saw. These blades are
designed to come apart as they're used. When used on an angle grinder
or circ. saw, they have a metal guard covering most of the blade, so
that if/when the blade breaks up, the pieces are contained (somewhat).
Imagine that abrasive blade breaking up while spinning in a table saw -
those pieces that go flying would be a pretty serious hazard. Now, with
a zero clearance insert and a blade guard in place, you could minimize
the risk, but why bother. As others have said, for what you are trying
to cut, the best bet is to use a straight edge and a razor knife.

Mike

bb

"bent"

in reply to "bent" on 28/11/2006 7:24 PM

29/11/2006 12:50 PM

well ther goes another dream



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DS

David Starr

in reply to "bent" on 28/11/2006 7:24 PM

29/11/2006 8:40 AM

bent wrote:
> again
>
> http://canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp;jsessionid=FsJ2VRLqoqk6zV52th4JCHhJAM74b1KeC568GVrxLv5wBZQrmLU9!1025536914!172915483!7205!7305?postal=m4g+2r9&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443277381&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396672971&bmForm=form_set_price_list&bmFormID=1164757430880&bmUID=1164757430880&bmHash=75212f682c95d534a61db92475f0c1b773a15348
>
> is my TS. It has an 15A, 3hp, 10", 5000rpm, standard 5/8" round arbor, and
> came e with a 1/8" 36-tooth carbide tipped combination blade. I also have a
> 10" 200-tooth alternating kerf blade I bought for plywood. I am not sure if
> this m/c has anything in common wit soft-start technology.
>
> I need to cut a new piece of that thin plastic sheet for a fluorescent light
> housing I am making, as well as replace another cover have. I have to cut
> them through 4' lengths. it is very thin, like 1/16"ish.
>
The problem with cutting plastic sheet is cracking and chipping and
melting and sticking to the blade. I doubt that any kinda table saw
blade will give a clean cut on plastic. Was it me, I'd clamp a good
straight edge to the plastic and score it deeply with a utility knife.
Then break it along the score line.
I made an enclosure for a kitchen fluorescent ceiling lamp many
years ago, and used a utility knife to cut the plastic.

David Starr

Nn

Nova

in reply to "bent" on 28/11/2006 7:24 PM

29/11/2006 12:40 AM

bent wrote:

> I need to cut a new piece of that thin plastic sheet for a fluorescent light
> housing I am making, as well as replace another cover have. I have to cut
> them through 4' lengths. it is very thin, like 1/16"ish.

I'd use a utility knife and a straight edge.

--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
[email protected]

MM

"Mike Marlow"

in reply to "bent" on 28/11/2006 7:24 PM

28/11/2006 8:05 PM


"bent" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

>
> I need to cut a new piece of that thin plastic sheet for a fluorescent
light
> housing I am making, as well as replace another cover have. I have to
cut
> them through 4' lengths. it is very thin, like 1/16"ish.
>

Why not just use a sheetrock knife? A tablesaw is overkill for this
project.

--

-Mike-
[email protected]

wo

willim

in reply to "bent" on 28/11/2006 7:24 PM

29/11/2006 9:02 PM

I use my table saw to cut plastic sheet by setting the blade to cut only
part of the way through. Like a score only faster, especially for pieces
longer than my straight edge. The only downside is the plastic dust gets a
static charge and sticks to everything.

x

GE

"George E. Cawthon"

in reply to "bent" on 28/11/2006 7:24 PM

29/11/2006 12:53 AM

bent wrote:
> again
>
> http://canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp;jsessionid=FsJ2VRLqoqk6zV52th4JCHhJAM74b1KeC568GVrxLv5wBZQrmLU9!1025536914!172915483!7205!7305?postal=m4g+2r9&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443277381&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396672971&bmForm=form_set_price_list&bmFormID=1164757430880&bmUID=1164757430880&bmHash=75212f682c95d534a61db92475f0c1b773a15348
>
> is my TS. It has an 15A, 3hp, 10", 5000rpm, standard 5/8" round arbor, and
> came e with a 1/8" 36-tooth carbide tipped combination blade. I also have a
> 10" 200-tooth alternating kerf blade I bought for plywood. I am not sure if
> this m/c has anything in common wit soft-start technology.
>
> I need to cut a new piece of that thin plastic sheet for a fluorescent light
> housing I am making, as well as replace another cover have. I have to cut
> them through 4' lengths. it is very thin, like 1/16"ish.
>
> I am curious if I will ever get the need to buy any type of special
> wheel/disk/blade that will fit in my TS that is designed for cutting
> plastics and other non-wood materials.
>
> I have just been to Canadian Tire and Home Depot. HD has something called a
> "Wonder" disk/wheel, which abrades in chips as opposed to cuts like a blade.
> Well that is the theory of grinding when it comes to metal, significantly.
>
> Could I cut this thin prismatic pattern acrylic plastic sheet (sign says
> acrylic doesn't yellow as opposed to styrene) with either of the wood blades
> I already have? The plywood blade actually has the two words "WOOD" and
> "PLASTIC" printed on it.
>
> However, barring that, and assuming I now need to buy an "abrading
> disk/wheel' I come to my questions:
>
> The "Wonder" disk at HD is 8" I think, maybe 7". I didn't look at it
> closely, but maybe it is a little different that a regular grinding wheel of
> the (concrete/metal/cut-off) variety, and may have applications above and
> beyond, regardless of its (not max of 10") size, which would allow for
> future uses. I think it may have a more open structure. There are a lot of
> regular grinding disks that come in lager sizes, including 10", in metal
> and concrete cut-off type. They may be intended for other tools, and can/do
> say on the package "for use with tools having metal guards" (like circ saws,
> and grinders). In fact I am not even sure about the wonder wheel use on a
> TS. So is it safe? I would say my options are either 8" (or 7") "Wonder"
> wheel, or up to, & definitely including 10" 3/32" or 1/8" metal-type cut-off
> grinding wheel. Could get the concrete, but probably thicker and therefor
> n.a. All of the wheels have a safe max. rpm, I just checked them all. Not
> sure about the guard/soft-start stuff though.
>
>
>
> ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==----
> http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
> ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----

You don't need any special blade for this type of
cutting. I've cut this type of material with a
regular blade, a cross cut or plywood blade work
best. All you do is put the blade on backwards,
teeth rotating away instead of toward the feed.
If you try this with wood, it won't cut and will
likely throw the wood, but with thin plastic it
will cut/melt very smoothly, but make sure you
don't feed too fast and hold it down tightly. You
may end up with a bit of curl at the edge of the
cut but the curl (melted part) will breaks off
easily or you can take a swipe at it with coarse
sand paper. One swipe is about all you need. Try
it.

Don't know where I heard this but tried it and it
worked like a charm on those skinny plastic covers
from Lowe's.


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