How To Straighten Thick Plastic Sheet

I use parchment paper to keep any debris from the cookie sheets from getting on my plastics.

How to straighten thick plastic sheet.

We demonstrate an easy way to cut and bend plastics to re use and recycle this incredible material into your projects you will need 1 heat source heat. We suggest something at least 1 8 inch thick and wide enough for your clamps. If you want a straight cut in a thin acrylic or polycarbonate plastic sheet up to inch thick reach for a simple utility knife then follow these steps. You will also need spacers the same thickness or slightly thinner than the plastic you need to clamp to keep your stripwood jig even with the top of the plastic you will be bending.

Scrap wood you need a straight edged piece of wood for your jig. This article uses a sheet about 1 4 thick so all times are about 10 to 15 minutes per step. Then arrange the straight edge so it s just slightly on the line and clamp it to the work surface. Lay your acrylic sheet on a flat work surface and mark the line to be cut.

When they are done i pull them out of the oven place another cookie sheet on top and then add some weight typically use four 30 packs of pop. The edge of the blade should hit the line exactly. The combo of heating the entire plastic plus using weight really does a great job. Check to see where the blade of your scoring tool will land when you run it against the side of the straight edge.

For thicker sheets it will take longer and for thinner sheets it will take less time.