Kunshan Bolun Automation Equipment Co., Ltd

Kunshan Bolun Automation Equipment Co., Ltd

What tool is best for cutting plastic?

2024 07/24

Plastic Cutting Machine
If you’ve cut plastic before, you know that finding the best tool for cutting plastic can be challenging. Cutting plastic is not just about getting the job done. You need to find the right tool, so you can cut safely and get a good clean cut.

Using the wrong tool can result in a poor cut, and can also be dangerous. Before we get into the best tool for cutting plastic, here are some of the worst tools for cutting plastic.

A hot knife: Using a hot knife to cut through plastic exposes you to the risk of a nasty burn, or the plastic catching fire.
Power tools: Using high RPM (revs per minute) power tools will melt the plastic you are cutting through, running the risk of getting a burn.
A kitchen knife: Kitchen knives are not designed to cut plastic. Using one can be dangerous and ineffective.
Traditional sharp utility knife: Traditional utility knives have super sharp edges that may be good for cutting materials, but are also a serious safety threat.

BEST TOOL FOR CUTTING THICK PLASTIC
The best tool for cutting thick plastic (thicker than ¼ inches) is a saw. Thick plastic examples are plastic piping, plastic skirting, and Perspex sheeting. The three best types of saws for cutting thick plastic are a fine-toothed saw, a jigsaw, and a table saw.

A fine-toothed saw works best for precision plastic cutting. If you need to make multiple non-linear cuts, this saw will serve you best. Fine-toothed saws also yield the smoothest cut.
A jigsaw is ideal for cutting thicker pieces of plastic like piping. However, a jigsaw may not give you clean results. Once you cut, you may need to use a deburring tool.
A table saw excels in cutting through bigger plastic pipes or thick plastic blocks. Be careful to use a non-melting blade.

BEST TOOL FOR CUTTING HARD PLASTIC Plastic Cutting Machine
The best tool for cutting hard plastic is a saw or a piece of string. Hard plastic can be thin or thick but differs from the rest because of its brittleness. Hard plastic examples include plastic pegs and plastic toys.

Cutting brittle hard plastic with the wrong tool can result in a fractured or broken edge. Using a saw or a piece of string depends on the size of the cut, cut direction, and the level of precision.

Cutting hard plastic with a saw: You can effectively cut thick hard plastic with a hand saw, jigsaw, or a table saw. For each type of saw, pick a blade with a high tooth count, which will give you a smoother cut.
Cutting hard plastic with string: A piece of string is your best option for cutting small pieces of hard plastic. For example, when making hand-made plastic toys or other hard plastic craft goods.

LAST WORDS
If you’re looking for the best tool for cutting plastic your choice will depend on three things:


Since not all types of plastic that you use will be the same, we recommend trying different tools. Make a small cut with each tool to see which one gives you the best result. You may need to combine multiple tools to get it right.

No matter what tool you end up using, always remember that the best tool for cutting plastic will give you great cutting results and keep you safe.
cutting plastic