How to easily drill plexiglass, lexan and acrylic sheets
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 มิ.ย. 2024
- How to easily drill plexiglass, lexan and acrylic sheets
DIY How to Easily drill holes in Plexiglass, Lexan and Acrylic Sheets. Learn just how easy it is to drill holes with a step drill or standard twist bit. We used WD40 as a lubricant but almost any oil or even dish soap can be used. Easy step by step instructions.
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I wouldn't be in business if it weren't for Step Drill Bits! They're the most versatile drill bits I've ever used. And of all the brand's out there, there is only ONE kind I've found to be the all-time winner: "Unibit" by Irwin Tools because of it's superior SINGLE FLUTE DESIGN. Accept no substitutes!
I love how simple this video is. You get straight to the point, and I appreciate that. Very helpful tips as well!
Thank you Sir!!
Step bits and crown point are pretty good, had good luck with them for 37 years in the sign biz. For polycarbonates keep water on surface to avoid melting. Low end extruded utility grade acrylic is more prone to cracking and melting apposed to cast acrylite GP or plexiglass G
Of all the acrylic drilling videos, this is the best.
Thank you
Just an FYI: Plexiglas and Lexan are both Trade Names. Plexiglas is "Acrylic" and Lexan is "Polycarbonate". Acrylic will crack/break, it doesn't shatter like tempered glass. Lexan is "Virtually Unbreakable", it is however softer than Acrylic so it does scratch easier.
So can I use this same method to drill a hole through the Lexan?
@@noelv1976 hey, professional sign guy here. You can use dang near anything to drill through lexan. You have to work hard to break that stuff
This is incredibly helpful! Thanks!
Very good to know!
The painter's tape/WD-40 method worked like a charm. It turned out perfectly. That's genius. And simple! Other videos made this task way too complicated. Big thumbs up!
Great to hear!
I used this as a guide to drilling holes in a 1/4 inch thick piece of acrylic. I only had a normal drill bit. It took a really long time (I had to drill a lot of holes), but it was successful! Thank you.
Thank you! Straight the point and very well demonstrated. -Cheers
I forgot to add something about Step Drills. While they change sizes from smaller at the tip to larger there is another size to consider. This would be the size (depth) of each size step. I had picked up a Step Drill from my welding store which has a larger depth size for thicker metals. The same would hold true for different thickness of plexiglass.
Just thought I would add more confusion to what should be a simple process. But if one is going to buy one it would be good to know it could drill the wanted size hold completely through the material being drilled.
Thanks again!
Very well done; straight to the point-- thank you!
Great video and tips, thank you!
P.S. In case anyone wants to know, they do make special bits to drill plastics, but they can be pricey.
Thank you for sharing. Haven't cut plexi in a couple of decades, now with your refresher course I feel confident!
That was a terrific tutorial on Drilling holes in plexiglass. Short, concise and very efficient! Thank you and best wishes.
Glad it was helpful!
Your videos really motivate me to begin projects.
Nicely done how-to video. Much more importantly it worked for me. I used painter’s tape and an almost new 2mm metalwork bit. Went slow, hole perfect.
Glad it helped
Excelente,saludos desde Panamá
Excellent how-to video!!
Thank you so much, your video was quick and to the point, just what I needed to hear...
Very helpful. I am glad I found this site before drilling.
Glad it was helpful!
So use lube, insert it in with light pressure. Got it.
Thanks for sharing this lovely tutorial, very helpful.
You’re welcome 😊
This worked perfectly. Thank you for the video.
Great to hear!
Jesus Chroist why do other acrylic drilling videos make things more complicated? This video should be number one Recommended by youtube when you search for Acrylic hole drilling! This was very well explained. Thank you so much!
This isn't the definitive answer. I tried it exactly as he showed, and it cracked. I'll actually find out how to do it. As in failsafe. This video is obviously not fail safe.
@@question_it_701 Dont blame the video, blame the guy doing it... lol
Just the Facts... Thank You!
Exactly what I was looking for, thank you!
Glad I could help!
Thank you! This was very helpful!
Spend $600 to $800 on an index of plexi-point drill bits. They work perfect.
I didn't think about using WD-40. Thank you for the video! :)
Glad it was helpful!
short and sweet. Thanks!!
Glad you liked it!
Good video. If I am correct my take from the video is the drill bit of choice would be the STEP DRILL. Thinking the pulling action of the twist drill would be removed.
Thanks for sharing.
Simple, great. Thanks
Glad it was helpful!
Great video. Thanks so much!
Glad you enjoyed it!
FAB INFO..JUST WHAT i NEEDED..THANK YOU
You are so welcome!
This is an excellent tutorial. Thank you, sir. And the other suggestions in the comments are helpful also. Thanks to everyone for that.
You're very welcome!
Thank you. Just what i needed
You're welcome!
Something I learned from the guys that designed the YF-23 fighter jet canopy.
Slow speed and hands soap with water
THANX
Good lesson 👍
Thank you for the video!
My pleasure!
Good tip!! Thanks 😊
Glad it was helpful!
Great video, Thanks
Glad you liked it!
Thanks for the video!
Do you have any tips for what to think about when gluing plexi-glass?
Way cool!! Thank you
Glad you liked it!
Better way to drill with a twist drill bit is to use a small bit for the pilot hole and then use a larger bit in reverse. Drill in reverse till the acrylic melts and you melt a hole through. Bigger bits will crack the acrylic once you drill all the way through because they pull themselves through before the hole is completely cut.
I have had the same experience with drill bits as well. Plexiglass same as metal at just about pull through. I was thinking perhaps the Step Drill might be better to use than twist drills.
See this is the exact kind of information I was looking for this guys video was just like drilling sold timber lol thanks
Would you recommend pre drilling a hole for screws, installing hinges. If so would I go slightly smaller than the screw or same size then use a clear silicone when installing the screw? Thanks
Thanks that helped a lot!!
Thank's a lot
Wow 👍👍👍💐👍💐❤
thank you c=very much
great! thanks
You're welcome!
Do you ever do anything such as a chamfering bit on the outside edge of the hole if it can’t have a sharp edge? Or would you just use a torch on it?
Thanks for sharing.. just subscribed
Thanks for the sub!
thanks! that was helpful
You're welcome!
After you are done drilling what is the best way to clean the plexiglass so that it clear and clean looking? Also are there any sharp edges after drilling? If so how do you dull the edges? One more thing, how do you cut the outer edge of plexiglass to the desired shape that you want it? Great video, best I have ever seen, to the point and how to. Thank you!
To debut the holes I use a much bigger drill bit by hand, couple twist knocks edge off. I cut it with a none painted 32 t.p.i jig saw.
I kept cracking my plexiglass. Going to try again with your tips. Thanks
Good luck!
Im trying to learn how to do it, I want to make a arcade controller and I need to make holes on it for the buttons and stick, which are 9 ( 30 mm each hole ) on a 12 x 8 sheet... I think wont be easy
@@MrPAKETE69ever found a way to do it more efficiently? I’m having that problem right now. I found a case I like but want to drill a few more holes for extra buttons. The site doesn’t offer customization to thr cases when it comes to layout
Thank you!
You're welcome!
I want to drill a hole with a 6cm diameter. Any advice? I'm thinking a circle saw will destroy the acrylic.
Thank you so much
You're most welcome
Nice work, I'm looking to do indentation about 3/4" in diameter in acrylic sheet that's 1" thick, is there a tool that could do this?
thank you
Love this video, read the comments, but can anyone tell me if its okay to use a hole saw, for say a 35mm hole??
Awesome 🤗👍🌏 FNZealand Thank you
Is it going to be impossible to drill a 3mm hole in 4/5mm thick acrylic please?...
Can it be any tape or just painters tape?
Thanks ,definitely don't want crack this ,so ..go slow!and oil kinda something!and tape!
Amazon Drill bit? Which step-bit to buy
What do you suggest if you need a larger hole like 1inch diameter or so? Can you use a door knob like cutter?
Use a very very small pilot bit and a LOT of lubricant if ur gonna use a hole saw
Drill is prety dull. I think a dull drill is safer. A sharp drill can go through without rounding out the hole and break the plexi. A good base wood and light pressure helps.
Yep. I used a brand new bit on 1/8 Plexi and it instantly cracked
3:05 wood chips in your wood pile lol. Sounded like you were searching for another word. All kidding aside thanks for the video. short and to the point
You bet
Great video I needed to drill in my screen protector camera hole missing.
Thank u
Welcome
What does the tape do exactly? Protect from scratches?
Yes and chips
I have a mirror (3) on a medicine cabinet and the hinge on the bottom of the mirror is broken. I can see that plexiglass could help to replace it. There is a slim tear drop that hangs down from the door into the wood of the frame which allows the mirror to swing open or close. Can a dobble of something hot be used to made it stretch to have it look like a up side down little teepee?
I'm not very good in sending pictures I can use messenger. Can I send pictures on you web site?
New to all this - you say "twist drill" - is that a wood bit, metal bit or something special? Thanks.
Yup reg standard wood drill or steel drill. Nothing special
Hi, there. Can you tell me the difference between plexiglass and velvet glass, please?
Sorry never heard of velvet glass
What kind of drill bit do you use? The kind for drilling metal?
Yes nothing special
@@DIYeasycrafts thank you
Wouldn’t WD-40 act as a solvent on acrylic?
How do you drill a curved acrylic globe?
It appears to me that the twist bit was dull as a rock. When I drill Plexiglass (c), I get shavings, not granules.
What is this "Lexeeyun" to which you refer?
Years ago I had to build a big annunciator panel for an alarm system. Cracked a lot of plexiglass at first. So I tried a different method. I dulled a drill bit and it went through like butter. It was pretty much melting it's way through but it worked great. Probably should have tried a lubricant. :)
Thanks for sharing
My god.... I need a step drill bit
There was a ton of plexiglass used lately.
Ditto to what Daniel wrote.
What if I want to put a knife slot into a piece of Perspex? How would I do that without getting any burring or cracking
Thats tough. I would cut the hole with a small dremel and then use a torch to get rid of the bur
@@DIYeasycrafts I’ll give that a try although any time I apply heat the material seems to bubble
Great video! I need to do a 4" hole for a dryer duct. Maybe you can do a video for larger holes? Thanks
I did a video on cutting plexi. Have attached link. For large holes I would use a dremel. Check out video. th-cam.com/video/Axo_bTyl1gQ/w-d-xo.html
@@DIYeasycrafts Thanks! Hmm, a dremel. Great idea!
Any idea where I can find cheap already used plexiglass possibly for free
Craigslist
I wish I would have seen this before I cracked My glass 😅
How thick is that acrylic you are using. Does this work on thinner acrylic sheets?
No. I tried it on 1/8 thick Plexi. . I started with 1/8 inch drill bit and worked up one size at a time, and when I got to 5/32 it broke. Thinner is harder to drill.
Use painters tape on BOTH sides. Drill a tiny pilot hole very slowly. Then hole of size required. Don’t use WD40/lubricant. Plexiglass, Lexan, whatever clear sheet you use is oil based plastic. Putting any form of oil, for any amount of time, will weaken & possible cloud the plastic over time.
I've seen dish soap used in other videos. Do you think that would work better than WD40? Or is it even necessary in your opinion?
step driill , i'm stuck
Great video but I wish you wouldn’t talk and drill at the same time 😆
Sorry but lexan is not the same as plexiglass. One is acrylic (more flammable), one is polycarbonate (does not have oxygen in the molecule) and is more hard
Never said it was the same. Just showing how to cut both.
I feel like there’s no information here, just common sense drilling lol but good to know you drill like everything else, if you go nuts with pressure on most stuff it’s no good haha it’s not steel
Your correct but for steel you do want pressure and very slow speed
Your idea is rich not simple and pour , easy
Thru the comments this might be a good video but I struggled to hear it.
Useless. Yes indeedy, let's make a video n talk under the noise of a drill thru the important steps on the step drill bits.
Tried drilling through 1/8 thick piece of plexi. First used 1/8 bit, then used 5/32. It instantly cracked. I applied very little pressure. I'll experience on the now broken piece and come up with a way to do. The fact it was only 1/8 thick had something to do with it. It probably should be clamped down. But ...there is a better way. If it cracked as easily as it did.... Simply just drilling into isn't the answer. Now on 1/4 thick or greater, you'll have more room for error, which is what you used.
For the Star Trek Phaser heads Im trying to drill a perfectly smooth, and eventually clear cut into the clear plastic emitter at the front. i.imgur.com/ZHcaWZB.jpg Problem is, to the best of my ability, it comes out a mess. i.imgur.com/wxknOtF.jpg Any idea what or how to make this better?