Finishing 

Secrets of working with PVC panels: what is the best way to cut and how to do it? Cut thick plastic How to cut plastic at home

When working with wood or metal, as a rule, there are no issues with accurate and high-quality cutting. Polymeric materials are quite another matter. Acrylic or polycarbonate, because of their physical properties, require a special approach to processing. These modern materials may melt at the point of contact with cutting tool, scratch, and also crack. In this regard, there are cases when even the simplest cut looks messy or leads to irreparable damage to the part. We have prepared a description of the three most effective ways cutting plastic which is suitable for the material different type, quality and thickness.

If it became necessary to cut sheet polycarbonate or acrylic plastic, the thickness of which is 2-3 mm, then the best tool for this job would be a regular mounting knife with replaceable blades used for cutting drywall. Work is best done on a hard, flat surface, fixing the sheet on it with clamps. Accurate marking plays an important role in cutting plastic. Do not forget that in case of an error, it will be impossible to correct the marriage and the sheet of material will be damaged. Along the line along which it is planned to divide the sheet, a metal ruler or profile is placed, along which several passes are made with a mounting knife. You need to cut plastic slowly but surely, making sure that the blade does not go to the side and plunges into the polymer to the same depth throughout the cut.

Once a sufficiently deep groove has been obtained, it is tempting to break the sheet along this line, as is done with glass. Such a decision often leads to undesirable consequences, such as the appearance of cracks or cracks. To complete the cutting process, turn the plastic over, fix it on the table again and, applying a ruler to a clearly visible line, repeat the knife manipulations on the reverse side. After that, you can remove the clamp, move the sheet to the edge of the table and carefully break off the cut off part with your hands.

How to cut thick sheets of plastic

Cutting of polycarbonate and acrylic sheets with a thickness exceeding 20 mm is performed using electric tools. Circular saws are best for this purpose. To do this work, you will have to go to the store and purchase a special saw blade designed to work with plastic. It differs from discs for wood and stone in a small thickness and smaller teeth of a special shape. In no case should you use discs designed for other materials, as damage to the material in this case will be inevitable. Saws for wood have too large teeth located at a great distance. Sawing acrylic or polycarbonate with such a blade will result in ragged cut edges and even melting of the polymer.

As with hand cutting, before sawing the sheet into circular saw, it must be accurately labeled. The line is best drawn with a permanent marker, the line of which is clearly visible and has sufficient resistance to erasure. Before starting work, the plastic must also be well fixed. They cut polymer sheets in the same way as plywood, with the difference that when cutting a significant length, it is better to pause so that the disk cools down and does not melt the edges of the cut.

Complicated cuts

When working with plastic, it is often necessary to make curved cuts. With thin sheets, you can use a mounting knife, but if the thickness of the polymer exceeds 10 mm, then it is better to use an electric jigsaw. Manufacturers produce saw blades designed specifically for working with acrylic or polycarbonate, having a special shape of teeth and a non-standard slope. When working with plastics with a thickness of more than 20 mm, the use of saw blades for wood with the finest teeth is allowed. In this case, you need to set the minimum number of engine revolutions, otherwise the material will begin to melt when cutting.

No matter how hard you try, you will most likely not be able to get a perfect edge at the cut site. Therefore, after completion of work, it is necessary to process the ends with sandpaper or a grinding block. Experts recommend using large abrasives at the beginning of grinding, gradually moving to finer ones. If you show the utmost care and patience, the edge at the cut point will be perfectly even and will not cause trouble even with precise joining of the elements.

Separately, it is necessary to mention the safety precautions when performing such work. Cutting plastic should be done on a stable workbench or table with the right tool. It is also necessary to take care of eye protection with goggles, since some types of polymers, when cut, can form fragments that fly over a considerable distance.

Helpful Hints

Undoubtedly, tile is considered to be a classic bathroom finishing material, however, PVC panels have an increased mounting speed, and additional care for this material is not required, because neither soap nor water is deposited on their surface. Initially, plastic panels have proven themselves due to their ease of installation. To carry out such work, you will not need help from specialists and complex tools.

Panel application

In the process of sheathing, it is necessary to initially determine the tool used for cutting plastic panels. This material is widely used in finishing balconies or bathrooms, because it has an excellent set of properties. We must also not forget about its practicality, which makes it even more popular. Plastic panels also attract buyers with their low cost and excellent appearance.

Each owner can independently finish the bathroom at home and at his own discretion, because there are a huge variety of panel options that can be used for this. All PVC panels are manufactured in a standard length of 3m. This is not always practical because it needs to be cut into pieces to get the right size.

Cutting rules

For safe work, it is necessary to strictly follow the following rules:

  • When working with panels that have been brought in from the cold, it is necessary to wait a short period of time. This action is necessary in order to warm the material. If you do not follow the advice, then the plastic panels will break during the cutting process, thereby losing their neat appearance. Often there are cases when cracks appear on the surface that is cut along.
  • In order to obtain several planks of the same length, it is necessary to lay them on at least 2 supports. Thus, there is protection against sagging or displacement. It is recommended to rest the edge of the element that is not trimmed against the wall. Thanks to this action, you can protect yourself from their shift.

  • You can make the process easier by marking with a pencil or felt-tip pen.
  • It is necessary to cut correctly with the wrong side of the panel down, because during processing under the influence of a load, the profile of the bar changes and causes some inconvenience during the installation process. Often there are microcracks on the front surface, which appear in the future.
  • When using a power tool, you need to use safety glasses and gloves that can protect against splinters and sawdust flying in different directions during the cutting process.

What will be needed?

Currently, a huge number of tools have been created, thanks to which it is possible to shorten the length of a particular material. When working with plastic panels, it is necessary to take into account many factors, among which the main ones are practicality, cutting speed, surface quality, as well as ease of use.

Cutter

The tool has excellent characteristics, and the surface that can be cut looks even. It should also highlight the fact that no special physical effort is required to carry out the cutting. A huge advantage can also be called its compactness, in which it does not take up much space when storing it.

The disadvantage of the tool is that it can only cut in a straight line, it will not be possible to round the edges.

Hacksaw

A hacksaw is considered more practical to use, and it doesn’t matter if it is for metal or wood. The only requirement when using a hacksaw for wood is the presence of small teeth, which should not be divorced, because in this way the surface of the material that needs to be cut into pieces is destroyed. Such a tool is often used for cross cutting.

The advantage of this tool can be considered the possibility of simultaneous cutting of several panels. For this operation, you will need to lay the material in a stack.

For convenience, when cutting, it is better to place the strips with the front side to the performer of the work. When subjecting to a reduction in the length of the panels, care must be taken not to apply huge forces when pressing the tool, because this can break the PVC sheets.

Due to the plasticity that the material possesses, it will not take much effort to cut off the excess part of the panel.

Electric jigsaw, circular saw and grinder

These tools greatly speed up the process of changing the length, and also give an excellent appearance of the cut edge. These devices have proved to be excellent if you need to quickly cut the panel longitudinally.

In no case should we forget that when working at high rotational speeds of the cutting tool on the surface that is being processed, defects in the form of melted edges may appear. In this case, the work area is allocated unpleasant odors and substances harmful to health. It is necessary to decide which circle to process. In view of this fact, at first all work must be done at low speeds. With the help of a grinder, you can get not only straight cuts, but also figured ones.

To obtain a high-quality surface, as well as increased productivity, experts recommend using a conventional jigsaw as the tool used when cutting. In this case, an excellent smooth edge is obtained, which does not have any creases, and is also very practical in the process. The tool has proved to be excellent both for longitudinal cutting and for cutting across the plank.

When using a jigsaw, you need to remember that you need to use a file with a fine tooth. Particular attention should be paid to the cutting mode - the minimum speed is selected and the pendulum stroke is turned off. This tool has proven itself when cutting several panels at the same time.

Knife

This tool has proved to be excellent if cutting is required. a small amount plastic panels. Applying it, you only need to know some little things that can help and facilitate the process of changing the length.

The least suitable for such work is an ordinary kitchen knife, which can be found in any kitchen. Difficulties in working with this cutting tool arise due to the width of its blade. Even if perfectly sharpened, a kitchen knife will not cut Wall panels.

The performer will have to spend a lot of time if he does not have the opportunity to use another instrument. In this case, the installation process will be longer in time.

A clerical knife is considered a more suitable tool for this., because using it, the material is not completely cut. After drawing along the front surface of the material, a groove is obtained. Turning the bar over and pressing on the edges, the PVC panel clearly breaks off along it, and the resulting fine fringe, which covers the fracture surface, will absolutely not damage the appearance of the room, because in any case it will be hidden either under the curbs or under the plinth.

Surface cladding PVC panels- the method of finishing, which is chosen by many today, as the most optimal. It's fast, simple, and relatively inexpensive.

But in the course of the work, the question necessarily arises: how to cut the PVC panel? Several methods are possible here, after considering which you can choose the most suitable option for yourself.

What are they made of?

It is important to note that a hacksaw for metal is best for cutting panels, and if you use a tool for wood, then the blade should have fine teeth - for cross cutting.

Knives

There are several options here:

How to cut PVC panels?

For high quality cutting results certain rules must be followed. Among them there are both general instructions and recommendations for working with a specific tool:

  1. Not allowed to work with, which was brought in from the cold - it must be warmed up before opening. Cooled PVC becomes brittle, leading to chipping along the cut edge.
  2. Cut wall panels only with front side. Otherwise, the profile will be in doubt, and difficulties may arise during the installation process.
  3. The use of a grinder, electric jigsaw or hacksaw allows you to cut a pack of panels at once.

    4. In this case, they must be laid on two supports so that they do not sag, and the edge that is not cut must be rested against - this will prevent the panels from moving during cutting.

    When using a power tool, it is advisable to wear safety glasses, since the likelihood of splinters hitting your face during operation is quite high.

  4. When working with a knife, it is worth using a guide on which the tool will rest during cutting.

    5. This, as already mentioned, may be square or wooden lath . The guide is applied to the cut line, the panel is cut and broken, after which the material is cut from the reverse side.

That's all. The main methods of cutting PVC panels are considered and it remains only to decide on the most the best option, the choice of which depends on personal preferences and the capabilities of the master himself.

A convenient way to cut PVC panels with a hacksaw, see the video below:

Thrifty homeowners know that there is no better and more practical material for a toilet than decorative PVC panels. They are great replacements ceramic tiles in cases where there is not enough money or time for a full repair.

This material was also loved because it can be easily mounted with your own hands. However, the standard panel length is 3 m, which is higher than typical high-rise ceilings. In this regard, inexperienced craftsmen who decide to sheathe the walls of the bathroom with their own hands, the question arises of how to cut plastic panels at home. In this article we will talk about a special tool for sawing plastic and improvised tools that can be used for this operation.

Experienced craftsmen with a whole set of special means for plastic processing, used for cutting PVC wall cladding panels with a special cutter. This useful tool makes an absolutely even cut on plastic without the use of physical effort.

Craftsmen may well make that tool with their own hands according to the following instructions:

  1. It is necessary to take a strip of metal sheet with a thickness of at least 2 mm. The width of the strip should be 1 cm.
  2. One edge of the metal strip is cut at an angle of 45 degrees.
  3. One side of a homemade cutter is sharpened with a whetstone.
  4. The opposite side is wrapped with electrical tape so as not to damage the hand during operation.

Note! There is a cutter for plastic 700-1500 rubles, it may well come in handy in the future. We advise you to purchase this useful tool, as it greatly speeds up the process of cutting PVC panels.

A hacksaw is a versatile tool that is in the arsenal of any master. It can easily cut plastic wall panels, if it is not possible to purchase a special cutter. With a hacksaw, the cutting process takes longer, but with a small amount of work, this does not significantly affect the duration of the wall cladding.

When cutting plastic with a hacksaw, the following nuances must be considered:

  • For sawing PVC, use a tool with fine teeth for wood (crosscutting) or metal.
  • For sawing plastic, you do not need to make strong efforts, otherwise the material may be damaged.
  • With a hacksaw, you can cut several panels at once, stacking them in a pile.

Please note that when processing plastic, the cut may turn out jagged if you use a tool with teeth set apart in different directions.

power tool

The most impatient can use a power tool to cut PVC panels. For these purposes, any device that the master has at hand is suitable. This method allows you to quickly cut plastic, saving a lot of time. Cutting is done with

As a rule, a quick and inexpensive repair, nevertheless high-quality, is not complete without plastic panels. They have a number of advantages that make them virtually indispensable material in the repair. Most often used in rooms such as bathrooms, toilets and balconies.

Of the most important advantages, one can single out the fact that they are completely waterproof, do not burn well, and have a low cost. That is why they are widely used in bathrooms and toilets, in order to hide plumbing units. In production repair work with your own hands, the question often arises: how and how to cut plastic panels at home. Fortunately, the installation technology of this material is quite easy and does not require additional preliminary preparation.

The first stage is cutting. It is necessary to be extremely careful, since the final appearance of the work depends on this. Cutting is carried out strictly according to the desired size, without allowing an allowance, since the material is hard.

Time spent on this stage, depends on the complexity of the upcoming repair. It must be understood that a simple paneling of a flat surface will be faster than surface finishing with various projections, architectural elements.

Although this material is rigid, it is quite easy to process.

How to cut pvc panels

You can perform this operation with a variety of tools, but the most common solution is different kinds hacksaw: for wood, metal. We recommend paying attention to Vira brand hacksaws, they are ideal in terms of price / quality ratio. The most popular because it significantly saves time if it is necessary to prepare several panels of the same size, you can cut several pieces at once. The cut is carried out strictly with the front side of the panel up, slightly holding it at an angle. It is recommended to clamp the panel for stability, but in no case should you squeeze it hard.

In the case of a hacksaw for wood, it is recommended to use the teeth of a transverse or mixed sawing. The thing is that they leave a very smooth, jagged cut, after which, most often, additional processing of the sawn surface is not required.

However, how to cut a pvc panel if there is no hacksaw? It is quite possible to use an electric jigsaw. However, in this case, it is worth carefully controlling the pressing force so as not to break the panel.

And if there is absolutely nothing at hand, and you need to do the work right now, than to cut off plastic panel? You can use a knife, it is desirable that it be a special construction knife, but in the absence of such, a very sharp household knife will do. hunting knife. An ordinary clerical knife is also well suited, but it is necessary to cut very carefully, as it is quite fragile and sharp. In this case, it is necessary to mark on the panel the line along which the cut is supposed to be made. Then, along the ruler (if the line should be straight), a deep cut is made with a clerical knife strictly along the line, after which the panel breaks. If the line should be with bends, it should never be broken, since the panel will simply break, the material will be damaged.

How do professionals cut wall panels? There is no definite answer, since depending on the type of plastic and panel, the upcoming work, one or another tool is selected. For example, straight lines are easiest to cut with a hacksaw, but bends are best cut with an electric jigsaw, or if not, with a construction knife.

General rules for cutting panels

There is a general set of rules that must be followed in order to achieve an acceptable quality of work. You need to know that at sub-zero temperatures, plastic becomes brittle, and you can’t work with it, since you won’t be able to cut anything out of it, it will simply break. If it was lying somewhere on the street, in a warehouse, it must first be warmed up at room temperature within a few hours, so that it acquires its usual properties. If you neglect this, you can easily literally from the first movement after the start of the procedure, get cracks over the entire surface of the panel. As soon as it warms up, you can start making markings.

The second rule, with any cutting method, is that the panel must be turned face down. This is done so that the profile of the material does not deform as the work is performed, cracks and dents do not appear. In addition, some plastic manufacturers allow the appearance of such defects as microcracks, which become noticeable only over time, as they are used, dust accumulation in the cracks.

If you need to cut several panels at once, you need to be guided by the following rules. You need to place them, like single ones, face down. They must be laid on at least 2 supports, while they must not sag, move, and the part of the panels that is supposed to be cut must be fixed. Most often this is not possible, in such cases this part can simply be rested against the wall.

This is done in order to avoid displacement of the material when exposed to the tool. Otherwise, the panels will turn out to be of different lengths and widths.

Also, do not forget about safety precautions when carrying out repair work. When cutting material, especially when using an electric tool, the probability of a fragment breaking off is quite high. To avoid damage to the skin and eyes, it is necessary to work in tight, special clothes with sleeves, in special goggles. The use of gloves is also recommended, as fingers are the most vulnerable to damage from shrapnel.