Mirrored Acrylic

[RICHARD C]

I Have A Problem When Cutting Clear Mirrored Acrylic. I Am Using A 3d Blade And 1/4 Acrylic. My Problem Is That Sometimes I Tear Off The Silver On The Back Edges Of A Cut.. It Isn't Too Bad But You Can See Every Small Indent Through The Mirror. Is There A Re-silver Product Or Someway How To Have It Not Come Off? I Do Use Duct Tape On The Front But I Think That The Silver Would Come Off If Anything Was Put On The Back.
Thanks....

[Back2Jake]

Acrylic mirror is normally an easy cut...so lets see if we can work through your problem.

The mirrored surface is covered with a protective paper right? You are applying your pattern to at side.... right? Which means your grey mirror surface is on the backside, next to the table?

With the grey mirror surface against the table, if there are any tears on your cut line .... could it be from any abrasive surface on your table? Acrylic will often cut and leave small bits of somewhat sharp shavings on the table and work surface. So if you don't routinely brush them away, they may scratch/tear at the grey mirror side.

You could try putting a piece of thin ply. or cardboard to the underside of your project to see if it prevents the marking.

Could it be your blade? I am not familar with how a 3d blade cuts, but use a 2/0 or 2 reverse tooth blade.... olson mostly for the acrylic simply because they are my preference for that material.

Although I use acrylic mirror often, I haven't come across anything that works to replace the grey backing and leave a satisfactory mirror surface.... so if anyone else knows..... cool!

Hope some of this helps.
Take care
Toni

[RICHARD C]

Thanks Toni. I Am Appling Duck Tape To The Paper Covering. Then The Pattern. I Have Founf Out That I Have To Clean The Table A Lot. I Will Try A 2/0 Blade Next. I Like Working In The Acrylic Because It Really Looks Nice After The Clocl Is Done. Thanks

[GrayBeard Phil]

Richard:

..,I Am Appling Duck Tape To The Paper Covering...

I am sure this is just a typo, or my mis-understanding of 'DUCK',...
but you should not be using 'Duct' tape with scroll sawing. I hope you meant masking tape, blue painter's tape, or clear package tape instead.

It has to do with the adhesion of the glue used. Real Heating and Cooling Air Duct tape is a permanent bonding adhesion product. IMHO, the glue will gunk up your scroll saw blades.

I hope I am mis-understanding your post, and "Duck" tape is a brand of blue painter's tape.

Phil

[RICHARD C]

OK GRAYBEARD. I WAS TOLD TO USE DUCK TAPE. IT COOLS THE BLADE AND ACRYLIC FROM REFORMING AS YOU CUT. IT WORKS FINR FOR ME AS I NORMALLY REPLACE BLADES AFTER ABOUT 20 OR SO CUTS. AFTER I PEEL IT OFF I JUST USE A GLASS CLAEANER AND THE ACRYLIC IS AS SHINNY AS IT CAN BE. I AM NEW TO THIS SAWING SO ANY HINTS I WILL TRY.. THANKS
I DID TRY A 2/0 BLADE AS BONI SAID. I DIDN'T LIKE IT AS WELL AS MY 3d ONES. MY EYE SIGHT ISN'T THE BEST SOME TIMES AND THE NARROW 2.0 BLADE WAS HARD TO SEE..
THANKS FOR THE TIPS FROM ALL..

[Dee]

I attach clear adhesive contact paper to top and bottom of the mirror. It helps keep the blade cool and it comes off the easiest of anything I've tried. I've never had a problem with the bottom chipping.
dee

[RICHARD C]

DEE,THAT IS SOMETHING I HAVE NOT HEARD OF. WHAT KIND OF CLEAR ADHESIVE CONTACT PAPER DO YOU USE ? DO YOU TAKE OFF THE PROTECTIVE GLUE PAPER FIRST? i WILL TRY ANYTHING. THANKS

[3_M]

Some have discussed cutting "Acrylic mirror". The best blade is one with no reverse teeth, like the Polar blade. It is also the best blade to cut plastic and corian. These blades have teeth what are off-set just a little what helps to keep the kerf clean. The # 3 or # 5 is used the most.
Some have been talking about that tape lubricates or cool the blade. The reason for this is that the tape has a chemical on top so that it can be un-rolled from it self. This chemical is like a silicon what releases friction. That was from a tape representative who worked for the 3-M Company.

Mike
.

[earlinjax]

Ricard C -- What Dee is referring to is exactly what she said -- Contact (the rolls of sticky paper you put on walls, in drawers, etc.) but not colored but clear. Wal-Mart or most any place selling Contact should have it. I have been using it for a while and like it much better that packing tape. Peel the paper off the sticky side and put it on the wood. Then glue the pattern to it. It comes off clean and easy.

Earl

[lucky788scroller]

I use the polar 5, and I do apply either cheap packaging tape, or sometimes masking tape to the acrylic, applied over the protective film.No chipping or melting troubles here. Dale