cutting equipment

hi folks
im thinking of upgrading to either a bandsaw or a scrollsaw and as im going to be cutting mostly hdpe and polycarb i was wondering if anyone on here has some advice about what to look for i work out of a corner in my bedroom so smaller would be better and im not loaded so not one that costs thousands

im mainly looking for one as i have wasted lots of material with being unable to cut a straight line for a variety of reasons and im failing hard with the jigsaw in general though that could just be the blade

thanks muchly

Vertical bandsaw.

But HDPE in the bedroom, fun garantied.

I use a table saw to cut long straight lines in HDPE, but I also use the jigsaw for that.
Just clamp a long piece of wood on the HDPE.

There is also a bandsaw in my workplace but I only use that one for the smaller bits.

What thickness HDPE are you cutting? If it's 6mm or below I find a good carpet cutting stanley knife works really well and is far more accurate. Also done well with the dremmel circular saw attachment, they're thin so can be really accurate.

For thicker I've used a table saw. circular saw which works great. Can pick one up for under £100 and it'll even do aluminium up to about 10mm with the right blade.

As Mario says, expect any cutting of HDPE in the bedroom to go EVERYWHERE!!

If it's good for cutting wood, it's good for HDPE. I wouldn't bother with a scroll saw unless you want to do a lot of curves. Bandsaw could be useful but it will only be good for smaller pieces. Table saw is another option or even circular saw.

What Gary said ^ Anything that you can use with wood with work with HDPE. But don't try and rush it with the thicker stuff because you'll burn your tools out.

Hysteria's shell was cut using a tablesaw for the thin stuff (12mm) and a jigsaw for the thicker stuff. (15mm & 12mm) Drills with go through fine but they will struggle to get initial purchase on the surface, a steady hand will help you there or use a scriber or a knife to mark a dent for the drill bit to fall into. Any if any channelling is needed then a router will work fine.

All in all, just be careful and know your tools limitations and remember friction causes heat which will melt the plastic and gum up your blades if you're not too careful.

Oh and whatever you do, make sure you cut the git outside because it is an arse to clean up, it gets in your carpets, clothes, dinner, cats, everything. Best place to do it is in the house of someone you don't like. ;)


http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/...psmek7f2pg.jpg

thanks guys i live in a council flat with no garden on an area regularly raided by her majistys constabulary so outside isnt really an option as you are all very correct it has gone everyware though i didnt know a table saw would do it i have one at my mums i might go steal it back from her

at the moment im only doing beetle stuff so its 12 mm thick at the most but i want to make a feather in the future so all this learning is good im happy i dont have to spend money now

In that case I would see if whatever you use has a discharge hole that you can hook up to a hoover. My circular saw has one and whilst it doesn't catch everything, it makes it a lot easier.

Edit - Or put plastic sheeting down. You can get a huge roll of the stuff you use for painting rooms for not all that much from B&Q. Should help if you can just ball it up and bin most of it.

When making Gabriel I found this saw the best for cutting HDPE, it's quick accurate and doesn't clog up! Gabriel is 20mm thick I have cut Polycarbonate with it as well works very well.

http://www.clasohlson.com/uk/Black-&...FSXJtAodeVMKRA

when you say that friction causes heat does that mean go slower or go faster or does that depend on your saw

The best way of using the Scorpion saw is to clamp the material on to a bench.
Then using the saw as a hand saw cut the sheet through by about 3mm this stops the blade bouncing at the start.
then run the saw just like a jigsaw, I tend to angle the saw as if it were an ordinary hand saw, about 45 degrees.
To prevent the blade getting hot and clogging the blade. I gently move the blade back and forward this helps the removal of the cuttings and lets the blade cool as well.