Hard Time's build diary

**calumco** · 21st September 2010, 16:49

no, if the blades clogging up, i'd say use a bigger toothed blade, any plastic material you cut with jigsaw will melt because of the heat, you can use lubricant but i'd just smooth off any roughness with a file after or if it was melting badly i'd just take it slow

but thats just me, personally im lazy and like to keep things clean where i can to save myself more time spent cleaning up lol

**psycho_fling** · 21st September 2010, 17:22

just to clarify a metal blade will have smaller teeth than one for wood

**widow_twanky** · 21st September 2010, 17:28

I have a table saw which works a treat on HDPE and aluminium (proper blades a must!!) and have seen jonno using a circular saw on polycarb, tends not to clog up as the teeth are much bigger

**Bodge Job** · 21st September 2010, 18:30

I used a circlur saw, which worked.

**psycho_fling** · 21st September 2010, 18:52

holding the poly carb when circular sawing it isn't pleasant, large chunks of poly c at high speed hitting you all over

**RogueTwoRobots** · 21st September 2010, 19:21

Don't forget to have the jigsaw running at a low speed. This will reduce (although not eradicate) heat generated during the cutting process. I find a coarse blade (bigger teeth) to be best, as has been mentioned. Don't force the jigsaw through the material, just take it at a steady pace and it will be fine. It should fly through 6mm HDPE and will also be pretty quick through the 15mm stuff.

I wouldn't bother too much with coolant for it; if you keep the speed down (maybe setting number 3, if your jigsaw goes from 1 to 6) and take it steady it will cut without issue.

**Laser** · 26th September 2010, 17:33

got a bench saw and cut the Hdpe today tomorow cutting the top and bottom and uploading pics of what my robot will look like.

**Bodge Job** · 27th September 2010, 20:52

cool

**Laser** · 28th September 2010, 17:56

Yeah it's gonna beat yours!!! Havent cut the rest of plastic yet because a)I've had loads of homework b)becaus eI have to use the bench saw outside and because of rain I cant (humph(angry)). Hopefully getting the plastic cut soon.