Cutting Perspex.. peel off film first ?

[Bagpuss]

I've bought some 2mm Acrylic/Perspex sheet, never cut it on my Excalibur 5000 before, I know to score it and then snap but should I peel the protective film off first ? or leave it on ?
Thanks,
Adam/Bagpuss

[misterdiy]

Leave it on. In fact we leave it on until shrink wrapping - and even then sometimes leave it for the custmer to peel off. needless to say we remove it from under the rebate

[YPF]

Slightly off-topic - I framed 2 pieces yesterday with perspex, both with a black mount and had a hell of a game making sure no specks were left under the perspex.

Does anybody have any tricks to share when using perspex?

Steve

[stcstc]

I use an anti static air gun from faser anti static products

It works well by discharging the static from the acrylic, but its not cheap. about 1000 euros

[Dave]

Leave it on until finished. If I can describe this in words, we;

Peel from the outside towards the middle, making a shower cap type structure towards the centre of the perspex, this then contains anything you don't want, when you get to the middle you should have something resembling a sealed bag with all the crud in it. Usually we don't need to touch the acrylic after this.

Dave

[Roboframer]

We normally peel from the centre out

It's not so much a case of stuff falling off the protective sheet and having to gather it at the centre to catch it, it's more a case of the static that peeling the protective film causes attracting every spec of dust for a 15 mile radius!

[cliff]

Velvet works quite well in removing specks of dust.

[YPF]

stcstc - Euro 1000 - I wish the business could stand it

Dave - thanks for that, I think I understand.

Cliff - looks like I will have to donate my velvet trousers to the cause!

Steve

[mitretight]

Again, slightly off the original subject, I have a large sheet of 3mm perspex/acrylic that was ordered prior to a job comming in and, of course never did! (lesson learnt)

My question is, If I want to cut it down, can I cut 3mm perspex in the same way as 2mm, ie. score and snap, or is some sort of saw needed.

Sorry for hijacking your original question Bagpuss

MT

[stcstc]

i have scored and snapped 5mm on my fletcher

plenty of scores and a sharpish edge on the bend to snap against


and dont be afraid of giving it some stick

[Bagpuss]

Thanks for comments, it turned up today, my 2mm sheet of plexi-glass (is that same as perspex ? ) anyway it was pretty large, about 1.5m x 1.6m, scored it OK on the Excalibur and snapped it, BANG! It is alot of hassle to get the specs off, it wasn't scratch resistant either so had to be careful. Not sure I'd use it very often, the customer was sending a George Best framed shirt through the post so Perspex was only option.
cheers
Adam/Bagpuss

[iantheframer]

Glad it worked Adam

Yes it is the same material, Pelxiglass and Perspex are trade names from different suppliers