Scrolling Steve Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 I know that DW is a fan of making banks for kids and i am sure some others have experience with them...I am about to make my first one and i see that there are kits available so that i do not have to cut the plastic see thru side panels myself....I wonder if this is cost effective or not ? I have never cut plastic or acrylic before and don't even know what blade is best......I would appreciate your feedback on what you bank makers do.....Thanks in advance, Steve. New Guy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayneMahler Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 Steve I made them for my grand kids a while back. I cut my own and I believe I used #5 blade. Keep the speed down on the saw so not to melt the sheet. And you have to predrill for the screws. I had 6 to make so I bought sheet of 1/8" at the big box store and it was a lot better deal then ordering them online. Scrolling Steve 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Guy Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 http://www.sloanswoodshop.com/acrylic%20sheets.htm Go here they give good advice on blades and cutting it general. Scrolling Steve 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill WIlson Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 I think in general, these kinds of materials cut best with a skip tooth style blade. The skip teeth clear the kerf better than reverse teeth, thus keeping the heat down. If the kerf gets hot, the acrylic/plexiglass, etc will fuse back together behind the blade and make life miserable. I cut 100 snowflake ornaments out of 1/4" polycrylic this year and a #5 skip tooth blade worked very well. I was even able to stack 2 layers together for a total thickness of 1/2", with no melting in the kerf. I tried using a couple different reverse tooth blades and they did not work, no matter how slowly I cut. The Scroll Saw Addict and Scrolling Steve 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkeye10 Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 I know that DW is a fan of making banks for kids and i am sure some others have experience with them...I am about to make my first one and i see that there are kits available so that i do not have to cut the plastic see thru side panels myself....I wonder if this is cost effective or not ? I have never cut plastic or acrylic before and don't even know what blade is best......I would appreciate your feedback on what you bank makers do.....Thanks in advance, Steve. Steve I cut mine on the band saw. Scrolling Steve and heppnerguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolf Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 For my first Bank I bought the kit from Meisel. It had all the plugs etc. Now I would cut my own. The FD polar blades cut very nicely. This design was published in an issue of SSWWC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolf Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 For my first Bank I bought the kit from Meisel. It had all the plugs etc. Now I would cut my own. The FD polar blades cut very nicely. Jim Finn, heppnerguy and Scrolling Steve 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam777 Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 I think in general, these kinds of materials cut best with a skip tooth style blade. The skip teeth clear the kerf better than reverse teeth, thus keeping the heat down. If the kerf gets hot, the acrylic/plexiglass, etc will fuse back together behind the blade and make life miserable. I cut 100 snowflake ornaments out of 1/4" polycrylic this year and a #5 skip tooth blade worked very well. I was even able to stack 2 layers together for a total thickness of 1/2", with no melting in the kerf. I tried using a couple different reverse tooth blades and they did not work, no matter how slowly I cut.If you don't min. Which brand is that skip tooth blade?Thank you Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bandaideman Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 I have not cut much acrylic but I would suggest visiting sloan's. I read their ways of cutting and it went great. I cut out small ornament size humming birds, and others just go slow and I used duck tape on the acrylic without taking the paper stuck to the acrylic off. Before reading the suggestions It was a much slower cut than after I could go faster. It has been years so the techniques may have changed. Scrolling Steve 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heppnerguy Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 Steve I cut mine on the band saw. What a nice example. This little piggy is very cute...Have you taken any of these to the craft shows? They sure would attract the attention. Dick heppnerguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heppnerguy Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 For my first Bank I bought the kit from Meisel. It had all the plugs etc. Now I would cut my own. The FD polar blades cut very nicely. I saw your post after I saw hawkeyes and your little engine bank is really cute too. I guess I am going tohave to make a couple of banks too and see what reaction I get from them Dick heppnerguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordster Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 Steve,I got the thin acrylic at home Depot. Good price and it has protective paper on it.just glue your pattern right to it.I found it to cut well at slower speed.When I drilled for the screws,I placed drill bit where I wanted it and put drill in reverse for a second.That gives it a spot and keeps drill from wandering. Scrolling Steve 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazingkevin Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 Steve I cut mine on the band saw. i love this onk onk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrolling Steve Posted January 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 Thanks for all the input folks !.....I knew I would get some helpful info ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill WIlson Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 Sam, The skip tooth blade I used was an Olson. I used it because that's what I had. They worked fine. Based on what I hear, I believe you would be just as happy with FD Polar blades as well. Scrolling Steve 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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