How to cut a plastic panel at home

In our time, you will not surprise anyone with inexpensive and quick repairs. To do this, many owners buy cheaper and more affordable materials or make repairs themselves. But there are those who prefer to use two methods to improve their homes. And in this case, you cannot do without plastic panels and good knowledge of "How to cut a plastic panel at home?"

plastic panels in the interior — Plastic panels are suitable for wall decoration in a bathroom, toilet or on a loggia.

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Feature material
How to cut PVC panels
How to cut PVC panels correctly
How to avoid mistakes
Safety regulations
Video: how and how can you cut a plastic panel at home?

Feature material

PVC panels are a simple finishing material, in the manufacture of which the extrusion method based on raw materials is used - polyvinyl chloride. Due to its advantages, the material (plastic) has taken a solid place in the market. It is waterproof, easy to clean, inexpensive, and comes in a wide range of colors.

how to cut plastic — Plastic panels are a convenient and lightweight material for surface finishing.

For the manufacture of plastic panels, the molding method is used. To give the desired color in one tone, additional dry mixtures, and for drawing a picture - thermal printing, using an auxiliary roller heated to a high temperature.

plastic ceiling — Plastic panels are used not only for wall decoration, but also for the ceiling.

Important! If offset printing was used when applying different types of patterns, the cost of PVC panels will be much more expensive.

what PVC panels are made of — In the manufacture of these panels, polyvinyl chloride is used.

How to cut PVC panels

When using this material, the main question is - How to cut and saw PVC panels at home? At first glance, everything is simple, since the material is quite durable. But there are many pitfalls with this procedure: the panel may crack, the plastic cannot withstand the load, the cuts will be crooked, resulting in spoiled material and unnecessary waste.

rules for cutting plastic panels — PVC panels are easy to cut and install on their own without special equipment.

Cutter

A universal cutter is considered not a bad option for cutting PVC panels: not expensive, comfortable in the hands, easy to lift, does not take up much space (due to storage). Produced by many manufacturers, it is always available in specialized stores. If you buy a high-quality cutter, it will be simple and easy to work, the cuts will be without chipping.

Also, for cutting PVC sheets at home, you can use a modern "lifefak" - make a cutter at home. You will need a metal strip (width - 1 cm, thickness - 2 mm), a sharpening stone, electrical tape. On the one hand, the workpiece is cut at an angle of 45 degrees and sharpened, on the other hand, a handle is made of electrical tape for easy holding and safe use.

homemade cutter — Making a cutter yourself is not so difficult.

Note! A multi-purpose cutter is not your choice for cutting plastic panels when curved cuts are needed. The cutter cuts in a purely straight line.

how to cut a plastic panel with a cutter — To cut such panels, you can use a ready-made cutter purchased from a hardware store, as well as made yourself.

Hacksaw

A hacksaw is a well-known tool, an inhabitant of every house.Thinking about: "How to cut plastic", you can remember about a hacksaw, be it for wood or metal.

When choosing, you need to know a couple of patterns:

The blade should not be jagged to the side, there is a possibility of cracking when sawing the plastic panel;
The teeth on the hacksaw should be small (used for transverse dusting), so as not to spoil the panel with an uneven cut.

It is also worth noting that the hacksaw makes it possible to cut plastic panels in several pieces. The main thing is to fold them upside down and in a pile, holding them all at the same time. Regardless of the advantages, there are also disadvantages - the repair will take a long time.

cutting PVC panels with a hacksaw — For convenience and quick results, the panels can be stacked and cut into several pieces at once.

Important! When choosing a tool such as a hacksaw, you do not need to overdo it with physical activity on the plastic panels. Strong force can damage the PVC sheets.

Jigsaw

The jigsaw speeds up the sawing process, whether it's crosscut or longitudinal. It copes well with curly sawing, delicately cuts out the necessary convolutions. In a straight line after sawing, there are no jags or ragged edges.

When working with a jigsaw, it is important to consider some advice from experts:

Operate at low revs only. Plastic panels will begin to melt at a high temperature of the tool, the cut will not be even, the PVC sheet is damaged, and toxic fumes are naturally dangerous and unpleasant.
Switch off the pendulum stroke. It will be easier and more comfortable to work.
Do not overload the panels. The material is practical, but delicate enough. One is not true, a sharp movement - plastic panels are unsuitable for repair.
Use a jigsaw blade with the smallest teeth. Better cuts.

Additional Information. With an electric jigsaw, you can cut several panels at the same time, while the length of the tool blade should correspond to the height of the folded sheets.

cutting panels with a jigsaw — The jigsaw has proven itself to be an excellent tool for cutting plastic panels. The result is a well-cut flat surface.

Knife

Coming from the hardware store, thinking about repairs and the question "How to cut a plastic panel?" the first thing that comes to mind is a knife.

Yes, a knife - an improvised home remedy can also help in sawing plastic panels, if there are not many of them and there are no other options.

rules for cutting plastic with a simple knife — If you don't have any other construction cutting tool at hand, you can use a simple kitchen knife. The main thing is that it is well sharpened.

It is also clear that when using a knife for cutting, the repair process will be delayed. And your work will be hard and most likely thankless (jags, uneven cuts, broken plastic panels as a result).

Which knife to choose:

A simple table knife (kitchen) is the worst of the options. Cuts can be made by sweating a lot and sharpening the blade as best as possible.
A special (construction) knife will do the job best, choosing among three options. Blade thickness 18 mm, there is a chance that it will not break, more comfortable to hold in the hand.
Stationery knife for paper - it is much smaller (blade thickness 7 mm or 10 mm), you will have to work slowly, for a long time and very carefully.

Do not forget that when working with a stationery and construction knife, the master must be very careful, because part of the blade can break off and injure.

construction knife for cutting panels — Be careful when cutting. Firstly, you can cut it off inaccurately, and secondly, you can get hurt.

Important! When choosing this method of cutting plastic panels at home, use a ruler, angle or level as an aid for making a straight cut. Also, spend several times at the same incision site, then achieve the desired result through a fracture.

Circular

A circular or electric circular saw is a powerful construction tool whose main task is to work with wood and materials similar in spirit.

But it is possible, by installing thinner discs with small teeth, to work with plastic panels and laminated blanks. If you have such a tool at home, then it is more profitable to buy a new disc than a universal cutter or jigsaw.

The disadvantages include the weight of the tool. From all possible options that are used for cutting plastic panels at home, the circular is more overall, and it is more difficult to work with it.

The rules for working with a circular when cutting PVC sheets do not differ from the principles of working with a jigsaw. Use the lowest speed possible and do not put too much stress on the cutting material.

circular saw for cutting materials — When cutting, do not include strong revolutions and press on the rather fragile material of the panel.

Bulgarian

The most convenient and practical equipment in the hands of a master for cutting plastic panels is considered a grinder.

advantages and pluses of the grinder — With the help of a grinder, you can make not only straight cuts, but also curly cuts.

The benefits include:

perfect straight cuts;
high-quality curly patterns and cuts;
the gaps of the cuts can reach up to millimeters;
ease of use;
tool weight.

how to choose a nozzle for a grinder — It is important to choose the right attachment for cutting plastic panels.

But there are a number of tips for work, adhering to them, the process will be much easier and better:

The cutting disc should be metal and thin up to 1.2 mm (preferably 0.8 mm or 1 mm.).
Work exclusively at low speeds.
Use a small tool for ease of holding in one hand.
Do not use your full weight on the panel or exert supernatural force when pressing.

Important! When working with a grinder, it is better to wear glasses and use a vacuum cleaner, since there is a lot of fine dust flying in the process.

how to cut a panel with a grinder — Do not forget about safety measures when working with a grinder.

How to cut PVC panels correctly

You need to start by preparing the place for cutting, it should be comfortable, ventilated (with the work of some tools, there is a lot of debris and dust). If it is possible to perform cutting in the yard or on the street, it is worth taking advantage of this.

If you already know how you will cut PVC panels at home, you should also prepare a tool. Depending on the choice (find the right blades, sharpen the knife, choose the right disc or blade).

Prepare plastic panels, take measurements, if you plan curly cutting, draw shapes and patterns on the surface of the sheet. You can use a marker or felt-tip pen. No worries, this material can be easily washed off the surface of the panel.

panel measurements before cutting — Careful measurements are recommended before cutting.

Important! Some tools allow you to cut multiple sheets at once. For convenience, you need to fasten them with construction clamps so that the sheets do not fidget with each other. And it will be more comfortable to work yourself.

It is imperative to saw or cut the plastic panels, you need to put the front side to you. The rule is relevant both for one canvas and for several folded in a pile.

cutting plastic panels in a stack — It is convenient to cut the panels in a stack. So you can get a large number of the necessary parts at once.

To cut the panels into two parts, which will be used in further work, they are placed on two supports, the gap between which is not more than 10 cm. The side part of the panels is leaned against the wall.To cut an unnecessary fragment on a panel (not very large), put the required part on one wide rack, fix it, lean against the wall and do the work.

A wonderful device if the sheets lie on two

How to avoid mistakes

The main mistake when cutting sheets and working with plastic panels is not knowing that PVC sheets cannot stand low temperatures. You need to work with them at a temperature of plus 5 degrees Celsius, or even more. If the temperature is lower, the viscosity of the panels decreases, which will lead to chips and notches along the cut line - at best. In the worst case, the plastic panel will simply crack or crumble in your hands.

how to properly cut a plastic panel — Plastic panels are a material that does not tolerate high temperatures and is rather fragile. This should be taken into account when cutting.

In any case, inaccuracies, errors and punctures are possible. He who does nothing - he does not make mistakes and does not learn from his mistakes. You just need to know the necessary information, follow the rules, take into account the recommendations, calculate everything a couple of steps ahead, and then there will be much fewer mistakes.

Safety regulations

The main rule is the presence of glasses and gloves, since parts of PVC panels and fragments can fly off during operation. The rest of the safety rules directly depend on the choice of the cutting tool.

safety precautions when working with building material — Do not forget about safety when working with building materials.

Advice! If you use an appliance that connects to the network, you need to remember the rules for using power tools.

Everyone has the right to choose. The tool for cutting PVC panels is no exception and it all depends on the goals that you pursue regarding the repair. Do I need to do it faster, how much work, is it possible to buy this or that tool. It all depends on you, the most important thing is that you decided to repair and already know how to cut PVC panels at home.