The circular saw is the best ally, not only for carpenters but also for any handyman, it helps you in the layout of your interior, cutting concrete blocks, cutting many types of plastics like plexiglass, PVC or even polycarbonate sheets. However, the circular saw is nothing without quality blades. If you want to know how to choose a good circular saw blade for cutting plastic, and how to use it for cutting different plastic sheets, follow the guide!
How to choose a circular blade for cutting plastic
Materials such as plastics or non-ferrous metals cannot be cut with any blade out there. You must choose a blade that is often made of hardened steel and has many tungsten carbide teeth for precise cutting.
Don’t choose a blade that has less than 70 teeth.
Why?
When you have a large number of teeth, this will give you a quality finish for your plastic sheets, but with little number of teeth, the quality of the cut will not be so good. Generally speaking, we call the blades that have little number of teeth a construction blade, where the quality is not important.
Go for a coated blade if available
Heat is the number one enemy for plastic, and you don’t want see a molten edge on your sheet. So, the coating of a blade is an excellent solution for overheating protection. The coating material on the blade prevents generating heat during the cutting process.
So, the main criteria for choosing the right blade is the number of teeth, the blade material and the coating. We did the heavy lifting for you and choose the top 5 circular saw blades for cutting any type of plastic so you don’t have to dig deep on internet.
Best Circular Blades for Cutting Plastic Sheets
1. Diablo D1080N Plastic Cutting Saw Blade
The Diablo is a pioneering company in the manufacture of circular blades, the Diablo D1080N has been designed for cutting non-ferrous metals and plastic materials especially the acrylic.
It is made of shock-resistant carbide, so you don’t have to worry about it over the long term, this type of carbide protects the body of the blade from wearing and maintains its sharpness in the long run.
This blade is also enhanced with Perma-Shield Non-Stick Coating which increases its resistance to heat and corrosion
The blade comes with a total of 80 TCG teeth. It will hold well for intensive use.
In addition, this blade is compatible with all brands of circular saws available on the market, which makes it all the more attractive.
Things We Liked
- Perma-Shield Non-Stick Coating
- Best blade for acrylic
- Affordable
- Capable of cutting non-ferrous metals
- Can be used on a circular saw, table saw or a miter saw
Things We Didn’t Like
- Many users had to use wax lubricant when cutting aluminum
2. IRWIN Tools MARATHON Carbide Blade, 12-Inch, 80T (14083)
This blade is available in many sizes, from the 5 ½ inch – 80-teeth to the 12 inche 100-teeth blade, in our case, we focus on the 80-teeth blades and more.
The IRWIN blade is designed especially for framing purposes, but you can use it for cutting plexiglass sheets as it is made of 80 carbide tipped teeth, which will give you smooth and clean cuts in plexiglass sheets or MDF boards without blowout.
The Ultra-thin kerf makes it extremely easy to do more cuts per charge, so if you’re using a cordless circular saw, this will extend the battery life and makes it easier to do several cuts in one charge.
The blade can be used for cutting:
- Plexiglass sheets
- PVC pipes
- Fiber cement
- Metal roofing sheets
Things We Liked
- Capable of cutting different materials including all types of plastics
- Gives high quality and accurate cuts
- Excellent value for money
- Doesn’t burn through the metals
Things We Didn’t Like
Not the best blade in the long run
3. Concord ACB0725T080HP blade
The concord blade comes with 80 TCG teeth and different diameters, from 5 3/8 inches to 12 inches.
The blade is capable of cutting fiberglass, plexiglass and PVC pipes smoothly. It has heat expansion slots for rapid excavation of heat, which will protect the plastic sheets from melting.
The concord blade is designed to perform all types of cutting work while being accurate.
Another advantage is that blade comes in a low price, so it will win tha battle of price with the other blades.
You can also use this blade to cut copper sheets if you’re working with kitchen countertops and tiling jobs.
It creates clean and smooth cuts in a ½ inch plexiglass sheet without any heat produced.
Things We Liked
- Extremely affordable
- Best blade for cutting fiberglass
- Has a long life span
Things We Didn’t Like
- Produces rough edges when cutting aluminum
Precautions when cutting plastic with circular saw
Besides choosing the proper blade for cutting any type of plastics, you must to follow these rules, otherwise, the consequences will be bad:
- If you want to cut plexiglass/acrylic sheets, make sure you leave the protective film on the sheet while cutting.
- Make sure you do not stop while cutting a plastic sheet, if you stop the movement while cutting, this will produce extreme amount of heat, cause whatever the type of plastic to melt.
- Make sure you fasten the plastic sheets firmly with clamps, this will give you clean cuts and prevents kickback
- Make sure the blade doesn’t have any broken or bent teeth
How to maintain a circular saw blade?
When you are interested in DIY, you must, at all costs, have a circular saw to carry out your carpentry work. Whether you are a professional or a DIYer, it is always useful to have such a tool in your workshop. The efficiency of a circular saw blade depends on its maintenance. So, be careful not to use it badly and always make sure you maintain it. Follow with us how to do it.
Match the saw blade to the types of work to be done
There are countless saw blades on the market differ from each other and are used on specific materials. These blades are made of different materials and have different specifications. Thus, choosing the blade material and the characteristics of the teeth of the blade has to be done according to the cut to be made.
Protect your blade properly
To make sure of the good resistance of the blade, be sure to maintain it. Take care before and after each use. Keep it away from moisture to prevent it from rusting. It is always advisable to clean it well. A maintained blade can cut through the most rustic materials. Remember to grease it regularly. For corrosion, use a piece of cloth with some gasoline or mineral spirits to clean it regularly.
Use a dust blower to remove the dust
Try to use a dust blower or any device that removes the sawdust from the workbench and from the circular saw, this is an effective technique to increase the lifespan of the blade. Wood dust and sawdust do not mix well with the blades, so, be sure to remove everything. To do this, give a blow of compressed air to the apparatus after you remove the blade gently and start again.
Final thought
To wrap it up, all the above-mentioned blades are good with plastics, but if you noticed, each blade has its own advantage regarding a specific type of plastic sheets. If you want to cut plexiglass sheets, surely you should buy the Diablo D1080N.
If you work a lot with kitchen countertops copper sheets or fiberglass, and you want a budget-friendly blade you should buy the Concord ACB0725T080HP.
The all-purpose blade which has a good quality-to-price ratio is the IRWIN Carbide Blade, it is suitable for nearly all types of plastics and can give you smooth and cleat cuts when cutting plastics.
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