Re: Any tips for plastic working.

["Patrick Lidstone" <patrick@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

--- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, Stuart Grimshaw <stuart.grimshaw@g...>
wrote:
> I have an LCD display that I bought years ago, that I would like to
> mount in a plastic single backbox faceplate. I have a Dremmel
(well, a
> cheap equivelent, does that same job) and various saws, but what I
> always strugle with when doing anything other than drilling holes is
> keeping the lines straight.
>
> Does anyone have any tips for cutting a straight line in plastic?
What
> do you use to do it?
>
> How do you smooth off the edges so that they remain straight, I find
> that the dremmel melts the plastic and leaves a non-straight edge, a
> nasty black burn mark and a nasty smell too.
>

Depending on the LCD, you may be able to mount it behind a flat piece
of perspex. This is easy to cut cos it's square, and soft - you can
work it with a sharp craft knife or hacksaw with a fine blade. If you
cut it to exactly the right size, and choose the right thickness, it
will recess nicely in a wall box because wallbox mounting lugs are
set back a few mm. Mask the required display area, and then paint the
*back* of the perspex, to achieve a nice professional glossy-look
finish.

Patrick