Cutting Acrylic Transom Flaps

Did some gelcoating today as discussed in other thread. Whilst doing it I snapped my transom flaps which were made out of clear acrylic, about 2 mm thick. 
Went to Wickes today to buy a sheet and have just spent the last 2 hours trying to cut the flaps out but failing. Using just a stanley knife was impossible (it's got curves), jigsaw split it, saw was the same. I had most luck heating a knife up repeatedly with a blow torch, but split them when trying to take out of the sheet.

So how do people cut their transom flaps?

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rb_stretch Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 23 Aug 10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 742	Post Options Post Reply Quote rb_stretch Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Cutting Acrylic Transom Flaps Posted: 29 Jan 13 at 10:15pm
	Did some gelcoating today as discussed in other thread. Whilst doing it I snapped my transom flaps which were made out of clear acrylic, about 2 mm thick. Went to Wickes today to buy a sheet and have just spent the last 2 hours trying to cut the flaps out but failing. Using just a stanley knife was impossible (it's got curves), jigsaw split it, saw was the same. I had most luck heating a knife up repeatedly with a blow torch, but split them when trying to take out of the sheet. So how do people cut their transom flaps?

sargesail Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 14 Jan 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1459	Post Options Post Reply Quote sargesail Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 29 Jan 13 at 10:26pm
	Buy the material from P&B or similar and it's cutable. I used both scissors and a scalpel.

iGRF Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 11 Location: Hythe Online Status: Offline Posts: 6499	Post Options Post Reply Quote iGRF Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 29 Jan 13 at 11:17pm
	Hot Wire?

transient Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 21 Aug 12 Online Status: Offline Posts: 715	Post Options Post Reply Quote transient Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 30 Jan 13 at 1:10am
	Never had a boat with flaps but.....I,d use polycarbonate and cut with a fret saw. Polycarb will last much longer. The local sign writers/engravers should have some.

MattTrinder Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 19 Dec 11 Online Status: Offline Posts: 27	Post Options Post Reply Quote MattTrinder Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 30 Jan 13 at 7:29am
	I bought polycarbonate sheet off eBay.

Oatsandbeans Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 19 Sep 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 382	Post Options Post Reply Quote Oatsandbeans Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 30 Jan 13 at 7:34am
	The best would be a band saw with a narrow blade so that it can do the curves. If none of your mates has one I think that it would be possible with a good jigsaw. With the right blade, not too agressive -many small teeth, and get the speed right up before you start the cut then it wont have a chance to shake the sheet about and ruin it, once it is cutting properly it should then be OK.

MerlinMags Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Admin Group Joined: 19 Mar 04 Location: UK, Guildford Online Status: Offline Posts: 588	Post Options Post Reply Quote MerlinMags Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 30 Jan 13 at 9:05am
	If you have to use a saw, perhaps sandwich the plastic between two layers of scrap wood, to keep it from flapping. Or get those scissors which can cut through 2p coins (if I remember the advert rightly?).

RichTea Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 22 Jan 13 Online Status: Offline Posts: 207	Post Options Post Reply Quote RichTea Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 30 Jan 13 at 10:17am
	Tape it with masking tape first between the two cuts, ie down the join.

laser193713 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 13 May 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 889	Post Options Post Reply Quote laser193713 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 30 Jan 13 at 10:30am
	Ah the joys of having access to a CNC machine!

Jack Sparrow Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 08 Feb 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2965	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jack Sparrow Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 30 Jan 13 at 11:46am
	fret saw or tile saw and then sand down edges
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