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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: superdupa on February 07, 2011, 18:22:19

Title: cutting corrguted plastic
Post by: superdupa on February 07, 2011, 18:22:19
Hello all,need some advice two years ago I built a greenhouse and used double glazed windows and for the roof clear plastic corrugated sheeting ,the trouble is that I left too much of a overhang on the roof and with the high winds it is moving and one piece is cracked I need to shorten the said overhang anybody had experience of cutting this plastic in situ as it will know be more brittle don't want to have to replace roof.Incidentally I am extending greenhouse as Ive getting another window and a patio door so dug the foundations last Saturday and will lay the concrete blocks next week.
Title: Re: cutting corrguted plastic
Post by: kt. on February 07, 2011, 18:33:02
Use a length of wood as your marker and score the plastic with a stanley knife several times in the same place.  You will get you straight edge with the wood.  It will then snap off quite easily.
Title: Re: cutting corrguted plastic
Post by: tugboat on February 07, 2011, 18:45:51
amother method which I use is a cheap blow torch from wickes and soften the plastic first and then use stanley knife and it cuts like butter.use a spare bit first to practice and bobs your uncle
Title: Re: cutting corrguted plastic
Post by: rugbypost on February 07, 2011, 18:51:54
USE A SMALL 4INCH DISC CUTTER BIT OF NOISE BUT SAFER
Title: Re: cutting corrguted plastic
Post by: cornykev on February 07, 2011, 19:06:20
Jigsaw.   :-\      ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: cutting corrguted plastic
Post by: superdupa on February 07, 2011, 19:18:26
thanks for the replies but have no power as its at the lottie
Title: Re: cutting corrguted plastic
Post by: daitheplant on February 07, 2011, 19:42:36
Firstly. mark the line of the cut, run a length of Sellotape over this line. Then, using a hacksaw, slowly cut along the line, the Sellotape stops the plastic from shattering. 8)
Title: Re: cutting corrguted plastic
Post by: chriscross1966 on February 08, 2011, 15:41:03
Ryobi 18V battery sabresaw, fineish metal blade adn don't run it too fast, let the saw do the work....

chrisc
Title: Re: cutting corrguted plastic
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on February 08, 2011, 16:45:47
A small hacksaw will do it easily if you're careful. The sellotape idea sounds good.
Title: Re: cutting corrguted plastic
Post by: landimad on February 08, 2011, 17:11:16
If you have one, then use an electric heated wire. This will stop any shattering of the panel.
Title: Re: cutting corrguted plastic
Post by: Vinlander on February 11, 2011, 13:11:55
There is an old thread on corrugated PVC where the consensus (of everyone who had tried anything else) was it's rubbish and only lasts a few years, unless you use so much support that you've spent more on wood than using twinwall polycarbonate in the first place.

A waste of money.

Cheers.

PS. Of course corrugated fibreglass is a horse of a different colour - but it only passes about 70% light.