How To Polish the Edges of Acrylic Sheet?

Acrylic is often chosen because of its glass-like transparency that can be polished to a high shine – particularly for items that will be on display and for applications where edges are visible. When acrylic has been cut edges can look cloudy or opaque, no matter what it is being utilized, for one thing, that most people will want to ensure is that it has a good aesthetic. That is why it is important to learn how to smooth & polish acrylic edges Cloudy, roughed-up acrylic edges can be sanded down to a shine by manual polishing and fame polishing. Polished acrylic looks crisp, shiny, and smooth.

Sanding down the edges of an acrylic sheet

1. Prepare tools

prepare 400-grit or 800-grit sandpaper, it is best to prepare a pneumatic sander, Sand with coarse sandpaper first, then sand with fine sandpaper, after the alternate sand polishing, acrylic will become glossy.

2. Stick the protective film

Acrylic is a kind of plastic material; the surface is hard and brittle. When the acrylic is polished, you can remove the protective film on the side to be polished but keep the rest of the side protective film pasted to prevent scratching other surfaces in the process of grinding.

3. Start polishing

After pasting the protective film, start polishing. If there is a sander, use the sander directly. If there is no sander, you should first use No.800 sandpaper to polish off the cutting marks, and then use No. 400 sandpaper to polish. If there is a sander, direct select No.400 sandpaper for polishing.

4. Alternate sanding

The alternate way of Sanding is first with coarse sandpaper, and then with fine sandpaper that is, after sanding with No.400 sandpaper grinding, there is no obvious concave and convex feeling with the hand, but the eyes can still see some lines or grinding marks, this time should use No.800 sandpaper.

According to experience, when using No.800 sandpaper should be paired with water, it will be faster, and sandpaper friction will be reduced because water will take away part of the debris.

5. buffing machine

After sanding with fine sandpaper, you can see that the surface has no traces of grinding, the surface is flat, but the lacks gloss. you need to use the buffing machine to start buffing, put some wax on the buffing wheels, put acrylic sheet slightly touch buffing wheel, slowly move and keep checking the polishing effect until the edge becomes glossy.

6. stick protective film

Flame polishing the edges of an acrylic sheet

This method is just as the name implies. You are moving a flame across the edge of the plastic.

Prepare propane torch

It can be purchased at most local hardware stores. Before starting, make sure that you have all the necessary safety precautions in place. Anytime you are working with fire, have a working fire extinguisher nearby and ready to use.

hold the flame two inches from the edge and steadily move across it

Practice on scrap pieces until you get the right speed. If you move too fast, the edge will not polish, and if you move too slowly, the acrylic can actually bubble or catch fire.

Go over the acrylic edges again to finish the job

Conclusion

KUSLA is a leading supplier of acrylic sheets, acrylic rods, acrylic tubes, we provide acrylic plastic polishing service as customer requirements, As always, ask a professional if you have any questions before starting. Would you like more information on flame polishing acrylic? Contact us now.