Acrylic sheets

[hunggaur]

does anyone know where the best place to get some 6mm acrylic sheet from is that will not break the bank

cheers

jon

 

[Tasky]

I got a load of A2 size clear sheets in varying thicknesses off Amazon, when I was building windows into PC side panels a couple of years back.
Most I paid was about £3, plus postage.

 

[Lons]

does anyone know where the best place to get some 6mm acrylic sheet from is that will not break the bank

cheers

jon

There are several sources on line Jon but postage costs will be a factor so worth looking around your local area first. The largest national supplier is Amari Plastics so look on their website to see if a branch near you. If you do buy from them say you have a business (make one up!) and ask for trade, you should get at least 20% off but they will quote you ex vat. If what you need is less than a standard size sheet of which there are several, dont ask for cut to size price as it will be more than a full sheet cost, buy sheet size and ask for a couple of cuts foc. Maybe ask first if they have any offcuts.

I presume you're talking about clear acrylic?

Be aware also that the two main types are cast and extruded which have different characteristics, the latter has extrusion marks and isn't recommended for use outside unless it's coated. Look at your application as there are other plastics which might be suitable and less expensive.

cheers
Bob

 

[twodoctors]

Recently bought a 1000mm x 500mm x 5mm sheet for about £21 on eBay. Not sure if that's expensive but there you go.

Adrian

 

[Seiken]

I replaced the windows in my workshop with clear extruded acrylic - no marks on the sheet, used extruded before never seen marks on it- from
http://www.cutplasticsheeting.co.uk. Bought cut to size.
Link to material page https://www.cutplasticsheeting.co.uk/cl ... x-acrylic/
Specced for outdoor use 15-20 year service life.

 

[angelboy]

I’ve just bought some greenhouse acrylic from these guys which was reasonably priced but I collected it so don’t know about postage costs.

https://www.trentplastics.co.uk

 

[Bodgers]

I replaced the windows in my workshop with clear extruded acrylic - no marks on the sheet, used extruded before never seen marks on it- from
http://www.cutplasticsheeting.co.uk. Bought cut to size.
Link to material page https://www.cutplasticsheeting.co.uk/cl ... x-acrylic/
Specced for outdoor use 15-20 year service life.

I went for cast Acrylic on my garage/workshop doors as I was told it would have better uniformity and clarity...should I have bought extruded?

Sent from my MI 3W using Tapatalk

 

[Seiken]

I replaced the windows in my workshop with clear extruded acrylic - no marks on the sheet, used extruded before never seen marks on it- from
http://www.cutplasticsheeting.co.uk. Bought cut to size.
Link to material page https://www.cutplasticsheeting.co.uk/cl ... x-acrylic/
Specced for outdoor use 15-20 year service life.

I went for cast Acrylic on my garage/workshop doors as I was told it would have better uniformity and clarity...should I have bought extruded?

Sent from my MI 3W using Tapatalk

I used 4mm thick each window 460 X 615 mm, 10 windows every piece is flat, mark free and clear, cast would have been no improvement except a lighter wallet.

 

[Lons]

I replaced the windows in my workshop with clear extruded acrylic - no marks on the sheet, used extruded before never seen marks on it- from
http://www.cutplasticsheeting.co.uk. Bought cut to size.
Link to material page https://www.cutplasticsheeting.co.uk/cl ... x-acrylic/
Specced for outdoor use 15-20 year service life.

You haven't looked closely enough I expect as the manufacturing process of extrusion leave fine extrusion marks along the length of the sheet, in normal use not really obvious but they are there and can be seen at an angle especially in sunlight. Not really a factor in a workshop and ok in wood windows as long as the rebate is deep enough.
I've been on the ICI (Persex) line several times and witnessed the process myself while branch manager for a main Perspex distributor handling thousands of sheets of that and most other sheet and engineering plastics. A lot of the extruded acrylic we sold was made into rooflights which because they were vacformed into domes added strength and negated the expansion problems however PVC was prefered as it was more stable, most of the rest was for display and used indoors.

That was the best part of 30 years ago but at the time extruded was not recommended outdoors because it absorbs moisture more readily than cast which can mean it expands and contracts more and for the difference in clarity. Cast is a superior material but more expensive. Things will likely have changed in 30 years of course so what I said was based on my vast experience from that time.

For the OP use it may not matter and no doubt extruded is cheaper but there are other plastics as well such as PVC or Styrene etc which might be ok and even cheaper.

cheers
Bob

 

[dkaardal]

I've bought from https://www.directplastics.co.uk/ and from https://www.theplasticshop.co.uk/buy-plastic-online.html

the plastic shop has been handy when I wanted to get a sampling of A4 sized sheets of different thicknesses - they have a clearance section that I've found quite useful over the years.

Direct Plastics is where I'll go sometimes if I need UHMWPE sheets - last time I needed some thick stuff for my Bessemier-style tablesaw fence project, and they had what I needed at a fairly recent price.

 

[Lons]

"Bodgers"........I went for cast Acrylic on my garage/workshop doors as I was told it would have better uniformity and clarity...should I have bought extruded?

Cast definitely has those advantages Bodgers but in garage doors you don't need it, I'm surprised they didn't advise polycarbonate for security reasons. If I had windows in my garage doors I'd have used obscure to stop people seeing what's in there.

Bob

ps: Anyone who puts a sample of cast next to extruded will see the difference immediately btw.

 

[gaz44uk]

Its a pity your not any where near or know some one near Sheffield as someone gave me a load about a year ago in all different size's and colours I will give you what ever you need for nothing as I just don't have a job for them and they would gave me a bit more space back. Let me know if you think off a way to get some one to me I'm sure I've got what you need.

 

[Seiken]

I replaced the windows in my workshop with clear extruded acrylic - no marks on the sheet, used extruded before never seen marks on it- from
http://www.cutplasticsheeting.co.uk. Bought cut to size.
Link to material page https://www.cutplasticsheeting.co.uk/cl ... x-acrylic/
Specced for outdoor use 15-20 year service life.

You haven't looked closely enough I expect as the manufacturing process of extrusion leave fine extrusion marks along the length of the sheet, in normal use not really obvious but they are there and can be seen at an angle especially in sunlight. Not really a factor in a workshop and ok in wood windows as long as the rebate is deep enough.
I've been on the ICI (Persex) line several times and witnessed the process myself while branch manager for a main Perspex distributor handling thousands of sheets of that and most other sheet and engineering plastics. A lot of the extruded acrylic we sold was made into rooflights which because they were vacformed into domes added strength and negated the expansion problems however PVC was prefered as it was more stable, most of the rest was for display and used indoors.

That was the best part of 30 years ago but at the time extruded was not recommended outdoors because it absorbs moisture more readily than cast which can mean it expands and contracts more and for the difference in clarity. Cast is a superior material but more expensive. Things will likely have changed in 30 years of course so what I said was based on my vast experience from that time.

For the OP use it may not matter and no doubt extruded is cheaper but there are other plastics as well such as PVC or Styrene etc which might be ok and even cheaper.

cheers
Bob

Hi,

You're right about cast having better clarity than extruded to a level not required for the application, I suspect the extrusion process has improved over time, I looked at my windows in what little sun we've had still cannot see any distinct marks. Time will tell to see how it weathers, If I get the advertised 10 to 15 years I'll be happy, I'll be even happier if I'm still around to check in 15 years time!

 

[Lons]

Hi,

You're right about cast having better clarity than extruded to a level not required for the application, I suspect the extrusion process has improved over time, I looked at my windows in what little sun we've had still cannot see any distinct marks. Time will tell to see how it weathers, If I get the advertised 10 to 15 years I'll be happy, I'll be even happier if I'm still around to check in 15 years time!

The manufacturing process hasn't changed although the mixing machinery and grading of the raw material into granules has improved, if you think about it cast allows the material to be very closely controlled as it cools between plates of glass and produces a sheet which gives the closest they can achieve to 1st quality glass and with a light transmission of over 90% from memory. The process of extrusion pushes out the molten plastic and it slides along on flat beds while it cools, this produces "stress" (for want of a better word) marks which however faint are still there, the process also means that it has in layman terms a "grain" direction and tension so has different properties to cast which is important for a number of applications however...

As we both agree cast is overkill for the DIY situations we're discussing so no argument there at all. I'm with you on the next 15 years, I hope I get a bit past that as well hope we're still able to debate things like this in the year 2033 :lol:

Had a hell of a shock when my sister had a stroke on Christmas eve and died 4 days later, far too young at 61 and it doesn't half bring you down to earth with a bump.

cheers
Bob

EDIT:

I've just done a quick google and found this website which would be of interest to anyone who is interested in the main differences - easy reading
http://www.pmma.dk/acryl_stobt_kontra_e ... Lang=en-GB