How to Make an Acrylic Sheet Soft

To place a bend in an acrylic sheet, you need to soften the sheet in the area of the bend. This is done with a strip heater that heats the acrylic sheet to a temperature between 340 and 350 degrees Fahrenheit. With thicker sheets, you will need to heat both sides of the acrylic sheet. If you need to soften an entire sheet of acrylic, you will n

Instructions

Things Youll Need:

• Utility knife
• Leather gloves
• Strip heater

1. Step 1

   Lightly score the protective covering on both sides of the acrylic sheet in the area that you need to soften . Do not apply excessive force to the utility knife, as you will cut through the protective barrier and damage the surface of the acrylic sheet.

2. Step 2

   Pull the protective covering away from the surface of the acrylic sheet and put on your leather gloves.

3. Step 3

   Position the bend area over the strip heater, turn on the strip heater and allow the acrylic sheet to heat to the proper temperature.

4. Step 4

   Flip the acrylic sheet over to heat the other side of the acrylic sheet if the sheet is thicker than 3/16 of an inch. If you are softening a thinner acrylic sheet, you do not need to perform this step and you can proceed to step five.

5. Step 5

   Form the softened acrylic sheet before the sheet cools below the forming temperature of 340 degrees Fahrenheit.

6. Step 6

   Allow the acrylic sheet to air cool, after you have formed the sheet. Do not forcibly hold the acrylic sheet in position, as when the sheet cools and contracts, this will cause the acrylic sheet to crack.

7. Step 7

   Repeat the process for each area of the acrylic sheet that you need to soften.

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