How to Bend Sheet Acrylic or Plexiglass With Simple Tools

By Lesley Shepherd, About.com Guide

If you don't apply heat evenly to the bend line of a sheet of plexiglass or acrylic you can create bubbles or scorch marks which cannot be removed. Do not keep your heat gun or torch too close to the plastic. If you are singing the wood on your jig (one reason why I use wood) you are too close! If you find bubbles or scorch marks occurring in your test bends, try to move your heat a bit faster along your bend line, or hold it further away from the surface of your sheet material. The distance and speed will be different depending on the thickness of the material you are working with.

• Bend Sheet Acrylic or Plexiglass with a Torch, Embossing Heat Tool or Heat Gun
• Tools and Materials Needed to Make Simple Bends in Sheet Acrylic and Plastic
• Set Up Plastic or Acrylic Sheet in a Simple Bending Jig
• How to Make a Successful Straight Bend in Sheet Acrylic or Plastic
• Problems When You Bend Incorrectly Or Before the Material Is Soft Enough
• Problems Caused by Overheating Sheet Acrylic - Bubbles and Scorching
• Twisted Bends Caused By Uneven Pressure When Bending Sheet Acrylic
• Making Even Bends in Paper Thin Acrylic or Plastic Sheet With a Simple Jig