OLFA PLASTIC & LAMINATE CUTTER 2 BLADES IN HANDLE

Clarification: the “score and snap” method can only be used to create controlled breaks in certain plastic materials, such as acrylic, styrene, and construction laminates. Many plastic materials cannot be scored and snapped and must be cut using other means. If in doubt, check with your plastics supplier.

Here’s how scoring a plastic sheet works:

1. Lay out your cut line.
2. Use a straightedge and scoring knife to cut a narrow and shallow groove in thin plastic sheet materials (e.g. 1/8″ acrylic). (Thicker plastic sheets might need to be cut via other means.)
3. Make multiple passes to deepen the groove if needed.
4. Place the plastic sheet, groove-side up, over a hard edge, such as a tabletop, with the groove slightly beyond the edge.
5. Optional: Clamp a flat block over the sheet, preferably with a hard edge as well
6. Bend the overhang with a quick and even motion.
7. *SNAP*. The groove will deepen as a crack propagate throughout the thickness of the sheet, separating it into two pieces with straight and relatively clean edges.

The process is similar as with cutting glass, but with plastic it’s usually okay to make multiple passes with the scoring knife.

All scoring proper knives feature triangular blades with strong points. The flat inside of the pointed blade is mainly used for scoring.

The flat sharpened edges are used for deburring or cleaning up of freshly separated edges.

Retractable plastic scoring knives, such as this Olfa PC-L and PC-S, are a good compromise between rigidity and convenience. Replacement blades are widely available.