Acrylic

Plain-English definition

Acrylic (often known by trade names like Plexiglass or Perspex) is a transparent, stiff thermoplastic often used as a lightweight, shatter-resistant alternative to real glass in picture frames, shed windows, and display cases.

Why it matters

While acrylic is stronger against impacts than glass, it is extremely brittle when machined. Understanding this property dictates how you must cut and drill it. If you apply the same heavy pressure and aggressive drill bits that you would use for wood, the acrylic will instantly crack or shatter, completely destroying the panel.

Common mistake

A common mistake is using a standard wood drill bit and pushing hard. As the bit breaks through the far side of the acrylic, its aggressive cutting angle grabs the plastic and violently pulls it up, resulting in a large crack. To avoid this, you must drill very slowly, provide solid backing behind the hole, and ideally use a specialised plastic drill bit (or blunt an old twist bit).