How to drill Perspex sheets

Perspex is a versatile, durable material that if often used as an alternative to glass, as it's much less likely to break. You can easily work with Perspex yourself, as it's a material that is rather simple to handle. You do, however, need to know about what measures you need to take in order to be able to work with Perspex in a safe and successful way. One thing that's very important to know how to do is how to drill in Perspex, as this is quite different from drilling wood, for example.

Use a lubricant

You'll need to get a drill bit that is made for drilling acrylic, as ordinary bits are too sharp and might cause the Perspex to crack. You'll also need to use a lubricant while you're drilling to further prevent the drill from causing too much friction, which can cause the Perspex to break. Use some type of cooking oil if you do not wish to invest in oil specifically made to be a drilling lubricant. You should avoid using water as a lubricant. It might work to prevent cracking in the Perspex, but it can be harmful to the drill and cause the bit to rust after you've used it. Add baking soda to the water to prevent rust if you need to use water as a lubricant.

Put an extra sheet of Perspex underneath

You should place an extra piece of Perspex under the piece you wish to drill. Use a scrap piece that you don't have any use for later. Clamp the Perspex sheets together tightly before you start drilling. This makes the risk of the Perspex cracking when the drill goes through smaller. When just drilling through one piece, the drill emits force and will start going faster as it goes through that single piece, since it has drilled through all resistance. Remember to keep a slow and steady speed of the drill during the entire time you're drilling to avoid sudden changes in acceleration.

Avoid the edges

You should also avoid drilling too close to the edge of the Perspex sheet. The smaller the distance to the edge from your drill hole is, the larger the risk of the Perspex cracking or chipping, as the material gets weaker closer to the edge. If you need to have drill holes close to the edge, you should instead get a larger Perspex sheet than what you need and then cut excess material off after you've drilled the holes you need to have on the edge.