What did I cut???

[r_jones]

So a buddy of mine gives me some "acrylic" to cut... So rather than screw his up on my first try I grab a piece of some scrap lexan and do a test cut, using my 1/8" super "O" I get some nice little curls, OK on to my buddy's stuff... First pass into this it acted more like glass than acrylic in that there where no nice little chips but more like broken glass. Any ideas if this was just cheap stuff or ???

[woodworx]

yes there are a lot of import knock off acrylics that cut horribly. I have cut both and there is a huge difference in the way they cut. I have used the super o on the good stuff, and it cut great. Switched to customer supplied the next day and lots of chunks blowing out and horrible cutting sound.

[bleeth]

Ron:
Usually the reason Acrylic cuts poorly is that it is extruded rather than cast. For extruded you have to play with your feeds and speeds and straight O's work better than twists. The chips never look as nice as cast.

[r_jones]

I think he mentioned it was cast but probably cheap stuff