A Broken Record...

[alterbridgefan]

How can I cut a 12" lp without snapping it?

I don't want to put a whole lot of money into this, just making a different pickguard for my tele.

 

[bagman67]

Band saw? Scroll saw?  Fasten it down on some MDF and use a router?

 

[swarfrat]

As in 33rpm vinyl record?  I'd go with scroll saw, mayve tape over the cut first. Watch tool speed you dont want to melt it.

 

[Dan025]

band saw might be the best since the blade moves in only one direction it wont jump. i haven't worked with the material my self so i don't really know what problems you'll run into.

there are some different tecniques you can try on the band saw though. for one it is always recomended you have 2 teeth in contact with the work. that means you need a pretty fine blade like a metal blade. or you can glue it down to an aluminum or wood sheet to use a courser blade that wont load up and to help hold things together to prevent cracking. but then there is also the friction cutting tecnique where you run the blade upside down (preferably a dull blade, dont want to ruin an expensive blade) and run the sfpm as high as it'll safely go and basically melt through the material which may help if you still have trouble with cracking.

on a scroll saw ive had to use water to cool plexi because it fuses back together. so that might also be something to consider. 

 

[Cagey]

Vinyl is pretty brittle, so it chips easily. It's much easier to work if it's heated, which softens it up, but apparently getting it hot releases toxins. I found these instruction on teh intarwebs, the source of all truth and light...

Cut a vinyl record for craft projects such as simple jewelry or decorative dishes by first putting the record on an unwanted cookie sheet. Open all windows since the fumes from heated vinyl are hazardous. Heat the oven to 185 degrees. Place the cookie sheet in the oven for about three minutes. While wearing a thick oven mitt, check if the record is softened. If not, keep heating and check again in another 2 minutes. Check consistently until the record is soft enough to bend easily. Remove from oven. Discard the cookie sheet; once heated with vinyl it can not be used with food again. Keep your oven mitts on and use craft scissors to cut the record into the desired shapes while it is still hot. Once it cools, it will be too hard to cut.