How to make a hole in an acrylic sheet without a drill? (8 steps)

Below I will share my step by step guide on how to make a hole in an acrylic sheet without a drill. 

Drilling a hole in acrylic sheet is not easy, even with the best drill. You can imagine the difficulties they face if they don't have an electric drill. Luckily, I don't have to imagine, I know. And I overcame this type of problem by working as a handyman. I hope to share this knowledge with you today. No cracks and no electric drill; the only tool you will need is a soldering iron.

In general, to drill holes in acrylic sheets:

• Gather the required materials.
• Wear protective gear.
• Heat the soldering iron to at least 350°F.
• Check soldering iron heating (optional).
• Gently insert the soldering iron tip into the acrylic sheet.
• Rotate the soldering iron clockwise and counterclockwise.

Follow the eight steps below for a more detailed explanation.

8 step guide

Step 1 - Gather the necessary things

First of all, collect the following things.

• A piece of acrylic sheet
• Soldering iron
• Solder
• Clean cloth

Step 2 - Put on the necessary protective equipment

You are dealing with a source of heat and glass. It would be better if you were careful all the time. Follow the security steps below without ignoring them.

1. Wear safety goggles to avoid glass shards that could bounce.
2. Wear protective gloves to avoid cuts.
3. Wear safety shoes to avoid electric shock or electric shock.

Step 3 - Heat up the soldering iron

Connect the soldering iron and let it heat up to 350°F.

Why 350°F? We will cover more about acrylic melting point and soldering iron temperature range below.

Quick-Tip: Perspex sheet is another popular name used for acrylic. Although we use the term "glass" to describe acrylic, acrylic is thermoplastic and a great alternative to regular glass.

Melting point of acrylic

At higher temperatures, the acrylic will begin to soften; however, it will melt at 320°F. So, you will need a significant amount of heat to melt the acrylic.

Soldering iron temperature range

Soldering irons are often rated to reach temperatures between 392 and 896°F. Therefore, you should be able to reach the required 320°F in no time.

Quick-Tip: The maximum temperature of the soldering iron is indicated on the package. So be sure to check it out before choosing a soldering iron for this task.

Having chosen a suitable soldering iron, heat it for 2-3 minutes. But do not overheat the soldering iron. Acrylic glass may break.

Step 4 - Check the Heat (Optional)

This step is optional. However, I would recommend that you go through it anyway. Take some solder and touch it to the tip of the soldering iron. If the soldering iron is heated enough, the solder will melt. This is a small test to check the heating of the soldering iron.

important: If you want to be more accurate, use a thermocouple or contact pyrometer to measure the temperature of the soldering tip.

Solder melting point

Most soft solders melt between 190 and 840°F, and this type of solder is used for electronics, metal work, and plumbing. As for the alloy, it melts at a temperature of 360 to 370°F.

Step 5 - Place the Soldering Iron on the Acrylic Sheet

Then take a properly heated soldering iron and place its tip on the acrylic sheet. Don't forget to place it where you need to make a hole.

Step 6 - Insert the Soldering Iron into the Acrylic Sheet

Then carefully insert the soldering iron into the acrylic sheet. Remember, this is the first push. Therefore, you should not press harder and the temperature should be correct. Otherwise, the acrylic sheet may crack.

Step 7 – Soldering Iron Rotation

By pressing, you must rotate the soldering iron. But don't turn it in one direction. Instead, rotate the soldering iron clockwise and counterclockwise.

For example, rotate the soldering iron 180 degrees clockwise. Then stop and rotate it 180 degrees counterclockwise. This process will help the soldering iron tip go through the glass much faster.

Step 8 - Finish the Hole

Follow the process in step 6 until you get to the bottom of the acrylic sheet. If you follow the above steps correctly, you should end up with a hole the size of a soldering iron tip in the glass. (1)

However, if you want to make the hole bigger, you can do that too. in most soldering irons, the protective tube also heats up along with the tip of the soldering iron. So you can push the protective tube inside the small hole to make it bigger.

Finally, clean the acrylic sheet with a clean cloth.

Can an ice pick be used instead of a soldering iron?

You can use an ice pick to make a hole in the perspex sheet. In addition, you will need a torch to heat up the ice pick. Once you heat up the ice ax properly, you can use it to make a hole in the acrylic sheet. But compared to using a soldering iron, this is a slightly more complicated process. If you are wondering why this is so, here are some facts.

1 fact. When you use a soldering iron, you heat it up to 350°F - the same goes for an ice pick. However, it will not be easy to heat the ice ax to the specified temperature and may take some time.

2 fact. In addition, the soldering iron is designed for high temperatures. But the ice picks not so much. Thus, you may damage the ice ax beyond repair while performing this process.

3 fact. When using an ice ax, you will have to put in extra effort in this process, which will take longer.

A soldering iron is the best solution for making holes in acrylic sheets without a drill. (2)

Take a look at some of our articles below.

• Is it possible to drill holes in the walls of the apartment
• How to drill a hole in a granite countertop
• How to drill a hole in a ceramic pot

Recommendations

(1) glass - https://www.britannica.com/technology/glass

(2) acrylic - https://www.britannica.com/science/acrylic

Video links

How To Cut Acrylic Sheet By Hand

How to drill acrylic using soldering iron for pc part