Miss Mango

Im doing an art piece using computer parts.

What is the best way to cut CDs into shapes?
is it possible to do it with a jig saw or a band saw, or will it just shatter?
has anyone done anything like this before?

thanks

Willravel

I would think that robust scissors could do the job. I would try using heavy kitchen scissors. Also, eye wear.

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Crompsin

For really intricate shape cuts, you may want to drill tiny "wiggle room" holes at the points of your designs and then use "robust scissors" as mentioned above. These holes have proven to prevent unwanted cracking.

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xepherys

chain saw? belt sander?

I think Crompsin has the best answer. A dremel might also work rather well.

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God of Thunder

A band saw would work, but put masking tape on the area to be cut first to avoid splintering/cracking. That's an old woodworkers trick for thin wood.

I don't think the scissors would give you that great of a cut, but use the tape in that method as well.

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Bear Cub

Dremel at slow speeds for curved cuts. A straight edge and the back side of an exacto knife for the straight cuts (emphasis on back side, as it sipes/scrapes material away instead of trying to slice through it).

Miss Mango

my shapes i\'m cutting are going to be relatively small. so about 4 per CD.

do the scissors cut through the CDs easily? or does it take some force?

because Ill be working on this project and two others at the same time, so I don\'t want to kill my hands.

Ive worked with plexiglass before using a band saw (and radial arm saw, but that won\'t work here). Ive also worked with aluminum.

Im wondering if the materials are similiar enough that I can use the same process.

thanks for your input

Bear Cub

I've always found scissors to cause spider cracks in CD's.

Are you going to be making a bunch of the same shape, like circles? If so, you may be better off with a punch.

Crompsin

Say, your name isn't Boscoe Baracus, is it?

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Miss Mango

Basically the same shapes. But there leaf shapes.

Bear Cub

No, but I pity the CD that stands in my way.


For something such as a leaf shape, I don't see a more efficient, crack-free way of doing it than with the use of a dremel and a deburring tool to knock the ends smooth.

Jenny_Lyte

Damn. My dad has the perfect tool for something like this. I can't begin to remember what it's called. I want to say he calls it a jigsaw, but I'm not too sure. I might just be thinking of puzzles.

allaboutmusic

Yes that works best with plexiglass type materials like CDs. I would use a sharp craft knife to score to a shape slightly bigger than the leaf shape first, then shape down.

inBOIL

If you're using a saw, waxing the blade may be helpful.

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Redlemon

I tried a bit of Googling for this, one site recommended heating the CD with a hairdryer to make it a bit more pliable.

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