Blog articles: inspiration and DIY-tips

Both cast and extruded acrylic sheets can be milled, although you must take the internal stresses into account when milling extruded acrylic. If you know that the acrylic will have to be milled before purchasing the sheet material, we recommend that you always opt for...

Plastic sheets have many advantages over natural materials such as glass or ceramics. They are stronger, easier to work and much more impact-resistant. However, they are also more susceptible to scratching than glass, with intensive contact, light scratches may occur...

"What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Shakespeare's words also apply to polymethyl methacrylate, because whatever you call it, it remains the same plastic. Polymethyl methacrylate is known under various trade names such...

Plexiglass, also known as acrylic, is a plastic with many advantages. Unfortunately, it also has a disadvantage compared to glass: it is scratch-sensitive. Removing scratches from acrylic sheet is relatively easy, and with proper maintenance, acrylic also stays...

We regularly get asked the question: what is the difference between Plexiglass and acrylic? We can give a short answer to this: there is absolutely no difference. This is because acrylic is the usual abbreviation for polymethyl methacrylate, and Plexiglas® is one of...

The days when hologram projections were only seen in Star Trek and James Bond are long gone. With the help of your smartphone/tablet/ flat screen TV and acrylic sheet, you can make a hologram projector yourself. All you need is an acrylic sheet, acrylic glue, masking...

A windshield makes a sitting area in the garden or a terrace much more useful. When the sun first shows itself in the spring, but it is still too cool to sit outside, a windshield provides a pleasant shelter for sitting outdoors. It is not difficult to make a...

Kids' small pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs are quite sensitive to wind and cold. Once they have caught a cold, this often means they really suffer badly. A rabbit cage or run should therefore never be placed in the draught; shelter and insulation are vital for...

Plexiglass is not suitable as safety glazing - this is pretty much the only disadvantage of this type of plastic sheet. There are two reasons for this: it is flammable and it is difficult to break Plexiglass. It is not easy to break plexiglass, this requires a lot of...

As a rule of thumb, plexiglass is about 30 times more impact-resistant than glass, but how does that work in practice? To be able to answer this question properly, we first have to look at the types of load that a material can undergo. We know three types of load in...

Decorating a room? Use plastic wall panels! Once in a while you get the itch, something needs to be altered in the house! Maybe it's the kitchen splashback because it's damaged? Or are you tired of the shower wall because you can't clean it anymore? Plastic wall...

Acrylic is easy to engrave. In addition to etching and printing, engraving is the most commonly used technique to process the surface of acrylic. Certainly, with slightly thicker plates (from 4 millimetres) a very nice three-dimensional effect can be achieved with an...

Need a dust cover? Make it yourself from acrylic! Is the dust cover of your record player due for replacement? Or do you want to protect a work of art against dust and bumps? Then a customised protective acrylic dust cover is the perfect solution. It’s particularly...

There are several reasons for making acrylic sheet matte, which may be to do with the visual effect of edge lighting, or for privacy reasons. Of course, you can choose opal or milk-coloured acrylic sheet, but these sheets have a smooth surface. If you want to mattify...

The material commonly known as acrylic is in fact called polymethyl methacrylate, abbreviated to PMMA. Plexiglass is a trade name that has become synonymous with this material. Compare it with Luxaflex as a general name for horizontal blinds. PMMA is also known under...

The most well-known application of acrylic is as a complete replacement for flat glass glazing. But because acrylic sheet is easy to machine and shape, we come across the material in the most surprising places. In this blog, we provide text and explanation of the many...

When you go to IKEA, you rarely come home empty-handed. The well-known, budget-friendly LACK table by the Swedish furniture giant can be found in many homes. To give this table an original twist, you can cover it yourself with acrylic sheet. Below, we explain how you...

As well as its higher strength and impact resistance, acrylic also has another advantage over glass: it is lighter. For the same thickness, acrylic sheet is about half as light as glass. It is nevertheless as well to take the weight of acrylic sheet into account...

The blog section on our website is full of fun DIY ideas with acrylic and other tips for using this versatile material. You could almost forget what acrylic sheet is actually used for most: as a substitute for regular glass. For example, you can replace the windows of...

We can’t get enough of it: old furniture that has been given a new look, especially if the furniture is (partly) made of acrylic sheet. Everything is possible with this material and it is available in a superb range of colours, so jobs with acrylic are never boring....

Perfect for when your garden table could use a makeover or when you need a new look: an acrylic table top for your garden table. You can create a whole new table in no time. A particularly attractive side effect: we cut the acrylic sheet to your measurements free of...

Cleaning and keeping plexiglass clean requires a little more attention than cleaning glass. This is because acrylic sheet is more sensitive to scratches than regular glazing. With the correct cleaning agent and the right materials, Plexiglass will stay beautiful for...

At Plasticsheetsshop.co.uk, you can have your plexiglass cut to size for free, but you can also cut plexiglass yourself if needed. Cutting acrylic is no problem with the right preparation and if you use the correct tools. It is important that you know what kind of...

A balcony is an attractive feature to have in your home, but its usability is determined by the location and the weather conditions. Balcony glazing can, however, significantly increase the usability of your balcony as well as the levels of comfort. It doesn't matter...

When working with acrylic sheet, also known as acrylate or PMMA, unevenness in the surface can occur, such as, for example, saw marks after cutting it. This can be undesirable for various reasons. In the first place, because it does not look good, but also because...

With good tools and the right method, you can process acrylic sheets properly. It should be noted here that cast acrylic can be processed much more easily than extruded acrylic. If you are going to carry out much work on the acrylic, we strongly recommend using cast...

Many painters use acrylic as a "canvas". At Plasticsheetsshop, a question we often get asked is whether acrylic sheet can also be painted/coloured. The answer is: yes. But the most important question is: with which paint do you paint plexiglass? In this blog, we...

They’re stylish, contemporary and literally give an extra dimension to any prints that you frame: floating frames. These borderless frames can carry all imaginable prints: photos, cards, artworks ... you name it. Floating frames owe their name to the way in which they...

At Plasticsheetsshop, you have come to the right place for a wide range of acrylic sheets. Our range of acrylic sheets is extensive and all available colours and types can be found in our webshop. Moreover, we saw each order free of charge. The choice is huge, and we...

Sometimes, you just need to relax in a warm bath. Unfortunately, you can’t usually store things around the bathtub without them getting wet. Putting your phone or book on the edge of the tub is not a good idea: a bath board offers an ideal solution. Making a...

If you are planning a special dinner, you probably aren’t thinking about using acrylic as a table decoration. In our previous blog about acrylic table decoration, we showed why this material is very suitable for making your own centrepieces. In this blog, we show you...

You don't expect to see acrylic table decoration on a table set for a party. Against all the odds, acrylic really comes into its own here, allowing you to give a modern twist to your table decoration. In this blog, we show you how to make unique acrylic nameplates,...

Mirror, Mirror on the ... fence? It’s possible, an outside mirror is an attractive and popular garden accessory and in recent years we have seen more and more mirrors in the garden. Now that summer is just around the corner, people are busy massively preparing the...

Who would have thought that making an acrylic lamp could be so simple? The statement 'Less is more' certainly applies to this project. With our tips, you can create an elegant and original table lamp in a few simple steps. What do you need? A grey-tinted acrylic sheet...

Is your desk furnished with boring, standard desk accessories? Why not give it a makeover with unique office items you’ve made yourself? In this blog, you can read how to make a number of original desk accessories. We have opted for a combination of acrylic sheet and...

Cutting hard PVC and foamed PVC PVC is easy to cut and saw. You can cut sheets up to 5 mm thick with Stanley knives (box cutters). As well as the necessary protective equipment, use a steel rule to cut straight. Move the knife along the cutting line in three steps; it...

The way in which you clean Dibond depends on the type of aluminium Dibond and the area of application of the panel: inside or outside. Let's start with the distinction in the top layers: Dibond / Alupanel is available with different surface finishes: coated or sanded...

Drilling Dibond is the same as drilling full aluminium sheets and plastic sheets. For drilling Alupanel / Dibond panels, regular drills and drill bits are sufficient. When choosing a drill, go for a high-speed steel (HSS) twist drill with a drilling angle of between...

Painting or coating aluminium composite panels such as Alupanel and Dibond is very achievable provided that the preparations are carried out properly. For sheets with a factory coating, it is important that the existing coating is roughened. You must prevent grease...

Keeping chickens is one of the fastest growing hobbies in the UK. A good chicken farmer, of course, takes proper care of their birds and provides shelter for them throughout the year. In order to prepare a coop for winter, a windshield made of acrylic sheet is...

An outdoor rabbit hutch is essential for small rodents to graze freely. However, a rabbit run offers very little shelter, which is unfortunate since rodents such as rabbits and guinea pigs are very susceptible to the influences of poor weather. Fortunately, it is not...

The true beauty of a book is in the content. Do you also think it's such a shame that your books are shut away in the cupboard? Then this plexiglass book stand is a great way to show off your favourite books. In order not to divert attention too much from the book, we...

In the UK, we regularly have to deal with heavy thunderstorms, rain and high winds. As a result, eaves and fascias have to stand up to a lot and must, therefore, be regularly cleaned and repaired - a time-consuming job that costs a lot of money. To save time and...

When you receive visitors at the front door, a door canopy can make chatting on the doorstep much more pleasant. In case of rain and wind, a door canopy provides the necessary shelter and, moreover, you give the exterior of your house a completely different look. You...

Blogs about acrylic in interiors produce many positive reactions. Many people are surprised with the result when they first apply acrylic to their interior decor. Thanks to the range of colours and the various transparencies, acrylic sheet is a versatile material for...

Drilling acrylic is not difficult if you have good tools and are drilling the right kind of acrylic sheet. Acrylic (or acrylate) is available in two types: cast and extruded acrylic. The extruded type is, in fact, unsuitable for drilling: because of the internal...

Sawing polycarbonate sheet is relatively easy compared to cutting acrylic. Polycarbonate is very impact-resistant and much tougher so that cutting a polycarbonate sheet is achievable even for the less experienced do-it-yourselfer. We are happy to give you some tips...

Polythene, also known as polyvinyl chloride or HDPE sheets, is one of the world's most widely used plastics. It comes in two variants: Low Density and High Density. LD has a different molecular structure than HD and is therefore also lighter. Origin and properties...

Acrylic boat windshields do not last forever. If a window is damaged, full of scratches, or almost opaque, it is time to install new windows. In our webshop, you will find various materials that are extremely suitable for boat glass replacement, whether you choose...

HPL is the abbreviation for High Pressure Laminate. HPL is made up of several layers that are compressed (laminated) under very high pressure. This creates a very dense, hard and form-retaining sheet (HPL). The structure of the sheet An HPL sheet consists of a wood...

Polycarbonate is a thermoplastic polymer and is a sturdy, hard and transparent material. The most important property of polycarbonate is its enormous impact resistance. Polycarbonate is 250 times stronger than glass and this is why polycarbonate is often used as...

Acrylic sheet is available in different types, types and price ranges. In this blog, we outline the most important links between acrylic sheet price and quality, so that the differences between the various types of acrylic sheet are made clear. Extruded and cast...

A patio canopy offers advantages all year round, as the shelter of a roof over the terrace not only keeps the rain out but also creates a more pleasant microclimate for the terrace. A canopy restricts the flow of the outside air, making it comfortable for longer on...

Bending acrylic sheets is possible because of the thermoplastic properties of acrylic, but is not for everyone. A distinction must also be made between the bending and the forced bending of acrylic. In this article, we provide some information and explanation about...

Trespa® is widely recognised as a household name in the area of maintenance-free exterior cladding. This Dutch manufacturer has a solid reputation in the field of HPL (High Pressure Laminate) cladding panels, so much so that HPL panels from competitors are also...

You ’ll need to search very hard to find a standard white HPL sheet in the Trespa® range. The variety of colours, patterns and structures is so large that there is actually no question of a 'standard' sheet. To keep track of the vast number of types of sheets, Trespa®...

At plasticsheetshop.co.uk, every order is cut to size for free. This saves a lot of time and effort and you are also assured of a cleanly cut edge. We understand that you would sometimes like to cut your acrylic sheets yourself so we wrote the DIY blog 'Cutting...

A good (hobby) cook has a suitable knife for every cutting task. Moreover, a good knife may be kept on show, so a knife block made of wood and acrylic sheet makes an attractive way to store your expensive kitchen knives. Even better, you’ll never pick up the wrong one...

Plants bring a room to life, and greenery is back in fashion for interiors after a few years out of favour. The planter or flowerpot is almost as important as the plant itself. You can spend hours reading interior design magazines and browsing home decor shops, but if...

It’s possible to buy many types of desk, but only rarely is a desk custom-made. The better types of desks can be adjusted and customised, but no one offers a custom desktop, which is the most important part of a good desk. In this DIY blog, we explain how to build a...

Bored with the lamp in the corner? Had enough of the light on your dresser? If you really want your decor to shine, the light cube is a great alternative to everyday lamps. And if you make it yourself, you can also add a bit of your own craftsmanship. Difficult? Not...

Acrylic is the most common name for polymethyl methacrylate. Acrylic is a so-called thermoplastic, which means that it becomes softer when heated. Acrylic sheets are an ideal substitute for glass because they are 30 times more impact resistant. The substance is also...

Keeping an aquarium is a great hobby: a colourful and vibrant collection of fish enlivens any room. The saying ‘the bigger the better' also applies to aquariums, but don’t forget that it’s better to start off with a small aquarium than with one that’s too large. The...

PVC is the abbreviation for polyvinyl chloride and one of the most commonly used plastics. It is a stable, inert and flexible plastic. PVC can be extruded in any form, which is why it is mainly used for products with complex shapes, such as dashboards and children's...

Acrylic is a thermoplastic synthetic material that is naturally transparent. The chemical name of this plastic is polymethyl methacrylate, although this is usually abbreviated to acrylate or acrylic. Plexiglas® is one of the many trade names, but it’s also known by...

Nothing tastes better than vegetables fresh from the garden but vermin, cold and rain can considerably reduce your harvest. Making a greenhouse is a good solution because you have a vastly improved microclimate, you can control the irrigation and you'll be keeping...

Over the last 6 decades, plastic materials increased in popularity in residential and non-residential construction. It is safe to say, that plastic materials surpassed traditional construction materials like bricks and wood. Especially when it comes to exterior wall...

Do you always feel inspired by home decor magazines and DIY programmes? Do you want to get started, but aren’t quite sure how? Does your interior need an eyecatcher, but is your budget very small? If the answer to any of these questions is 'yes', then we have a nice...

PVC sheets can be glued easily, both PVC sheets and other types of plastic. In this blog, we provide information about the possibilities, the different types of glue and the processing methods. As with all other operations regarding PVC sheets, the sheet surface must...

PVC sheets require little maintenance and are simple to clean. However, it is important that you use non-abrasive cleaning agents. You can simply clean this plastic with a clean, soft cloth. For regular light cleaning activities such as dusting, use a microfibre...

Making a tablet holder from acrylic is quick and easy to do and is also very handy, especially if you regularly get a cramp in your neck and arms from peering at your tablet. All you need is an acrylic sheet, two slats, a pair of glue clamps and a paint burner....

The extremely popular Raspberry Pi has been experimenting with computers and programming. No wonder, because this computer is extremely versatile and affordable. Unfortunately, the PCB is also vulnerable, and that makes experimenting a bit tricky. Your Raspberry Pi...

If you think about bathrooms, you think about wall and floor tiles. At least, if you are still living in the 90s. For a long time, a standard white tile was the norm for bathrooms and showers. Fortunately, this has changed, lifestylists and interior designers have...

A nameplate made of acrylic sheet guarantees a fun afternoon of DIY that you can enjoy for years. You create maximum effect with minimal means, especially if you opt for coloured acrylic and LED lighting. It is different, it is striking and it is fun! In this blog,...

Why buy a display cabinet if you can make one yourself? It is not difficult at all to make a display case yourself, and certainly not if you use acrylic sheet as the basic material. An acrylic showcase has many advantages, the material is not expensive and it is, of...

The role that a kitchen fulfils in our household has drastically changed over the last fifty years. Where the kitchen was once a separate area that mainly served practical purposes, over the years the kitchen has become an important part of our living space....

For some windows, replacing them with double glazing is not a possibility. In this case acrylic secondary glazing may offer the solution. Acrylic sheets can protect an existing window and offer sound and thermal insulation. Acrylic sheets are easy to order and even...