How easy is starboard/HDPE to cut/route

K

kwl1763

Premium Member
For my new tank I wanted to get two pieces of Starboard/HDPE already cut to size. To do this however it would be like $500 (granted it's a big bottom (120"x36")

So my thought was I can get 10 pieces of 18"x24" for ~$300 but I would have to trim all of them and route the edges.

Other option would be to buy 2 full sheets but that is major $$$

I guess I could buy one and then have 2 ~12" pieces next to the 8ft piece but that would look goofy.

What would you do? I'm looking for black BTW.
 
It is very easy to work with, a bit messy though. I started out with black non-textured HDPE 36"x18" piece. I didnt have a router, but I rounded the corners easily with a palm sander. Granted it isnt as uniform an edge as a router would give, but I think it looks pretty good. I also roughed up the smooth surface with the sander to give it some texture.
 
@kwl1763 wrote:
For my new tank I wanted to get two pieces of Starboard/HDPE already cut to size. To do this however it would be like $500 (granted it's a big bottom (120"x36") So my thought was I can get 10 pieces of 18"x24" for ~$300 but I would have to trim all of them and route the edges. Other option would be to buy 2 full sheets but that is major $$$ I guess I could buy one and then have 2 ~12" pieces next to the 8ft piece but that would look goofy. What would you do? I'm looking for black BTW. said:
It is real easy to cut. I used a jigsaw with a plastic cutting blade for roughcutting. I then used a router with a flushtrim bit.
FYI....it makes a real big mess.
Click to expand...
 
When I cut the pieces for Servo's tank, it wasn't messy nor an issue. Maybe that is because I'm used to acrylic shavings everywhere.

Remember the more pieces you have Keith, the more floaters you'll be battling.
 
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