When you’re embarking on a DIY project using plastic sheets, it can be difficult to know which thickness to use that best suits the task at hand. Sometimes, there’s an easy solution. For example, if you’re replacing a broken window in your greenhouse, you can simply measure the thickness of the glass that’s already there and you’ll know it’s accurate. But if you’re starting from scratch, the answer isn’t always so simple.
Polycarbonate sheet makes a great material for use with indoor projects as it’s lightweight and easy to work with, particularly for DIY-ers. For example, if you’re looking to install a cover for table tops or check of drawer units to protect them from scratches and damage, a plastic sheet of 2mm is perfectly adequate for your needs. But if you’re looking to remove the cover each time you sit down to eat at the table, or it will be removed for cleaning on a regular basis, you may want to consider a 3mm or even 4mm thickness to make it more robust for frequent movement and lifting from the furniture.
If you’ve decided to add some floating shelves to your home, acrylic is a great and contemporary choice. We offer a range between 20mm and 30mm in clear acrylic that’s perfect for this type of project – correctly supported on the wall, it makes a great addition to any home. Acrylic also makes a great material for splashbacks in the kitchen or bathroom, as it’s easy to keep clean and hygienic, as well as long-lasting. We recommend using a thickness of 5mm when using for kitchen splashbacks, as the adhesive can show through certain colours in 3mm sheets and will ruin the appearance.
As a general rule, 2mm thick sheets can be used in any application where it won’t lie completely flat, such as non-frame type shed windows and mildly curved applications. The mild curve can be used to actually increase rigidity in this case.
Garden furniture
Looking to add some acrylic touches to your garden? Acrylic plastic is ideally suited to outdoor use, as it’s weather-resistant and will withstand knocks and scrapes with ease. It’s also shatterproof and impact-resistant, so if you have young children or pets, you can rest assured that they’ll stay safe.
When you’re purchasing clear acrylic sheets for the garden, you need to consider what will go onto the acrylic before deciding on the thickness you will need. Is it just plates and glasses, or heavier items, and how well-supported will they be? If there’s a lot of support underneath the acrylic, for example with a cut-to-size table top that sits on a solid base, then you can choose a thinner sheet – although we would still advise a minimum thickness of 5mm – whereas if there is minimal support, we would recommend that you choose a minimum of 8mm in thickness to ensure that it stays stable.
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is softer than acrylic, so the scratch resistance is lower, and it may be more likely to turn cloudy over time. However, it has up to 20 times the impact strength of acrylic, so it’s worth bearing this in mind when deciding between the two for your project. If you’re using polycarbonate, we recommend a minimum thickness of 3mm for applications such as replacing shed windows to provide adequate security. If you’re replacing or installing greenhouse panes, you may want to opt for 4mm instead. We often have customers purchase polycarbonate for the roofs of pergolas, in which case the issue of support arises again. If the plastic is well supported, a thickness of 5mm is sufficient, whereas you may want to consider a thicker sheet if there is not as much support to give you the strength you need for the pergola to be secure.
It’s important to bear in mind the dimensions of the acrylic when you’re thinking about which thickness to order. If the dimensions are small, thinner acrylic is often relatively sturdy and is likely to be sufficient. However, if you’re purchasing a larger sheet, you need to ensure there is plenty of support and this amount of support will directly impact the thickness you’ll need. While acrylic is robust, it still needs support when used in large sheets so opt for a thicker sheet when in doubt if the dimensions are on the larger side. As an example, if the sheet is up to 1.5 sq. metres, 3mm should suffice, while anything between 1.5 and 2 sq. metres should have a minimum thickness of 4mm. If you’re unsure and want some friendly advice, give our team a call on 01903 389024 or drop us an email at info@cutmy.co.uk and we will be happy to help you make an informed decision.
FAQs
Generally, you might want to go with a thicker pick for an electric guitar, at least when compared to the ones used with an acoustic guitar. Playing lead guitar with a thin pick can be more difficult than playing with a thick or medium pick, especially when playing really fast, like when tremolo picking.
How can I improve my pick grip? ›
Using a larger Guitar Pick:
The shape and size of a guitar pick are essential to increase the grip. The larger the surface, the more contact it will have with your fingers, and therefore the more friction it will create.
What is the best pick gauge for a beginner? ›
Light guitar picks with less than 0,6 mm are considered beginners' guitar picks. The reason for this, is that most beginner guitar players first learn strumming techniques, which can usually be played better with thinner plectrums. However, medium guitar picks with 0,75 mm thickness are the best place to start.
Who uses 2mm picks? ›
7 Artists use this
- Andy Summers. Andy Summers' Guitar Picks: – Dunlop Jazz II (with Police) – Dunlop Delrin 500 2mm (currently) see details.
- Jeff Loomis. ...
- John Scofield. ...
- Daniel Johns. ...
- Juan Alderete. ...
- Timothé Nadim.
Medium picks (. 73mm – . 88mm) are probably the most common thickness.
What size picks do famous guitarists use? ›
Who plays what?
| Brian May | An old British sixpence coin |
|---|
| Dave Grohl | Dunlop 0.73 mm Gator Grip |
| Billy Gibbons | Dunlop Gels Extra Heavy |
| Dave Mustaine | Dunlop Tortex 0.73 |
| Carlos Santana | V-Picks (3 mm) |
11 more rowsApr 18, 2017
A grip that's too tight can cause cramping, while one that's too loose will wiggle and could fly out of your hand. First, you need to purchase some guitar picks. Typically, thinner picks are better for strumming, while thicker picks are good for bass or handling rhythm and leads on an electric guitar.
How do you not lose your pick grip? ›
The trick is kinda to not hold it too tight and not too loose. Also: the right size. I have trouble playing with smaller picks, they tend to slip further and further in between my fingers. If the pick is big enough, i can rest the back of it against my hand.
What is the most versatile pick thickness? ›
Medium picks:
Medium gauge guitar picks have a thickness of between 0.55 and 1 mm. These are the most versatile guitar picks and are perfect for solo guitarists who use different techniques in the same songs (e.g., strumming, solo, palm mute).
Are thin or thick picks better? ›
Thick picks: Summary
These picks provide more control over single notes and are usually the best option for lead guitarists. Most advanced guitarists prefer thick picks, because in their guitar journey they develop new guitar techniques that can be performed better using this kind of picks.
From our own observations & experiences, we would define thin picks as anything below 1mm, medium as anything from 1-2mm, & heavy as anything above 2mm. Most mass produced picks are typically in the light to medium range with a few models that are chunkier in the 3 to 4mm range.
What are teardrop picks for? ›
The small size offers a quick response when playing, and the slightly rounded tip will provide a warm tone.
Are pointy picks better? ›
In simple terms, pick with sharp tips produce quite an aggressive and biting sound. They are great for playing at speed and for fast alternate picking, but they are not so good for strumming chords. This is because the sharp point of the pick is not well suited for gliding smoothly across the strings.
Are 3mm picks good? ›
Thick picks are over 1 mm. Since there is no limit to thickness, some players like to use “extra thick” picks, which are over 3 mm thick. Thick picks give the guitar player more control over volume and attack on the strings. They are the favorite amongst advanced guitarists.
What is the best pick thickness for electric guitar? ›
Heavy: 0.86mm to 1.20mm
Heavy picks are great for electric guitar players that want to play songs with a lot of single notes and heavy sound. Because of that, they are used on electric guitars much more often than acoustic guitars.
How thick should a bass pick be? ›
Pick Thickness for Bass Players
Bass players generally use thicker picks. The thickness improves the bass playing control, and the overall tone of the string. The average pick thickness for bass players is 1.17 mm, while for guitar players is 0.89 mm. Remember, bass strings are much thicker than guitar strings.
What is the best thickness for acoustic guitar picks? ›
Generally speaking, the best guitar pick for beginners is a medium gauge pick of about . 75 to 1mm. These offer the best of both worlds in terms of playing individual notes & strumming.
