We believe there's a sheet of plastic for every project and we're here to help you find the quality plastic you need! Our collection of sheet plastic includes a broad selection of products from routable ABS sheet for sign-makers to clear plastic sheets for laser engraving. With five brand options, multiple finishes and thickness options, and hundreds of color combinations available, our plastic lineup has something for nearly every need!
Plastic sheets are often referred to by different names depending on the material makeup and manufacturer. These include acrylic sheets, colored plastic sheets, Rowmark (a brand of engravable plastic), and engraving stock, which is used for laser engraving or rotary engraving purposes. By offering this variety, shoppers can choose the most suitable type of plastic for their projects, whether it's for signage, customization, or industrial use.
To help make shopping simpler, we have developed an icon system that indicates what technology the plastic is compatible with along with a call out of the thickness, color, and sheet size available for the material.
What is the difference between plastic sheet and acrylic sheet?
There are several types of plastic sheet and acrylic is a type of plastic sheet! The two most common types of acrylic are cast and extruded. The main difference in these materials is how they are manufactured and their physical properties. Extruded acrylic is ideal for cost-conscious projects like signage and displays. Extruded material also has a more consistent thickness and works well for larger scale projects. Cast acrylic can vary slightly in thickness due to the manufacturing process and is often thicker than an extruded material. Both materials work well for multiple applications and choosing the right one for your job is key!
What are colored plastic sheets called?
Colored plastic sheets are sometimes referred to as acrylic stock, engraving stock, or sheet material. Rowmark and IPI are popular manufacturers of colored plastic sheet and have several product lines available within their colored plastic sheet category. For example, Rowmark has a line of material called ColorHues Glitter Cast Acrylic that features ten colors of glitter material. There's also a line of extruded material that is called ADA Alternative with over forty color options. There are several lines of colored material made in different thicknesses, plies (or layers), and textures.
How do I get two-colored plastic?
Sheet material is manufactured in one-ply, two-ply, or three-ply. This means the material has one, two, or three layers. The top layer is referred to as the cap and the bottom layer as the core. To achieve two different colors, the cap (or top) layer is burned off with a laser to reveal the bottom layer of material. So, if you're making a sign with a two-ply material with a black top and a red core, your letters will be red and your background will be black.
