Cutting plastic?

[Queen Of The High Teas]

I have decided after seeing the wonderful settle on here, that some of my cages are a little to small, especially Gypsy my Chinese, who loves to dig and can't in a bar cage, so I have bit the bullet and gotten a bin in wilko's today. It is much bigger than her cage and I'm really looking forward to making it. If it turns out okay I intend to do a couple more as well:mrgreen:. But does anyone know how can I cut the plastic in the lid to fix the wire to without cracking the lid? The last time I tried drilling plastic it cracked the whole thing, so I need to get this right! Help anyone???

[wiggle'smommy]

This is what I did because I don't have a lot of tools, I used a craft knife. You can light a candle to heat the blade in every few minutes because that will help melt through the plastic as well as cut it. First make shallow scores so that you know where to cut and then cut deeper one section at a time (a few cm at a time) and go round the whole thing. Once the cut is deep (almost completely severed) sink the knife all the way through at a point and then slide it along the cut slowly (moving the blade up and down as you go along). That should do it! :x

[mangoandmimi]

i did the same as wiggle, with an old kitchen knife haha :') Works pretty well, just be patient and dont rush it or it cracks :P
and i just heated it over the hob :P (held it above it,..)

[racinghamster]

Melting it slowly as you cut with a craft knife or some kind of stanley knife sounds the best way. I tend to melt holes in plastic by using a metal knitting needle and holding it over the gas ring! I`ve never tried to melt away a longer strip though.

You could also use a soldering iron which would give you a better cut.

[Ham Ham Hamstery]

I have an xacto knife try getting one they work good heat the blade of it so it melts the plastic