Description

Clear Acrylic Rod — Sydney Stock, 3mm to 150mm

KF Plastics stocks clear acrylic rod (extruded PMMA) in diameters from 3mm to 150mm,
available in standard 2000mm lengths. The majority of sizes are held at our Sydney warehouse, no waiting weeks for interstate freight. We cut to size, polish ends, and offer trade accounts for regular buyers. Whether you need a single length or a bulk order for an ongoing project, we can help.

Key features

• Outstanding optical clarity — light transmission up to 92%,
  virtually indistinguishable from glass in most applications
• Easy to machine and fabricate — drills, cuts, turns, and
  polishes cleanly with standard tools
• UV and weather resistant — suitable for both indoor and
  outdoor applications without yellowing
• Lightweight — approximately half the weight of equivalent
  glass, reducing structural load and handling risk
• 100% recyclable — extruded acrylic rod can be
  fully recycled back to its original monomer

Who uses acrylic rod?

Our customers span a wide range of industries — reflecting how versatile
acrylic rod is as a material:

• Scientific and research institutions — universities and laboratories use large diameter rod (50mm–150mm) for optical experiments, fluid dynamics apparatus, and custom scientific equipment
• Engineering and industrial — manufacturers use acrylic rod as sight glasses, guide shafts, and precision components where transparency and machinability are both required
• Signage and display — sign makers and display fabricators rely on 8mm–25mm rod for standoffs, menu holders, point-of-sale structures, and display poles
• Architecture and interior design — designers and builders specify 19mm–38mm rod for decorative balustrading, handrails, staircase features and lighting elements
• Events and film production — production companies use acrylic rod for props, set dressing, displays, and specialty lighting
• Marine and outdoor — boat builders and outdoor fabricators use acrylic rod where glass like clarity is needed with weather resistance

What diameter do I need?

Cast vs. extruded acrylic rod — which do I need?

Both types perform well for most applications. Here’s how to decide:

• Extruded acrylic rod (what we stock) is manufactured by pushing molten polymer through a die. It’s the more cost-effective option and handles drilling, cutting, routing, and polishing very well. Very faint extrusion lines may be visible in the material under certain lighting, barely noticeable in practice. Suitable for the vast majority of signage,
  display, architectural, and industrial applications.
• Cast acrylic rod is poured into a mould, resulting in lower internal stress and slightly superior machinability particularly for tapping, threading, or applications involving sustained pressure or elevated temperature. The optical clarity is exceptional. If your application requires precision machining or chemical resistance, cast is the better choice.
  Contact us to discuss cast rod availability.

Cut to size and fabrication

KF Plastics is a full-service plastics fabricator — not just a distributor.
We can cut your rod to a specific length, polish the cut ends to optical clarity, or machine it to your requirements in our Sydney workshop.
Get a quote for custom work or call us on 02 9740 6000.

Trade accounts and bulk orders

If you’re a regular buyer — signage company, display fabricator, manufacturer, or educational institution — a KF Plastics trade account gives you priority service and volume pricing.
Apply for a trade account or contact us to discuss your ongoing requirements.

Frequently asked questions

Can acrylic rod be cut to size?

Yes. We offer a cut-to-size service from our Sydney workshop.
Get in touch with your required length and we’ll quote accordingly.
Cut ends can also be flame-polished or machine-polished to restore optical clarity.

Is acrylic rod UV resistant for outdoor use?

Yes. Extruded acrylic rod has good UV resistance and will not yellow or become brittle under normal sun exposure, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications.

Can I drill and machine acrylic rod?

Yes — acrylic rod machines well with standard woodworking or metalworking tools. Use sharp drill bits, keep feed rates moderate to avoid heat build-up, and support the material well to prevent cracking. Cast rod has slightly less
internal stress and machines marginally better for precision work, but extruded rod handles the vast majority of drilling and machining tasks with excellent results.

How do I polish the cut ends of acrylic rod?

Cut ends can be wet-sanded progressively through finer grits (120 → 240 → 400
→ 800 → 1200) then finished with a plastic polish compound. Alternatively, flame polishing with a propane torch produces a clean optical finish quickly.
If you need diamond polished ends, we can do this in our workshop just ask when ordering.

What is the largest diameter acrylic rod available?

We stock clear acrylic rod up to 150mm diameter — one of the widest ranges available in Australia. For very large diameters or unusual sizes, contact us to discuss availability and lead times.

Do you offer trade pricing for bulk acrylic rod orders?

Yes. Volume discounts are available for bulk orders and we offer trade accounts
for regular buyers. Contact us or
submit a quote request
with your quantities.

What sizes do you stock?

We stock the following diameters in 2000mm lengths: 3mm, 5mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm,
12mm, 15mm, 16mm, 19mm, 20mm, 22mm, 25mm, 32mm, 35mm, 38mm, 45mm, 50mm,
65mm, 75mm, 100mm, 130mm, 150mm. Not every size may be on the shelf at all times
— if your size is urgent, call us on 02 9740 6000 to confirm availability before ordering.