Saw or Hot Wire Foam Cutter for Cutting Foam?

[Kisatchie]

I've been looking for a hot wire foam cutter, but the reviews I found leave me wondering if I should use a saw (to cut 2" pink foam) instead.

Can someone direct me to a hot wire foam cutter that is reliable, or maybe suggest the type of saw I should use instead?


Hmm... I'd use an ax...

[Philip H]

Are you looking to cut sheets into rectangles, or to do sculpting for scenery.

If the former, even at 2 inches you can always use a small hand saw or even a long steak knife and a ruler.

If the latter - stay tuned to @Ed Kapuscinski 's thread on hotwire cutting with a soldering iron.

[Blazeman]

If you want to cut down large sheets for a uniform size pile, I've had no problems using a table saw for either pink or blue. And for 2", even used a circular saw with good support and a "fence" clamped to keep straight.

[Kisatchie]

Are you looking to cut sheets into rectangles, or to do sculpting for scenery.

If the former, even at 2 inches you can always use a small hand saw or even a long steak knife and a ruler.

If the latter - stay tuned to @Ed Kapuscinski 's thread on hotwire cutting with a soldering iron.

I'll need to do both. The small hand saw/steak knife option sounds good... I can manage that. And I'm definitely watching Ed's thread.

Thanks!


Hmm... and Kiz tells me
he never gives me steak
because he doesn't have
the proper knives...

[Ed Kapuscinski]

You also want one of these:
http://www.stanleytools.com/en-us/products/hand-tools/knives-blades/multi-tool/25mm-fatmaxreg-snapoff-knife/10-817

It's like a regular retractable knife, but bigger.

I've used it for most of my current layout, and it does a good job. It makes much less mess than a serrated knife.

Although, I'm still missing that cheapo steak knife I used to have, it did a great job.

Also, according to one of my coworkers, electric carving knives are GREAT. I'd imagine they get messy, but they do a good job. He recommended hitting up a thrift store for a used one.

[wcfn100]

Also, according to one of my coworkers, electric carving knives are GREAT. I'd imagine they get messy, but they do a good job. He recommended hitting up a thrift store for a used one.

As mentioned on TRW as well - a few times. 

It's actually not messy at all, at least not compared to other foam methods.  It carves the foam like it would carve a turkey. You're not going to cut through a full 2" width but for edging and shaping, it works really well.

And on the subject, if you need to cookie cut anything, a smooth blade (sometimes called a leather blade) in a jig saw is awesome.

Jason

[basementcalling]

http://www.amazon.com/Festool-493656-Foam-cutting-Jigsaw-3-pack/dp/B0033LBOJY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1463619645&sr=8-3&keywords=foam+cutting+blade

I like my Festool blades in my jig saw, though I wish they made one for a saws all too. These are still an outside cutting device on foam, and the piece must be securely held.


@Ed Kapuscinski  I see some entrepreneurial sole shared your thoughts about Weller soldering guns.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006M36D8M?psc=1

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Yeah, I saw those. I think Wller makes them too, although I think the blades are aimed in the wrong direction.

[nkalanaga]

I used a hardware store utility knife for straight cuts, and have a Woodland Scenics hot wire cutter for curves and shaping.  Most of my shaping was fairly simple, though, and all of it is covered with scenery, so much of it was done with the utility knife, an X-acto, or, in some cases, any more-or-less sharp object handy.  That includes a 6 inch stainless steel ruler and screwdrivers.

Did I ever say that I'm cheap?

[peteski]

Did I ever say that I'm cheap?

Um, yes.