Build your own hot wire foam cutter

[Ian MacMillan]

Have extra SCSI parts?

Build cutter...
http://www.hhhh.org/~joeboy/resources/hotwire_foam_cutter/hotwire_foam_cutter.html

[Chris333]

I made one from an old transformer I found at work. The wire is from a stitcher (machine that staples pages together)

When I first hooked it up the wire turned bright red and disappeared so I hooked up a light dimmer to adjust the heat. If I was going through a thick piece of foam and the cutting got slow I would just turn up the dial a hair.

I also made shaped wires to cut roadbed forms into foam like Bill Darnaby.

[kiwi_al]

Geez that's going way back to the 1970's. We used to use a 9 volt battery and nichrome wire attached to dowel and did that freehand.

Man you guys must be in the ace ages!!!!   ;D ;D ;D

Good idea - waaaaaaaaay over engineered!

[inkaneer]

At the craft store [PAt Catan's] they have a battery powered one for about $7.00 or so.  Not designed for heavy duty use but does do the job.  I got one but never used it after reading abuot the toxicity of the fumes released.  I just use a serrated knife that I bought in a Dollar store to cut he basic landform then use lightweight spackling to make the final contour.  That stuff is great. 

[tom mann]

After spending way, way too much time cutting foam for my layout I decided that next time, I would use a wire cutter.

[diezmon]

Here's my $1 cutter (originally made for airplane wings)

-used toaster from garage sale:  $1
-wire rods found in a junk pile: free
-three foot 2x2: free

I just ripped the nicrome out of the toaster, drilled holes for the rods, and used a clamp to pull them in before wrapping the nicrome around the ends.

I just "aligator clip" my leads to a transformer.. and only need about 7-8 volts.. and it works like a champ.

The little dowels on the wire are in case I need to "grab" the wire to guide it   I hang it using bungee cords, so I can guide and move it around..




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