The heated blade also works perfectly for making cuts at different angles. Haha. Bladed implements like knives, box cutters, precision blades (like X-acto knives) or hacksaws are great for cutting through styrofoam, especially if you don’t need to make any curved cuts. Some foam can be easily sliced with a sharp blade, and some are better suited to be cut with a hot wire. Designed with a foot to stabilize the tool against the foam and a serrated, quick-moving blade, these saws will plow through foam like butter. I bought a hot knife and tried cutting 2" foam board. The principle is quite simple, there is a strong electric current in a thin resistive wire. Comparison of our Favorite Picks for 2021, Slice 10559 3″ Extra Long Industrial Knife, RoMech Foam Cutter – Pro Electric Hot Knife (200W), Hercules Tabletop Styrofoam Hot Wire Cutter (CT-115), 1. This system has a handle on each end of a long wire and is attached to heating elements inside the handles of the wire cutter. There are many different ways to cut and shape foam material. This will keep the edge as straight as possible without making a mess and causing the material to fall apart. If this is the case, you can always wear a mask and goggles before cutting. Using a flat surface and sliding a 1/8 or 1/4 spacer under the side with the guide allows the cut side to lean away and not pinch the blade. The wire under the effect of current, heat and cut easily and cleanly styrofoam, much much better than with a knife or a cutter, particularly for large pieces (> 5 cm thick). Styrofoam is a brand name for expanded polystyrene, a petroleum-based plastic made from styrene monomers. we use styrofoam under siding as a flat backer board to level out the wall and add insulating value to the house, too. I then ironed my drop cloth pieces before starting my next step. Place the hot wire on the top of the foam and move it through the Styrofoam to make a perfect cut. Now it’s time to cut it, and there are several tools you can use. However, because a decent hot wire cutter usually runs around $100 buying one just to cut Styrofoam probably is not the wisest use of funds. I am insulating my basement, I am using 1" and 1.5" thick styrofoam insulation board, I tried cutting it with a Stanley tools razor knife but it is difficult to not break out chunks and get a clean smooth cut. Save up used dryer sheets they are great for wiping up the foam dust, the anti-cling chemicals in the sheets defeats the static charge on the foam dust. Ryan is a freelance writer from Arizona. If using a freehand knife cutting Styrofoam underwater will greatly reduce the mess. This causes most people to throw Styrofoam away as soon as they get it. hope this helps, good luck. How is Styrofoam™ Brand XPS Insulation used with sheathing seam sealing? Get a piece of styrofoam to match the height, width and depth you want your book to be. Extra long tool stops are specially designed... ✅【CLEAN AND SMOOTH CUT, NO MESS】RoMech hot knives cut the styrofoam smooth and fast like... ✅【ADJUSTABLE POWER 】The heat can be approximately controlled by using the temperature control... ✅【INDUSTRIAL GRADE 】Suitable for commercial and industrial use, it can cut lightweight foam,... Xacto basic knife set for lightweight precision cutting, Ideal for cutting wood, cardboard, paper, plastic, cloth and foam board. Cut firmly but not so deep as to tear the Styrofoam. Mug-a-Bug Posted 27 Feb 2010 , 11:14pm. If your job is a big one, go for some heat. ! They are also available online for order. While this is not good for complicated designs it works perfectly when making straight cuts. See more ideas about foam board, styrofoam, foam board projects. Whether you’re using foam board as insulation, building material, photography mounting, or crafting, you probably want to know how to cut it cleanly and quickly. One of the things I neglected to mention in my banquette-building post was how to cut the foam. 19. Cut Styrofoam with power saws. The best motion to use is to lay the Styrofoam on top of the dental floss. Now go tackle that foam! 4 Preset Cutting depths, handle a variety of materials. Measure off the same amount of blue foam insulation board. Styrofoam is one of the most versatile materials on the face of the earth. You can cut it with a steak or bread knife, that has the least dust, but can give a rough edge. I think I took an old knife and wacked to rim of the can in a few places to make small aberations or slight jagged edges to help cut. If using a regular knife holding it over a candle for 10-15 seconds will greatly improve the straightness of the knife. Step 1 - Measure and Mark. Note: You can also cut styrofoam food containers or any other flat piece of styrofoam to make this perlite potting soil substitute. Select a metal cookie cutter in the shape you want to cut and press it down evenly through the foam. Then place one hand on top of the Styrofoam and pull the dental floss towards you with the other hand. Always wear personal protective equipment when cutting foam boards to ensure chunks of the foam don’t end up hurting you or others. Hot wire cutters are great for cutting Styrofoam if you already have one. post #8 of 15 Next, get out whatever tool you are going to use as a straight edge. Slide most … If you’re cutting insulation, a denser drywall knife is better. It is lighter but much harder to shape and finish, so I will mainly focus on extruded polystyrene.Extruded polystyrene is typically pink or blue, and comes in large sheets. 3 Based on 1” (25 mm) thickness. The cutter should cut completely through the thin foam. Styrofoam is a very versatile material, used in many hobby applications ranging from remote-control airplanes to home remodeling. Often it isn’t even necessary to cut all the way through, you can simply score it and then snap along the scored line. Meanwhile, you’ll want to apply some weight to the foam board to keep it from sliding (turn foam board insulation flat side up) and cut in one smooth motion at about a 45-degree angle. Because of the quick, powered blade movement, you’ll also end up with smooth edges. As the OP had done, I had read the whole thread on suggestions to cut the styrofoam board up until I posted my response. Take your cutting tool and run it along the ground and the outer edge of the fence. While a utility knife is the best cutting tool for thin boards, the best way to cut 2-inch foam board insulation is to use a saw. IIRC, it cut at a rate of about 4"-5" per minute. Just cut out the paper letters with scissors, tape them to the styro and trace the outline of the lettering onto the board. You pull the floss down it will get you cutting through foam with your Cricut.. 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