Re: Tools, Tips and Hints! Posted by Billy D. Fuller on Jun 15, 2012
On occasions I use my electric knife the ones used to carve turkeys.
Re: Tools, Tips and Hints! Posted by pagestep007 on Jun 15, 2012
I use a nicely sharp pocket knife. One I was given for a tenth birthday or something. The secret is keeping it REALLY sharp. Craft knives get surprisingly blunt surprisingly quickly, so an oilstone keeps the blade nice and sharp (watch that you do not cut yourself)
Re: Tools, Tips and Hints! Posted by melaine9 on Jun 15, 2012
Has anyone tried the Hotwire foam cutter? I wonder if it would be worth the investment
Re: Tools, Tips and Hints! Posted by Shawn on Jun 16, 2012
I've never use a hotwire on polyfoam before but there is a discussion where the actual creator of it joined in on the thread and I belive they said that it could be used on polyfoam. I tried to find it to confirm again but couldn't find it.  If so then yes it would be very handy for this since it would give you a longer cutting edge. Also just like the bandsaw set up I mentioned that the factory uses you could set your hot wire up across a table at a certain height and cut a sheet in half.  I have actually done that with a sheet of styrofoam and and hotwire.
Re: Tools, Tips and Hints! Posted by pagestep007 on Jun 16, 2012
There is a good looking tutorial on youtube of what  looks like a Brazilian using a hot wire, Not sure where I saw it though .It was partucularly slick circular plugs cutting , and very precise on cutting things like hands. And I think there is a thread on here somewhere with design specifications for making one. My only  doubt about it all is the toxicity of the fumes. I know polystyrene fumes are quite bad, and I confirm that they make me feel quite sick after a cutting session, even ventilated, so I am hesitant to cut foam with a hot wire.
Re: Tools, Tips and Hints! Posted by Shawn on Jun 16, 2012
You are right that the fumes are going to be really toxic. That is one drawback of hot wires. I thought of that after I posted and was going to come back and mention it. Glad you beat me too it.  

So did you all hear that?  Fumes BAD!
Re: Tools, Tips and Hints! Posted by melaine9 on Jun 16, 2012
Thanks Shawn & Pagestep007 I saw them on line and thought it might be a tool worth looking into. But maybe not. I'll stick to the old way.

http://hotwirefoamfactory.com/home.php

Here is the sight that sells them. Also has several types of glue & supplies.
Re: Tools, Tips and Hints! Posted by Gail on Jun 16, 2012
That sounds so tedious. Have you asked your fabric or craft store if it would be possible to special order the thickness you want? Maybe they would carry it if they knew there was a market for it.
Re: Tools, Tips and Hints! Posted by melaine9 on Jun 17, 2012
Posted by: Snail on Jun 16, 2012
That sounds so tedious. Have you asked your fabric or craft store if it would be possible to special order the thickness you want? Maybe they would carry it if they knew there was a market for it.

Sadly my local graft store is Walmart, I am just going to have to order on line I found several suppliers on line and the price isn't too bad.
Re: Tools, Tips and Hints! Posted by Angel in Tx on Jun 17, 2012
I can't order too much at a time, so I order it from Hancockfabrics.com when they have it on sale combined with free shipping.  Just bought some the other day! I bought 4 sheets of 1/2" x 24" x 72 " for about $38 including tax.
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