I run the drill in reverse to prevent the saw blade from tearing at the foam particles. Then you can use a hot knife to shape the letters out of the foam. When a standard knife won’t cut it, you might need some power. You may need to press against the foam to pop the cut piece out. The first is a tabletop model with a square and measuring ticks (which we recommend), and the second is a handheld device that comes in either a wand style or an arc. It also has a much higher likelihood of falling apart when trying to shape it compared to wood or metal. Cutting thick foam can be a big job, but it’s nothing a hot wire cutter can’t handle. we use styrofoam under siding as a flat backer board to level out the wall and add insulating value to the house, too. If you need to cut large amounts of thick foam, an electric foam saw will spare you countless hours of manual labor and grip fatigue. As before, the best way to cut foam board involves cutting at as much of an angle as possible, and you should also avoid sawing at the foam board. Electric knife also tend to make a bit more mess than hot knives or dental floss. Long Bladed Utility Knife – Best Overall Method. 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. how to cut styrofoam board? Drying Board. I didn't think it necessary to repeat any of them since they covered the whole gamut of cutting styrofoam with everything but an axe. Many styrofoam balls already have this line marked by the manufacturer. Since Styrofoam™ Brand Extruded Polystyrene Foam Insulations are visco-elastic materials, adequate design safety factors should be used to prevent long-term creep and fatigue deformation. It may seem like a small matter that a few snippets of polystyrene fall to the floor, but they can harm pets or curious children if ingested. EPS foam) especially if you are using hot wire or hot tools, even heat guns, to cut and shape it, you absolutely MUST wear the highest quality … It is used to cut though slim and thin foam board. 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. Stick with an X-Acto for foam thicknesses less than 1 inch. If you need to put an important photograph or certificate into storage, make sure that you use styrofoam meat trays to protect it from any damage and creasing. For ease of use, a tabletop device is perfect. The cutter should cut completely through the thin foam. Lost your password? If you start sawing at the board, you’ll end up with ugly edges and little foam shreds flying everywhere. I bought a hot knife and tried cutting 2" foam board. I then ironed my drop cloth pieces before starting my next step. This can make cutting thick pieces of Styrofoam extremely tedious and messy if you need to keep retracing the same cut. 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. Good luck finding the perfect product. You will receive a link and will create a new password via email. Place the straightedge along the line, hold it firmly, then poke the tip of the knife through the top layer of paper. Having no money, I cut through five-inch-thick foam sections by making repeated swipes with a cheapie utility knife like the one above. Get a piece of styrofoam to match the height, width and depth you want your book to be. Holes can even be cut using steel templates. It was time-consuming, messy, far from accurate, and doing the curves was a real pain. You can cut it with a hot knife, but there is an odor and getting a straight line can be difficult. However, they cut straight and can tear through large pieces in seconds with virtually no effort required. Put away sharp cutting instruments and unplug all electric cutting devices. In other words, the cutting edge will reach a higher temperature in the air than when it is cutting styrofoam, as the foam will absorb the heat. 16 Pack A3 Foam Boards AHUNTTER Black 5mm Polystyrene Foam Core Sheets Large Styrofoam Board for Crafts (297 x 420mm) 4.1 out of 5 stars 12. Smooth strokes will get you clean cuts, and you’ll want to avoid serration unless you want to clean up the mess afterward. Use a cookie cutter for Styrofoam the same way you would for cookie dough. Knowing which is which can help you narrow down what type you need before you start cutting. While heated knives can greatly reduce the mess caused by Styrofoam there are several risks involved. Essentially this means tiny particulates are released into the air when heated. While you’ll need to use extra caution with fumes (check the foam manufacturer for recommendations on heating it) and be careful with the heat, you can save yourself a lot of effort by using this method. ! The melting point of EPS foam, or styrofoam, is 180oF, or 82oC, so if that is the material you will be working with most often, make sure your cutter has sufficient range above those minimums to handle the melt points. Remember to keep it simple for the best results. What I wanted to say to anyone working with Styrofoam (a.k.a. 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. Cut them along the edges and glue them to a Styrofoam board. Ryan is a freelance writer from Arizona. All rights reserved. Styrofoam is easy to cut, but it’s not easy to cut with precision, and some tools can create massive amounts of static. Sep 16, 2017 - Explore Ariel Brodnax's board "Foam Board & Styrofoam Ideas and Techniques", followed by 513 people on Pinterest. Whether you are looking to cut Styrofoam quickly or do it without making a mess, we’re going to look at various methods you can use to achieve your desired effect. You never know who might find it and make a foolish mistake. Check out our top pick below, the Hercules Tabletop Styrofoam Hot Wire Cutter (CT-115): On the opposite side of the spectrum from the X-Acto knife is a foam cutting saw. Keep even pressure on the saw to reduce the chances of crushing the Styrofoam. While Styrofoam is great the mess it makes can be a pretty big detractor. It will get you cutting through foam with ease. See if you can find an old tin can with th right diameter and then just push the open end down on the styrofoam and twist the can around. Because of the quick, powered blade movement, you’ll also end up with smooth edges.
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