Styrofoam Cutter suggestions

I have and use the Woodland Scenics cutter. It does a good job but you are limited to the width you can cut by the depth of the throat in relation to the cutting wire. I had borrowed a cutter that was a hot knife, don't know the brand, and that was for my needs, at the time, the better of the two.

Ray

Rayin"S" posted:

 I had borrowed a cutter that was a hot knife, don't know the brand, and that was for my needs, at the time, the better of the two.

Ray

This is one possibility....

Hot Knife Link

There are others....

HOWEVER!!!!!!.....Be sure to have good ventilation when using one of these!  The fumes are NOT as benign as locomotive smoke!!!

FWIW, always....

KD

Look on Scenic Express website they carry the foam cutter. Don't overlook the value of having a few snap blades on hand and you can buy bunches of them at Harbor freight for well under a buck

is it really Styrofoam that you are working with? The white bead like stuff? I suppose it doesn't matter. EPS or Styrofoam.

My observation is that style and desired result require a small arsenal of tools. Various blades, knives, rasps and a hot knife and a hot wire cutter all come into play.

harbor Freight has the Hot Knife as one of the weapons. 

I have used kitchen knives, a machete, electric carving knives, a knife edge blade for a jigsaw (Bosch makes it). I have cut/carved mainly EPS and Great Stuff. I have seen any and all used. Some appear to be a better application for creating rock like surfaces, while others are great for general cutting, shaping. Heck, a hack saw blade with tape on one end for handle is dandy in some cases. A pencil is great for stone outlines and mortar joints.

Cruise the scenery forum and check out how folks get the foam to look like what they want it to look like. Hit your tool boxes and grab anything and experiment.

The Hot Wire Foam Factory has many foam cutting tools.

http://hotwirefoamfactory.com/home.php

You can buy direct or via Amazon.

Sean

I use the Hot Wire Foam Factory tools !! Works great for me. They have booth at York lot of tools and demonstrations. Orange Hall. Excellent parts and service and great web site.

thanks for all the replies, sounds like I'll need a wire and a knife cutter. I will check out Foam Factory and see what is available.

I'm happy with just a hacksaw blade and a piece of duct tape. Works good for multiple purposes.  

I use the Tippi Tool,  hot wire cutter, that was sold by Scenic Express.  Works good for me.

I find the hot wire is only needed when I want to make a very smooth, straight cut such as for a bridge abutment or stone arch.

For rock work, I use a serrated steak knife, a stiff wire brush, and this hacksaw blade, as JacobPaul said.

...or if I'm in a real hurry to do a large area!!!

Jim

I agree with Jim.  Hot wire is for a clean cut. Here are my tools for rock.

...and don't forget your Dremel tool.

I have also used the Hot Knife. It works great for any cut or angle.

NO MESS either...I purchased mine at Hobby Lobby for about $10.00 a few years ago

Brian

Messy but highly effective. I have frequently used my trusty dry wall saw...

Available at Lowe's