Cutting E.P.S.

[Show and Tell]

I'm looking for plans to make a hot wire for cutting Styrofoam sheets. Does anyone know where I can get those plans? I need to know wire gauge and battery size, everything. Thanks in advance. I did check the search function and came up dry.

 

[Jinx]

There are really so many different versions of wire cutters. Depending upon the type of cuts you need to make, it might be easier and safer to use an electric carving knife, as they yield a pretty nice straight cut. For more dimensional cuts, a hot wire cutter can be used, but remember that EXTREMELY toxic gases are released from this type of work and it is absolutely ESSENTIAL that all appropriate safety measures be taken. For resources on different types of electric cutters, check out
www.demandproducts.com

Good luck and be careful!

 

[Show and Tell]

Thanks Jinx for the warning. I do have and use an organic vapor resp. (since the gluing help thread ) and also work in a well vented room with a direct exhaust fan directly over my workspace. To all of you who scared me so bad that I finally bought the respirator, my last few active brain cells thank you.

I'm looking to make many kinds of cuts. I've heard that there is a way to make home made styrofoam hot wire cutters and I'd like to try to make one that does both straight and detailed cuts. The ones that are sold online are $200 to $300. I find that a little rediculous for wire and a transformer. I don't mind paying for good plans.

 

[WildJoker]

I found some links to alternatives in price and perhaps makeing your own set up.

http://wolfstone.halloweenhost.com/HalloweenTech/fotmak_MakingFoamTools.htmlhttp://wolfstone.halloweenhost.com/HalloweenTech/fotmak_MakingFoamTools.html#AssortedTools
This one is pretty good and has a link that gives info on lower cost alternatives. Click on commercial foam-carving tools. Prices once I got to the actual site started at around $25.00. The links and site are bit hard to follow but seems to have some good info.

http://www.dansworkshop.com/Hot%20wire%20foam%20cutting.shtml
This page at the top starts out talking about "The foam cuttting lathe" ... hmmm pretty cool. Scroll down the page and the give details on makeing the power supply for the wire. They use a bell transformer. I think this is the one you are really looking for.

BYTW I found these with a Google search using the term "How to make your own Hot Wire for cutting foam" It returned a bunch of other results but these where towards the top. I looks like model makers are the ones that are really in to this.

Ok one last link:
http://www.hhhh.org/~joeboy/resources/hotwire_foam_cutter/hotwire_foam_cutter.html

This one shows how to make a jig or holder for your wire. At the bottom it also has links. It does mention that type of wire and other good info also.

I work in a professional scene shop so of course we spent the money ... around $500 on the pre-made stuff. We do make or own jigs and such for handleing the wire which is why I find the last link interesting.

 

[Show and Tell]

AWESOME! Thanks for checking into all that for me. That was exactly what I needed. I wasn't sure I guess how to find this information cause all I could find was where to buy the stuff already made but this is just what I was looking for.

 

[WildJoker]

Happy to be of service. I do quite a bit of searching so can normally figure out how to manipulate things to get what I want out of a search engine.