working with foam board

Post by **aferguson** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 9:36 am

can someone who's experienced with foam board tell me the best way to cut it; i especially would like to know the best way to cut it in the shape of gentle curves.

thanks,

Tambo · Post by **Tambo** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 11:05 am

What are you making. Foam board is not good for bending. I use a plastic called Sintra. It can be heated and bent over the stove or with a heat gun.

olifant · Post by **olifant** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 11:06 am

I have zero experience with foam aferg, but foxhole toys has a series of heated wire foam cutting tools that looked pretty snazzy. They don't have cost but I was thinking about inquiring about them. This mirrors the original question but can anyone weigh in on these in particular?

Post by **aferguson** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 11:42 am

i'm not planning on bending it.....i just wanted to know how to cut it to a shape, like an oval, circle etc.

pickelhaube · Post by **pickelhaube** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 11:56 am

The best thing is a razor knife or exacto for strait cuts. You may want to try to use one of those electric scissors that you can buy at craft stores or fabric stores. It should cut it like butter . They are about $19 to $39 .

kevrut · Post by **kevrut** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 12:04 pm

I use foamboard alot.

The best thing to cut it with is an Exacto knife.

First draw out the pattern on it. I don't try to cut all of the the way thru it on the first cut. Keep the knife held up as straight as you can. I make a template out of cardboard for curved lines. I use a ruler for straight lines.

Kevin.

KWR190 · Post by **KWR190** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 12:45 pm

Olifant and Aferguson heres a web site to check out

http://hotwirefoamfactory.com/product.p ... t=3&page=1

http://hotwirefoamfactory.com/home.php

Tambo · Post by **Tambo** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 1:01 pm

Like the guys above said, if your just cutting foam board razor blades are the best.

Post by **aferguson** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 1:44 pm

i don't know that hot wires would work well on foam board, would they? Foam board is thick paper laminated to a sheet of stryrofoam. I don't think the hot wire would cut the paper well.....just burn it?

Thanks, Kevin. Very simple and straight forward. Hadn't thought of making a template as a guide for cutting curves. So simple.

kevrut · Post by **kevrut** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 1:49 pm

Post by **aferguson** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 1:59 pm

another question: how large of a sheet of foam board is available (i've seen 28" by 22" but would like larger if possible) and where would i buy it?....cheap as possible of course.

pickelhaube · Post by **pickelhaube** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 3:04 pm

aferguson wrote:another question: how large of a sheet of foam board is available (i've seen 28" by 22" but would like larger if possible) and where would i buy it?....cheap as possible of course.

Your right hot wire will not work . It will burn the paper. Craft store is your best bet to get larger sizes. My son did a project about Egyptian pyramids . We were able to get a large size. I am not sure but I think it was about 30" by 48". If you know somebody who makes signs they may know were to get the larger sizes. Also people who make picture frames . They use the 1/8" thick mats. They could help to get the thick 1/4" . Some of those picture frames get huge.

conteaddict · Post by **conteaddict** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 5:05 pm

exacto knife or boxcutter

Ruger · Post by **Ruger** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 7:16 pm

It's probably of no use now, but my local Micheals just had the 20" X 30" sheets on sale for $1 each. I bought three. I'd send you one, but I have no idea how to do that in any practical way whatsoever. Maybe a big stamp in one corner and just tell them it's a postcard?

MV

zonetoys · Post by **zonetoys** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 7:53 pm

kevrut wrote: The best thing to cut it with is an Exacto knife.

First draw out the pattern on it. I don't try to cut all of the the way thru it on the first cut. Keep the knife held up as straight as you can. I make a template out of cardboard for curved lines. I use a ruler for straight lines.

Kevin's right, Exacto with swivel for curves if you got it! Always use a new sharp blade! Dull blades will make the paper bunch up. Templates or steel straight edges are a help. Hot wire cutters will not work with Foam Core Boards because of the paper encasement! If you plan to cut out circles (not holes) it is a good idea to draw the circle lightly on the paper of the foam as a guide and always cut with exacto in a comfortable stroke and then rotate board (or yourself) and continue repeating. Don't try to cut all the way through at once. If your arc is not tight enough, don't worry you can always shave excess off when alot of the bulk is trimmed away!

You can get 4' x 8' sheets at drafting and art supply centers. They are awkward to handle though! I used to do presentations using it. Simple models, displays, and backboards. The table I worked on was accessable on all four sides! If you plan on glueing any pieces together use a low temp hot glue gun and it will never come apart!
Practice a little before you start to get the angle of the blade and amount of pressure!

Jay · Post by **Jay** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 8:16 pm

Aferg, if your using it for internal structure (is this for your U boat?) you can also knife out the basic shape (say cut a fraction of an inch away from your guide line) and then use fine sand paper to shape the last bit of material up to the guide line. It may not look that nice but once the inner styrene core has been shaped you can trim of any excess paper with an exacto.