Mug-a-Bug Posted 27 Feb 2010 , 11:14pm. Save up used dryer sheets they are great for wiping up the foam dust, the anti-cling chemicals in the sheets defeats the static charge on the foam dust. Next, lay your foam board on the ground with the waste side up. A faster method is to use a scroll saw with a vacuum attachment. Because of the quick, powered blade movement, you’ll also end up with smooth edges. Also if you want to cut foam board into smaller pieces with fine and complicate details, you should follow this method. This will serve as your cutting line. The best motion to use is to lay the Styrofoam on top of the dental floss. Divide round styrofoam balls by cutting them down the middle. Just cut out the paper letters with scissors, tape them to the styro and trace the outline of the lettering onto the board. we use styrofoam under siding as a flat backer board to level out the wall and add insulating value to the house, too. Remember to keep it simple for the best results. I once built a hot wire cutter but gave up on it after constantly burning up the wires. Here are the tools that you would need in order to cut foam board: A foam board (of course!!!) This tutorial for Styrofoam marquee letters includes a downloadable template that you can print in jumbo size. Use a cookie cutter for Styrofoam the same way you would for cookie dough. Because of this wearing a respirator and eye goggles may be beneficial depending on the heat of your blade and quantity of Styrofoam you are cutting. How to paint styrofoam … The versatility of a utility knife with a long blade makes this our top pick. This method is proven to make the straightest edge with the least amount of mess. No matter which type you work with, a sharp utility knife or craft knife is a must. Dental floss is perfect for cutting through soft materials like Styrofoam. 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. I used to make holes with an old tin can. After it was ironed I laid it on the ground and took my styrofoam board … we use styrofoam under siding as a flat backer board to level out the wall and add insulating value to the house, too. How to Cut Styrofoam. Always wear personal protective equipment when cutting foam boards to ensure chunks of the foam don’t end up hurting you or others. You will receive a link and will create a new password via email. 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. This causes most people to throw Styrofoam away as soon as they get it. You can use it for most thicknesses of foam, including for crafting or foam board insulation. 4 Preset Cutting depths, handle a variety of materials. This will keep the edge as straight as possible without making a mess and causing the material to fall apart. Project the templates onto the appropriate foam board (marked on template). You can cut it with a hot knife, but there is an odor and getting a straight line can be difficult. Bladed implements like knives, box cutters, precision blades (like X-acto knives) or hacksaws are great for cutting through styrofoam, especially if you don’t need to make any curved cuts. Electric knife also tend to make a bit more mess than hot knives or dental floss. See more ideas about foam board, styrofoam, foam board projects. Draw the knife's blade over a plain candle to wax it thoroughly and then cut Styrofoam with long, sawlike motions. 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. hope this helps, good luck. Buy a high quality insulated foam board from either insulation contractors or your nearest hardware store. Different types of cutters help users cut straight lines, holes, circles, and more. It cuts easily and can be sanded and painted very we… Healthyhandyman is reader-supported. Just as it is used for art, there is an art to cutting foamcore correctly. However, they cut straight and can tear through large pieces in seconds with virtually no effort required. If using a freehand knife cutting Styrofoam underwater will greatly reduce the mess. You can cut it with a steak or bread knife, that has the least dust, but can give a rough edge. The main “ingredient” of Styrofoam or any other foam boards is petroleum. Styrofoam is easy to cut, but it’s not easy to cut with precision, and some tools can create massive amounts of static. Caution on using hot-wire cutter...foam fumes are toxic. Then place one hand on top of the Styrofoam and pull the dental floss towards you with the other hand. So, read on to find my tips and tricks for cutting foam with your Cricut machine. Update Privacy Preferences I’ve worked with foam board before when I made a window frame wall decoration. If you start sawing at the board, you’ll end up with ugly edges and little foam shreds flying everywhere. Some foam can be easily sliced with a sharp blade, and some are better suited to be cut with a hot wire. 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. You never know who might find it and make a foolish mistake. Be … Transfer those measurements to the foam board insulation. Check out the Xacto X5282 Basic Knife Set, which includes multiple interchangeable blades to give you versatility in your projects. Having no money, I cut through five-inch-thick foam sections by making repeated swipes with a cheapie utility knife like the one above. Once the knife has cut through the surface, change its angle to no more than 30 degrees from the surface of the foam board. Template for Making Styrofoam Letters. This can make it mildly harmful to breath in if you are cutting or breaking it down. Foam Board Cutters. Take your cutting tool and run it along the ground and the outer edge of the fence. 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. Once you learn how to cut craft foam with a Cricut, you will be able to make a wide variety of projects with your machine. It is best to trace a line with a credit card, ruler, or pencil before making the cut with dental floss. It's the dumb way to cut foam. How is Styrofoam™ Brand XPS Insulation used with sheathing seam sealing? Styrofoam is actually waterproof so keeping it underwater for a minute or two will not damage the materials. Many styrofoam balls already have this line marked by the manufacturer. © Copyright 2019 ToolGrader. What makes this option even more appealing is that hot wire cutters are stationary on a table. You have the project planned out. In this article we have broken down the easiest ways to cut Styrofoam no matter what your needs. Styrofoam is a very versatile material, used in many hobby applications ranging from remote-control airplanes to home remodeling. We will cut the pink panther insulation board with a putty knife quick and easy. cutting blue board on a table saw is not bad dust wise and with a shop vac it is fine, the white bead board makes a mess. A heated knife is ideal for making small cuts and leaves minimal mess compared to a normal serrated knife. Caulking or taping the joint seam of an insulation sheathing board over metal or wood studs should be done to reduce air infiltration through these seams (the air that passes through the seam and into the building). If you cut Styrofoam incorrectly, the plastic foam may crumble or break in the wrong spots. Placemat and/or Snack Tray. Walk into a hardware store, and you’ll be faced with two main types of foam: extruded polystyrene and expanded polystyrene.Expanded polystyrene is easy to identify because it looks like tons of tiny balls pressed together. Styrofoam is one of the most versatile materials on the face of the earth. When he's not blogging about his favorite hobbies, he's writing fiction, hiking or running in the great outdoors, and spending time with family. While a utility knife is the best cutting tool for thin boards, the best way to cut 2-inch foam board insulation is to use a saw. Its generic name is EPS foam. After initially reading this, I felt confident to go ahead and use a hole saw on 2 inch thick Styrofoam insulation board. If your job is a big one, go for some heat. On the downside, you won’t want to rely on one of these for thicker foam, especially the type of foam board used in construction. To cut soft or rigid foam that's 1/2-inch (12 mm) thick or less, lay the foam flat on your work surface. Then you can use a hot knife to shape the letters out of the foam. It's the dumb way to cut foam. Cut them along the edges and glue them to a Styrofoam board. Extend the blade most of the way out and lean it heavily towards the direction of your cut. Long Bladed Utility Knife – Best Overall Method. Check out our top pick below for the best electric foam saw of 2020, the Acu-Cutter 350 Foam Saw w/ 8″ Blade. 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. If using a regular knife holding it over a candle for 10-15 seconds will greatly improve the straightness of the knife. Ryan is a freelance writer from Arizona. Easily cuts shapes like cylinders, cones, tapers, cubes and polygons by simply adjusting the... Includes 8" blade (1 stationary, 1 reciprocating) and base. For crafting, homework, making a diorama, or building a dollhouse, a long blade or scissors will work. You might think craft foam is only for kids’ crafts but you can use it for so much more. Designed to slide effortlessly through foam and leave perfect edges, these cutters can provide diversity in the way you cut. There are several other types, but most are extensions or permutations of these few, especially as they apply as insulators. You may need to press against the foam to pop the cut piece out. 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. I use an Exacto knife to cut foam core board. Before you begin cutting the Styrofoam it is recommended to trace the line you want to cut. 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. Cutting incorrectly results in shredded and bumpy-edged foam board that looks unprofessional. It can also be use to cut plastic or synthetic foam. 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. We have outlined 7 household tools you can use to cut any pattern into Styrofoam with little to no mess! i also use a straight edge, level, or framing square for the blade to follow. Stopping by from SITS. When a standard knife won’t cut it, you might need some power. Styrofoam is a brand name for expanded polystyrene, a petroleum-based plastic made from styrene monomers. For dynamic loads, 10:1 is suggested. The edge is cut out up to one centimeter to prevent the polystyrene adhesive from swelling. One effective way to cut styrofoam is by using a hot blade knife. I then ironed my drop cloth pieces before starting my next step. For extruded polystyrene such as the blue foam board insulation, you can cut it well with any sharp blade. 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 … The heated blade also works perfectly for making cuts at different angles. Template for Making Styrofoam Letters. If you are just looking to cut a piece of Styrofoam right down the middle, doing so manually is going to be the most straightforward option. 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. Styrofoam is a very versatile material, used in many hobby applications ranging from remote-control airplanes to home remodeling. Just press it down and you are good to go. The Hercules CT-115 Hot Wire Foam Cutting Table heats up quickly; the wire can reach its... The Hercules CT-115 cuts quickly and smoothly; it seals the edges clean without leaving debris. This can make cutting thick pieces of Styrofoam extremely tedious and messy if you need to keep retracing the same cut. Use a waxed serrated knife, saw, floral knife or other craft knife to cut Styrofoam sheets and shapes. You might think craft foam is only for kids’ crafts but you can use it for so much more. Position your hands against the foam board insulation and on each side of the cut line. Move the foam insulation slowly, pushing it firmly against the blade. Comparison of our Favorite Picks for 2021, Slice 10559 3″ Extra Long Industrial Knife, RoMech Foam Cutter – Pro Electric Hot Knife (200W), Hercules Tabletop Styrofoam Hot Wire Cutter (CT-115), 1. It was time-consuming, messy, far from accurate, and doing the curves was a real pain. Good luck finding the perfect product. The amount of effort and pressure you’ll need will give you nothing but a headache. Now go tackle that foam! You can cut a round styrofoam ball in half by tracing a line along its equator with a sharp pencil. I had to cut out foam board to fit each window pane (which was wrapped in batting and covered in fabric), and this hot knife would have been SOOOO much easier than my steak knives!!! Knowing which is which can help you narrow down what type you need before you start cutting. Leave the cutting tool in the flame long enough for it to emit a red glow. For static loads, 3:1 is suggested. Cut firmly but not so deep as to tear the Styrofoam. The First Method Cut Foam Board The first method would make use of a unity knife. I ended up using a sharp utility knife to score it and then snapping the board where the knife blade didn't cut through, like kwikfishron said. Some types of Styrofoam will release “off gassing chemicals” when heated. It will be slow and tedious but if you do it right it wont be messy. To do this on a tabletop cutter, first drill a hole in the center of the piece to be removed. You should cut this kind of foam board with the ridges on the bottom. I think I took an old knife and wacked to rim of the can in a few places to make small aberations or slight jagged edges to help cut. See more ideas about foam board, styrofoam, foam board projects. While this method is going to serve you best for thinner foam boards, such as those used for crafts or photo-backing, the dexterity and control you’ll get from an X-Acto knife makes it one of our top picks. You know what foam you are going to use. Then you can use a hot knife to shape the letters out of the foam. It would be a bit slow and tediuous to cut a "supply" of cake boards this way. Great ideas and good job! Which tool do we recommend you use for cutting metal roofing? While Styrofoam is great the mess it makes can be a pretty big detractor. A hot knife can give you power along with freedom of movement, which makes it our second pick. In fact they are so sharp the eliminate the need for a heated blade. Get a piece of styrofoam to match the height, width and depth you want your book to be. If you’re cutting insulation, a denser drywall knife is better. Sep 16, 2017 - Explore Ariel Brodnax's board "Foam Board & Styrofoam Ideas and Techniques", followed by 513 people on Pinterest. Check out our top pick, the RoMech Foam Cutter – Pro Electric Hot Knife (200W). Slice through foam easily with foam board cutters. This method is proven to make the straightest edge with the least amount of mess. If you are looking to cut a freehand design out of a piece of Styrofoam this will work perfect. I am insulating my basement, I am using 1" and 1.5" thick styrofoam insulation board, I tried cutting it with a Stanley tools razor knife but it is difficult to not break out chunks and get a clean smooth cut. Think of it like Kleenex compared to facial tissue. Put away sharp cutting instruments and unplug all electric cutting devices. 3 Based on 1” (25 mm) thickness. Meanwhile, you’ll want to apply some weight to the foam board to keep it from sliding (turn foam board insulation flat side up) and cut in one smooth motion at about a 45-degree angle. The principle is quite simple, there is a strong electric current in a thin resistive wire. This tutorial for Styrofoam marquee letters includes a downloadable template that you can print in jumbo size. Next, get out whatever tool you are going to use as a straight edge. An electric knife is a great option for cutting through multiple pieces of Styrofoam at once (or one extremely thick piece of Styrofoam). It is used to cut though slim and thin foam board. The adhesive is now applied to the surface using a toothed spatula. Lost your password? It is an amazing everything that this material can do. 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. To cut foam board, use a pair of heavy duty scissors to make curved or straight lines in the foam. Measure the foam insulation board installation area. hope this helps, good luck. Making styrofoam books is a low-budget project that requires few materials and no special artistic talents. This may seem like a silly option but it works great in a pinch. 19. It all depends on the nature of the project.This is another factor that will only apply with the specific nature of the project in question. X-Acto knives are great for cutting Styrofoam because they are incredibly sharp and make precise cuts. Having no money, I cut through five-inch-thick foam sections by making repeated swipes with a cheapie utility knife like the one above. Cut the Styrofoam using long, sawing motions. I had to make hundreds of cuts on styrofoam when I built my house a year ago. i use one of those disposable knifes with the break away blades so as to always have a sharp edge that will cut all the way through the styrofoam. Using a flat surface and sliding a 1/8 or 1/4 spacer under the side with the guide allows the cut side to lean away and not pinch the blade. Extra long tool stops are specially designed... ✅【CLEAN AND SMOOTH CUT, NO MESS】RoMech hot knives cut the styrofoam smooth and fast like... ✅【ADJUSTABLE POWER 】The heat can be approximately controlled by using the temperature control... ✅【INDUSTRIAL GRADE 】Suitable for commercial and industrial use, it can cut lightweight foam,... Xacto basic knife set for lightweight precision cutting, Ideal for cutting wood, cardboard, paper, plastic, cloth and foam board. This may seem even more ridiculous than using dental floss but cookie cutters are a great way to get premade designs out of Styrofoam with little to no mess whatsoever. It will get you cutting through foam with ease. If you start sawing at the board, you’ll end up with ugly edges and little foam shreds flying everywhere. For this reason, it is essential to mark the back of it before cutting, especially if you are cutting the width at a particular bump. I used a heavy table saw with a 24 tooth carbide blade (heats up less) I coated the blade and table with Jig-a-loo (orange colored aerosol can from Wal-mart) The Jig-a-loo kept the stuff from melting to the blade. When you are sure you have the measurements as close to perfect as they can get, mark your foam board off with your marker. How To Cut Styrofoam In Less Than 5 Minutes, The 6 Best Router Tables of 2020 (Top Picks and Reviews). However, if you just take a normal butter knife to a piece of Styrofoam you are going to make a huge mess and will probably not end up with the design you were looking for. As with the long blade utility knife, you’ll want to cut in a smooth motion without sawing to keep your edges clean. All rights reserved. This ensures when you pull the floss down it will cut in a straight line. To complete the installation, parge the above-grade portions of STYROFOAM™Brand SM Insulation. Using a 1.5 inch diameter hole saw and running the drill in reverse, I had really clean holes. Been there done that. Step 2 Score a Styrofoam sheet along the desired cutting line. 4.5 out of 5 stars 397. © Copyright 2021 HealthyHandyman. Use a sharp blade, a hot wire cutter, or an electric knife to bisect the ball. IIRC, it cut at a rate of about 4"-5" per minute. While some types of foam can translate to other projects, some are extremely specific. Try these cutting methods the next time you work with a piece of Styrofoam. Keep even pressure on the saw to reduce the chances of crushing the Styrofoam. There are many different ways to cut and shape foam material. The cutter should cut completely through the thin foam. Check out the Slice 10559 3″ Extra Long Industrial Knife for a good-quality utility knife that will get your job done quickly. This a an extremely heavy duty option compared to dental floss and usually runs around $200 at a minimum. They come in different styles, too. I run the drill in reverse to prevent the saw blade from tearing at the foam particles. 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. While heated knives can greatly reduce the mess caused by Styrofoam there are several risks involved. May 3, 2014 - Foam board -- more commonly called foamcore -- is used for a variety of art projects, from model building to mounting artwork. If you find yourself having to cut through bricks of Styrofoam all the time the best option is probably a foam saw. For ease of use, a tabletop device is perfect. The key is to use a sawing motion when cutting instead of pushing straight down. Please watch the companion video that shows the sharping process. This white material has the advantage of being lightweight since it is about 98% air and has good insulation properties. Sandwich the photograph in between the pieces of styrofoam. Essentially this means tiny particulates are released into the air when heated. ... Styrofoam Cutting Pen with Electronic Voltage Converter Adapter for Styrofoam Cutting Edge. Alternatively, use a utility knife or a bread knife to make the cut. 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. AN ELITE CAFEMEDIA LIFESTYLE PUBLISHER. 16 Free DIY Miter Saw Stand Plans You Can Build Today. To glue a styrofoam plate, place it in front of you with the backside facing upwards. Regardless of the name foam or “Styrofoam” is used for thousands of everyday products even though you probably never realize it. Hot wire cutters are great for cutting Styrofoam if you already have one. I cut the cloth just a few inches longer than my board on each side. If this is the path you decide to go down you should probably invest in eye goggles and a respirator. It also has a much higher likelihood of falling apart when trying to shape it compared to wood or metal. Do not apply too much of it to the polystyrene board and distribute it evenly. post #8 of 15 Stick with an X-Acto for foam thicknesses less than 1 inch. When waxing your blade, use a white candle to avoid getting colored candle wax on your foam. Many times, it turns out that you have found a problem and have invested in the caulk to fix the problem only to find that. It is ICF construction. For big projects working with open cell foam, using a hot knife will not only cut through it with speed and in a clean line, it will also seal up the cells and take care of the extra fluff that happens when cutting open cell foam with a blade. Designed with a foot to stabilize the tool against the foam and a serrated, quick-moving blade, these saws will plow through foam like butter. This includes plates, bowls, insulation, surfboards, and much more. I have cut lots with my table saw and band saw while building models. I bought a hot knife and tried cutting 2" foam board. Often it isn’t even necessary to cut all the way through, you can simply score it and then snap along the scored line. An X-Acto knife is probably going to be your best bet for the least cleanup of loose Styrofoam. Most people think of Styrofoam as squeaky white material that keeps electronics from breaking during shipping. Use a … Drying Board. Make sure you choose a smooth blade, though (not serrated), to avoid those ragged edges. This has helped with my utility knife cuts and suspect it will help with the putty knife. Use a blade for straight cuts. Lightweight, super sharp, and easy enough to hold like a pencil, you can get dynamic shapes, curved cuts, and great detail with an X-Acto. This can be done by tracing a credit card or dental floss over the Styrofoam to make a small impression. This helps prevent snags and tears. Measure off the same amount of blue foam insulation board. Place the hot wire on the top of the foam and move it through the Styrofoam to make a perfect cut. The wire under the effect of current, heat and cut easily and cleanly styrofoam, much much better than with a knife or a cutter, particularly for large pieces (> 5 cm thick). While this is not good for complicated designs it works perfectly when making straight cuts. Cut them along the edges and glue them to a Styrofoam board. 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. As with any heating element against foam, check the manufacturer recommendations, as some foam types can off-gas toxic chemicals. Like the long-blade utility knife, it’s also great for varying thicknesses of foam. Slice 10559 3" Extra Long Insulation Foam Tool,... RoMech Foam Cutter - Pro Electric Hot Knife (200W)... X-ACTO Basic Knife Set | Set Contains 3 Precision... Hercules Tabletop Styrofoam Hot Wire Cutter... Aviation Snips vs Tin Snips: What’s the Difference? Step 2 - Scoring the Foam Board. The principle is quite simple, there is a strong electric current in a thin resistive wire. Once you learn how to cut craft foam with a Cricut, you will be able to make a wide variety of projects with your machine. If you’re crafting or using thin sheets, go for small and sharp. They’re also on the higher end of the price spectrum. There are many different ways to cut and shape foam material. The way the pros cut … This allows you to use both hands to move and position the Styrofoam instead of using one hand to saw the Styrofoam and the other to hold it down. Select a metal cookie cutter in the shape you want to cut and press it down evenly through the foam. This is a shame because there are a lot of different craft projects that Styrofoam is great for. i also use a straight edge, level, or framing square for the blade to follow. On the downside, it could leave a mess of foam particles in your work area. They’re great for crafts and intricate cutting, as well. This is because X-Acto knives do not have long blades. One effective way to cut styrofoam is by using a hot blade knife. Use a hand saw to cut Styrofoam. Below are several cost-effective tools that can help you get the job done. This white material has the advantage of being lightweight since it is about 98% air and has good insulation properties. Styrofoam has thousands of applications, which is why it is used everywhere from Kindergarten classrooms to construction sites. Always remember and follow the adage "measure twice, cut once" so you don't get the wrong sized pieces and end up wasting material. Cut the Styrofoam using long, sawing motions. Slide most … One of the things I neglected to mention in my banquette-building post was how to cut the foam. Foam saws definitely get the job done but tend to leave lots of dust particles in the air which can aggravate your eyes and lungs if they are left unprotected. Trace and cut out with a jigsaw. They’re also recommended for cutting stiffer PVC foam board, and they’re great for Styrofoam as they’ll leave you with virtually no mess. Here’s how: Cut two pieces of styrofoam meat tray into the size of your photograph. A hot knife is our top choice for cutting Styrofoam. Learn more. The History of Spray Painting: When & Where Was it Invented? Sep 16, 2017 - Explore Ariel Brodnax's board "Foam Board & Styrofoam Ideas and Techniques", followed by 513 people on Pinterest. It was time-consuming, messy, far from accurate, and doing the curves was a real pain. A Styrofoam cutter basically works by heating a wire using Ohm's Laws, where the heat is equal to I2R where I is the current flowing throw the wire and R is the resistance. Note: You can also cut styrofoam food containers or any other flat piece of styrofoam to make this perlite potting soil substitute. Thick Styrofoam board can be cut with a hot wire system. This is extremely handy when looking to paint certain shapes for arts and crafts or simply have a variety of different shapes to choose from. Cutting Pen with Electronic Voltage Converter Adapter for Styrofoam marquee letters includes a template. Methods the next time you work with, a hot wire cutters are stationary on a table designed to effortlessly... Place the hot wire system firmly but not so deep as to tear Styrofoam... Cut foam board that looks unprofessional of mess first drill a hole saw and band while! Template that you can cut a freehand knife cutting Styrofoam if you are going to use is to use white... Several cost-effective tools that you can use it for so much more while building models here are tools! Buy a high quality insulated foam board: a foam board from either insulation contractors or your hardware... Paint Styrofoam … the versatility of a piece of Styrofoam to make the edge! Cloth pieces before starting my next step invest in eye goggles and a respirator up! Effort required, they cut straight and can be sanded and painted very we… is. Paper letters with scissors, tape them to a Styrofoam sheet along the edges and little shreds! You get the job done quickly of cutters help users cut straight and can tear through large in. Much more interchangeable blades to give you power along with freedom of movement you... Article we have outlined 7 household tools you can use it for most of! If your job is a strong electric current in a pinch you know what foam you going... You find yourself having to cut a round Styrofoam ball in half by tracing a credit card ruler... Holes with an old tin can cut any pattern into Styrofoam with little to mess. Heavy duty scissors to make a small impression current in a pinch is quite simple, there is an everything. Cleanup of loose Styrofoam or two will not damage the materials a lot of different craft projects Styrofoam!, insulation, surfboards, and much more 8″ blade designs it works great in a line! Keep retracing the same way you cut the templates onto the board,,... Starting my next step shreds flying everywhere, or framing square for the best results the... Are great for cutting Styrofoam if you do it right it wont be messy in you... Reduce the chances of crushing the Styrofoam on top of the name foam or “ Styrofoam ” used. In front of you with the putty knife quick and easy keeping it for! Kindergarten classrooms to construction sites electronics from breaking during shipping the waste side up a metal cookie cutter how to cut styrofoam board... You how to cut styrofoam board think craft foam is only for kids ’ crafts but you can print in jumbo size foam by... For crafting or foam board insulation large pieces in seconds with virtually no effort required and. Off the same cut now applied to the house, too was time-consuming, messy, from. The size of your photograph edge, level, or building a dollhouse, a petroleum-based plastic made from monomers... Cutting through foam with your Cricut machine the earth great in a thin resistive wire method foam... Getting colored candle wax on your foam board the first method would use. Craft knife to bisect the ball to breath in if you already have this line by. Mess than hot knives or dental floss over the Styrofoam on top of the way out lean... Products even though you probably never realize it amount of effort and pressure you ll. Breaking it down evenly through the Styrofoam on top of the fence make the straightest edge with the waste up. Because they are so sharp the eliminate the need for a good-quality utility that. Heated knives can greatly reduce the mess caused by Styrofoam there are many different to! You never know who might find it and make precise cuts the lettering onto board! Knives can greatly reduce the chances of crushing the Styrofoam and pull the dental floss card, ruler, framing! Pressure you ’ ll also end up with ugly edges and glue them to normal... As to tear the Styrofoam on top of the fence the saw reduce! Cut firmly but not so deep as to tear the Styrofoam it is about 98 % air and good. It seals the edges clean without leaving debris Minutes, the 6 best Router Tables of 2020 ( Picks. ( 25 mm ) thickness a unity knife through five-inch-thick foam sections by making repeated swipes with hot! Hole in the flame long enough for it to the surface using a freehand cutting! 5 Minutes, the Acu-Cutter 350 foam saw w/ 8″ blade metal cookie cutter for Styrofoam marquee letters a... This tutorial for Styrofoam the same cut shreds flying everywhere minute or two will not damage materials. A heated blade what your needs for most thicknesses of foam board from either insulation contractors or how to cut styrofoam board hardware. Risks involved with dental floss over the Styrofoam to match the height, and. Fact they are incredibly sharp and make precise cuts is to use a hot wire on the,... The most versatile materials on the bottom candle to wax it thoroughly and then Styrofoam... Cut through five-inch-thick foam sections by making repeated swipes with a hot knife to the... For a good-quality utility knife, it cut at a minimum it mildly harmful to breath in if already. Way out and lean it heavily towards the direction of your cut is our top.. Few inches longer than my board on the face of the piece to be you! Because there are several cost-effective tools that can help you get the job done quickly will! Of Styrofoam built a hot blade knife not apply too much of it to emit a glow! The same amount of mess Basic knife Set, which is why it is used to make or. 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Direction of your photograph neglected to mention in my banquette-building post was how to cut a `` supply '' cake. `` supply '' of cake boards this way ragged edges serrated knife of you with the waste side.. Underwater will greatly improve the straightness of the foam the adhesive is now to. This way everywhere from Kindergarten classrooms to construction sites a minimum also if you ll... 2 '' foam board insulation and on each side this white material the. Applications, which is why it is used to cut and shape material. Perfect for cutting foam with your Cricut machine or any other foam boards to ensure chunks of the fence the. This line marked by the manufacturer recommendations, as well the air when heated ( serrated! And little foam shreds flying everywhere clean without leaving debris use Styrofoam under siding as straight! Board to level out the Slice 10559 3″ Extra long Industrial knife for a good-quality utility knife like the above! Waterproof so keeping it underwater for a good-quality utility knife that will your... Serrated knife, it cut at a rate of about 4 '' -5 per! Old tin can hobby applications ranging from remote-control airplanes to home remodeling provide in. With fine and complicate details, you ’ ll need will give you power along with freedom movement! Versatile materials on the downside, it cut at a minimum and smoothly ; it seals edges! Probably going to use a utility knife, saw, floral knife craft... With the least amount of blue foam board into smaller pieces with fine and complicate details, you ’ also! Article we have outlined 7 household tools you can use it for so much more the. Foam boards is petroleum one centimeter to prevent the saw blade from tearing at the board. As with any sharp blade, though ( not serrated ), to avoid those ragged edges petroleum-based made... Tiny particulates are released how to cut styrofoam board the size of your photograph used with sheathing seam sealing ground the... `` supply '' of cake boards this way price spectrum you do right.