Hot wire foam cutter construction

[Robot Monster]

Anyone ever make a large scale hot wire cutter for foam. I am looking for some tips on construction/materials ? You see them used on monster house all of the time and they all look kit bashed.

I have some a background in electronics and have worked with the smaller versions.

Thank you
Tek

 

[Jimbo890]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tekmage3000 @ Apr 27 2006, 02:49 PM) [snapback]1234140[/snapback]</div>

Anyone ever make a large scale hot wire cutter for foam. I am looking for some tips on construction/materials ? You see them used on monster house all of the time and they all look kit bashed.

I have some a background in electronics and have worked with the smaller versions.

Thank you
Tek
[/b]

How big are you talking about? Seems like a if you were to take a soldering iron, attach a length of sturdy, thin wire to it, and build a 'C' shaped frame to hold the wire, thats about all there is to it. OR, Just scale up the kind you can get from the Hobby-Lobby store.

 

[Robot Monster]

Well it's bigger than the typical hobby stuff but I did get some info on this one which might do the trick.

http://www.hhhh.org/%7Ejoeboy/resources/ho...oam_cutter.html

 

[TK648]

And If you need to put a hard coat over the foam try this
foam coat resin
UreShell Resin
its great stuff
25 min working time
4 to 1 mix
you can use a brush or a roller to apply it
viscosity is like latex house paint

Andrew

 

[Robot Monster]

Thanks, I'm reading the spec sheets right now. Better idea than I had for the hard shell using sculpt and coat.

 

[muttley]

saw one on instructables recently

http://www.instructables.com/ex/i/ECEBC94A...4A001143E7E506/

looks like the one used on monster house.


mutt

 

[swhite228]

"How big are you talking about? Seems like a if you were to take a soldering iron, attach a length of sturdy, thin wire to it, and build a 'C' shaped frame to hold the wire, thats about all there is to it. OR, Just scale up the kind you can get from the Hobby-Lobby store."


Acually a lot of smaller theaters do make foam cutters out of soldering guns. They bend stiff coper wire into the shape they need and attach it to the gun. Then pull the triger and start cutting. I've seen the setup used to turn lamp bases, make stair rails, make molding and bowls. It works.

 

[hydin]

if you want some great tips, catch up with rileyreplicas. he basically uses the foam for his sculptures, and they are amazing.

great guy to pester for inane details too

chris

 

[Megatron]

electric carving knife "turkey knife" or small electric chainsaw work great also.. nothing like cutting into a block of foam with a chainsaw hehe

 

[Robot Monster]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(swhite228 @ Apr 28 2006, 07:43 PM) [snapback]1234973[/snapback]</div>

"How big are you talking about? Seems like a if you were to take a soldering iron, attach a length of sturdy, thin wire to it, and build a 'C' shaped frame to hold the wire, thats about all there is to it. OR, Just scale up the kind you can get from the Hobby-Lobby store."


Acually a lot of smaller theaters do make foam cutters out of soldering guns. They bend stiff coper wire into the shape they need and attach it to the gun. Then pull the triger and start cutting. I've seen the setup used to turn lamp bases, make stair rails, make molding and bowls. It works.
[/b]

So many good tips from the group on this one. I recently used the hobby style hot wire to help my niece create an "Old man of the mountain" project here in N.H. It turned out so well I wanted to gather info for a bigger project.
The thread has been very useful for me on this. I will give the copper shapes a try soon. Cleaning room in the basement Sunday to start.

Thanks
Tek

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Megatron @ Apr 30 2006, 12:55 AM) [snapback]1235677[/snapback]</div>

electric carving knife "turkey knife" or small electric chainsaw work great also.. nothing like cutting into a block of foam with a chainsaw hehe
[/b]

I did use the turkey knife for my lava monster 2 years ago. It was the soft foam but it worked very well.

 

[rileyreplicas]

Hello,

I have a 2 types of cutters, one cuts 2 feet wide and the other 4 feet wide. I also made them extra deep so I can go in 2 feet. Basically I got my wire from demand products and made a "c" shape out of 1 inch PVC pipe. The pipe "flexes" which I like so I cut my wire kind of short and then hook it to some bolts on the end of the cutter this keeps the wire tight. As for power I use a 6/12 volt battery charger. I like the chargers that allow me to switch back from 6/12 volt so I can use more or less heat if I need to. I use sculpt or coat for monsters and such but the ureshell looks good for hard type objects such as armor, metal texture etc.

Good luck and I look forward to seeing what you are making from foam PM or email me if you have any questions.

Richard

PS By the way for rounding obejcts I use a wood rasp but do this OUTSIDE unless you want Christmas to come early this year. lol Are you using the white foam or the blue/pink foam?

 

[Robot Monster]

I have white foam in stock right now at home. I am still thinking of materials to use but I am trying for a stargate. My idea was to form a section out of foam and mold and duplicate it. Then place on a wood backboard. It's just a first attempt so I just want something that looks like it. I'm not going for all the detail here.

 

[rileyreplicas]

What are the largest pieces of foam you are using? Just curious since I almost always work in foam I can get pieces that are about 4 foot wide, 4 foot think and 8 foot long.

 

[Robot Monster]

Just the stuff from the Home Depot. Still in the planning stages so I'm just playing with things I have around.

 

[Robot Monster]

Got the nichrome wire for the project, pretty thick stuff should hold up well. A good couple of feet of wire for 3 bucks at Youdoitelectronics . In store sale only I think. The store is in Mass, if your local you should check it out for parts.