cutting matts foam planes
#2
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RE: cutting matts foam planes
What works quite well is plain old fashioned fluted cardboard. If you have access to any large cardboard boxes (check dumpsters near Sears, Hardware Stores etc.) get any box with big enough sides to cover a section of your workbench/table and have at it. Just discard when it is to cut up to use again.
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RE: cutting matts foam planes
I use 1/4 inch foam board sheets from dollar tree. Best of all they don't wreck your razor blades. You can tape them together with masking tape to make it as large as you want like to cover a table. The sheets are roughly 2 foot x 3 foot in size. When the sheet looks used up just flip it over and use the other side.
#6
RE: cutting matts foam planes
Something i use on my building table is drywall. You can build and cut on it for years before it needs to be flipped over, and its inexpensive & readily available. ....Gene
#7
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RE: cutting matts foam planes
ORIGINAL: gene6029
Something i use on my building table is drywall. You can build and cut on it for years before it needs to be flipped over, and its inexpensive & readily available. ....Gene
Something i use on my building table is drywall. You can build and cut on it for years before it needs to be flipped over, and its inexpensive & readily available. ....Gene
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RE: cutting matts foam planes
I use some stuff called 10 test or donna conna , it is like ceiling tile . It comes in 4 by 8 shts... It is about 1/2 inch thick...Very cheap (cheaper and liter than drywall..)Takes pins easily ..
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RE: cutting matts foam planes
Hi batdog
I use the smallest Hollow Wood Door sold by Lowe's as my build board and my cutting board. After about 28 years of usage I replaced it with a new one. The old one was well scarred from cutting on it.
I use the smallest Hollow Wood Door sold by Lowe's as my build board and my cutting board. After about 28 years of usage I replaced it with a new one. The old one was well scarred from cutting on it.
#10
RE: cutting matts foam planes
I wanted to share some pics of a tool I modified for cutting flat foamies. Its a Master Airscrew Balsa Stripper. What I did is adjust the blade so that it just barely goes past the depth of the foam, this way the blade doesn't get abused. Also the blade holder on the tool is perfectly square to the base. So, all of your edges you cut with this tool will be 90 degree angles without even trying ! this makes for VERY easy gluing joints when you start gluing the parts together.
If you look at the side face of the cutter (where the blade is) I have glued on two thin shims. One is in front of the blade, the other is behind the blade. This allows me to lay a ruler on the foam and cut perfectly straight lines without the blade hitting and flexing against the ruler. This thing has made cutting my own kits so much more efficient. I hope it helps you guys.
I think I will post this under its own heading as well so maybe others will see it.....
If you look at the side face of the cutter (where the blade is) I have glued on two thin shims. One is in front of the blade, the other is behind the blade. This allows me to lay a ruler on the foam and cut perfectly straight lines without the blade hitting and flexing against the ruler. This thing has made cutting my own kits so much more efficient. I hope it helps you guys.
I think I will post this under its own heading as well so maybe others will see it.....
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RE: cutting matts foam planes
Your blade is not supposto stick down past the bottom of the stripper .. the Idea is to cut strips between the side where you have glued the strips and the knife ..The tip of the knife should be flush with the bottom of the stripper...
#12
RE: cutting matts foam planes
You are misunderstanding the tool I think ? You trace out your foam plane on your foam with a marker, then you trace/cut that line with this tool , it cuts squares edges just to the depth of your foam thickness, that way it doesn't dig deep in your cutting surface beneath.
it will really make cutting out foamies slick. Especially the straight edges since you can use a ruler with it.
it will really make cutting out foamies slick. Especially the straight edges since you can use a ruler with it.
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RE: cutting matts foam planes
No I am not misunderstanding the tool just misunderstanding how you are using it... I see what you are doing with it now...Not a bad Idea...I use my stripper to make strips like cap strips all the time so I am quite familiar with how it works...It is a great little tool .. There are many tools that are almost useless but I find the stripper very handy...I have had mine for close to 30 yrs...
#15
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RE: cutting matts foam planes
The stripper is a great idea for foam, I used the heck out of mine on the Swoose build last year. For those that want to get serious about foam cutting get in touch with Gene, goirsh and ask about the hot wire foam cutter he makes. I have one and it will really advance you into new foam airplane realms.
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RE: cutting matts foam planes
i have a large piece of 1/4 inch thick glass i use to cut on. glass wont score so it never needs replaced and as a bonus if you get glue or anything on it you can scrape it off with a razor blade.
#17
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RE: cutting matts foam planes
ORIGINAL: OLDS45512
i have a large piece of 1/4 inch thick glass i use to cut on. glass wont score so it never needs replaced and as a bonus if you get glue or anything on it you can scrape it off with a razor blade.
i have a large piece of 1/4 inch thick glass i use to cut on. glass wont score so it never needs replaced and as a bonus if you get glue or anything on it you can scrape it off with a razor blade.