batchelc

My Feedback: (7)

Just make sure you have a fuse in series on one leg of the primary (110V) side. This will protect the transformer in case the load breaks (hot wire). I have a 2A on my setup, but you may need a different rating. Chris

zertsman

get the fire extinguisher and the burn kit ready..

Bandit 557

Andrwe66

Look at the picture.

Double check everthing and plug it in.

andrew66

well, i plugged it in, and.....nothing... wont get hot. i think that the transformer isnt quite powerful enough. i hooked it up to a 5 amp battery charger, and it worked fine. not quite as hot as i wanted, but not bad. im using a .18 guitar string and the bow is about 40" long.
i would use a charger, but the one i tested with isnt mine, and i dont really want to spend $50 on a charger right now. i was hoping to do this for about $30. any ideas of what i can do about this?

AGR413

My Feedback: (1)

Your plight has motivated me to dig up a link for you, enjoy.

[link=http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=628704]Building a Hot Wire Foam Cutter[/link]

andrew66

i think i found something that will work! there is a 6 amp battery charger at tractor suply company for $25. to controll heat, could i wire the dimmer switch ahead of the charger to controll the heat, or will that cause problems with the charger. if this works, i should be cutting wings in no time!

andrew66

apparently the charger mentioned only is in stores in the US. instead, i bought a $40 one thats 2/4/6 amp (black and decker smart charge) and guess what?..... the $#&^&*( thing says fault when hooked up to the hot wire. and i can only exchange it, but they dont have anything else that will work. is there something i can do to "trick" the charger into thinking its hooked up to a battery, or am i screwed? i guess i could trade with someone who has one that will work...

Flypaper 2

How about putting a clapped out battery on it, just to keep the charger happy, then hook up your cutter to it, although you'll still need a means of controlling the voltage between the batt and the cutter, it is fairly critical. I use a Dremmel tool speed controller. Another controller that works is a sewing machine speed controller.

andrew66

thats crazy enough, it just might work! would it be better to use a 12v controller (fan motor controller)

Flypaper 2

I don't think a fan motor controller will work as they're made to run off 110 volts AC, but a speed controller for a plane would probably work.
Had to chuckle at the bottom of your post. I'm one of the old buggers. who's been cutting foam wings since the late 60s.

Gord.

andrew66

i outsmarted my smart charger! i went to a battery store this morning and got a small 12v battery that was "no good" at first i hooked the cutter and the battery terminals together, and the charger still said fault. i then put alligator clips on the wires and hooked them to the terminals and then hooked the battery charger up (cutter wires and charger wires not touching) and it worked! i have 3 settings and they all work good on my setup. the 2 amp setting is a little "cold" for my liking, and the 4 amp is about right. the 6 amp i dont think i will ever use, cause its just a touch too hot. i guess i could use that setting for straight cuts cause i have to move the wire fairly quick in order to get a nice cut. finally, ive got this done. now i just need to get some templates made for my stubby scratch build i have going. i have the wings almost complete, but they do have a warp in them, and the finish, isnt as nice as i would like. i will still keep them as "spares"
thanks for all the help guys. i really appreciate it