Make a 5-Minute Foam Factory

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Foam Weekend Project Kipkay Makezine DIY
MAKEZINE
  • By: MAKEZINE
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  • Updated: 30-Nov-09
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  • Added: 05-Mar-09

Make styrofoam objects with this hot-wire polystyrene art cutter.

  1. Categories: How To, Science & Tech
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Make a 5-Minute Foam Factory

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  • Clean cuts

    Sure you cut thin styrofoam with a knife or scissors.
    But especially with thick styrofoam, for wich scissors are to small, a knife is more likely to make jagged edges. Not to mention the fact that even tiniest staric charge causes the foam to stick anything, making it hard to clean up.

    As for the electricity, look at the desciption again.
    The ni-chrome wire has a high resistance (compared to copper) wich causes the wire to heat up with minimum amperage.

    As for where to get the wire, I once tore apart an old electric water heater. Any broken device that has a electric heating element can still be usefull for parts, such as the ni-chrome wire.

    By Swordmasterb 1236508231 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Good job

    as usual. I wonder where you can get the special wire.

    By DENPORT 1236263748 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • nice kip

    nice job kip, would come in handy for someone that needs to make precise cuts on foam for projects.

    By spyder2021 1236809209 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • When would i use this?

    No offense, but thats sorta useless... Just get a knife or scisors to cut it.

    and what does the adding the electricty do?

    By WiiRd0 1236459739 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
    • er..

      heat knives for styrofoam have been around forever... they cut a LOT easier, faster, and cleaner than razors, and even really thick pieces cut easily. Try getting away from your desk and go check out a surfboard shop, they'll have a big heat knife to cut the initial shape out of a huge styrofoam chunk. I've built rigs like this one before to cut insulation for the inside of steel garage doors and for soundproofing walls.

      By aelwero_too 1238016703 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
5 Comments | Add Comment