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Hot Knife

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  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: US
  • 4,648 posts
Hot Knife
Posted by jacon12 on Thursday, August 4, 2005 4:42 PM
Has anyone ever used one of these?
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/5-12050
It's a bit hefty on the price tag but if you have a lot of extruded foam to cut and carve for ditches, hills etc. I wonder if it would be worth it in the long run.
Jarrell
 HO Scale DCC Modeler of 1950, give or take 30 years.
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Thursday, August 4, 2005 5:00 PM
Frankly, I was worried about the fumes.

It makes a mess, but I can go pretty fast and accurately with the wood blade from a sawsall.

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: New Brighton, MN
  • 4,393 posts
Posted by ARTHILL on Thursday, August 4, 2005 6:50 PM
I bought the hot wire thing. Fumes are not all that bad, but its slow and not very accurate. I use a skeak knife. Its faster, cuts well, can be bent a little and the point makes nice rocks. I keep trying to use the hit wire, but nothing has worked very well yet.
If you think you have it right, your standards are too low. my photos http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a235/ARTHILL/ Art
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, August 4, 2005 7:50 PM
Go to Ebay and type in foam cutter.

QUOTE: Originally posted by jacon12

Has anyone ever used one of these?
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/5-12050
It's a bit hefty on the price tag but if you have a lot of extruded foam to cut and carve for ditches, hills etc. I wonder if it would be worth it in the long run.
Jarrell
  • Member since
    September 2002
  • 7,486 posts
Posted by ndbprr on Friday, August 5, 2005 8:09 AM
We had an industrial version where I worked that would cut through anything in a matter of seconds. You can also make one using a soldering iron and a piece of copper wire to test the pricipal. If you make the connections thicker and the area where you want to cut thinner the thinner area will concentrate the heat at that location.
  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: US
  • 4,648 posts
Posted by jacon12 on Friday, August 5, 2005 8:36 AM
Thanks all. I think I'm going to go with the steak knife. Sounds a little easier and safer.
Jarrell
 HO Scale DCC Modeler of 1950, give or take 30 years.
  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Elgin, IL
  • 3,677 posts
Posted by orsonroy on Friday, August 5, 2005 9:23 AM
hand cutting tools are usually faster, safer, and more controllable. And you won't kill off as many brain cells!

Ray Breyer

Modeling the NKP's Peoria Division, circa 1943

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