Cutting Foam Board

[mrtrumpet]

I have been using a hot wire foam cutter to cut some pink 2" Owens Corning foam insulation board for scenery.  It sure emits an odor!  Does any one know if this is toxic and, if so, what should be used to prevent any unwanted consequences?

Thanks

Dave

[eaglescout]

I'm sure it is not real good for you.  Most would say to wear a respirator.  Without that available I have cut it outdoors or with a lot of windows open.

[selector]

I scored and snapped.  Stack-glued with caulk, and then I resorted to the use of a large wire brush. 

Of course if was messy!  Tsk!

Next step was to use a sanding block.  I overlaid some of the foam with plaster cloth, but often I just painted it with acrylic paints.

I went slowly so as to create as little dust as possible rising up to my face.  The heavier stuff removed by the wire brush was no problem, and vacuumed up easily.  The sanded stuff was not so easily put off.  Best to use a respirator.

I couldn't swear to it, but I believe the fumes from melting or burning styrofoam can't be helpful to the human body.

Crandell

[singletrack100]

mrtrumpet

I have been using a hot wire foam cutter to cut some pink 2" Owens Corning foam insulation board for scenery.  It sure emits an odor!  Does any one know if this is toxic and, if so, what should be used to prevent any unwanted consequences?

Thanks

Dave

As a firefighter for over 20 years, I can tell you, YES, it IS harmful and toxic. Respirators may or may not protect you from vapors. Particles yes, vapors maybe no. This is why firefighters wear self-contained breathing apparatus's (they are carrying their own air) when going into someones burning or smoking building; not to mention heat over 140 degrees does bad stuff to the lungs inside! Read your respirator manual very thoroughly to find out if it will protect you. Alternative- lot's of ventilation.

Hope this helps! Happy RR'ing!

Duane

[Timh]

I second Duane's reply, as an RN I strongly urge you to either wear the appropriate respiratory or do it outside (or both).  I simply cut my segments with a knife, vacuum cleaner is a must!

Good luck,

Tim

[Drew4950]

singletrack100

Alternative- lot's of ventilation.

Or don't breathe.

[RideOnRoad]

The biggest challenge I have found with foam board in the desert southwest is finding some!  Apparently it is readily available back east but not here.  I am going to have to see if one of the large home improvement stores in the area will special order it.

[bogp40]

All great advice,  Those fumes surely can't be any good at all. Quite a number of years ago, I tried hot wire on 2" foam, Even though the club layout in in a rather large space and I tried to keep away from the "smoke", I caught a couple of whiffs and it's not pleasant. I would not recommend hot wire w/o protection and ventilation. Scoring and snapping, sawing/ cutting w/ serrated knife and even table saw cuts are far more accurate and healthier.  I even hacked into a mountain to cut back a few inches w/ an 18v sawzall. Boy it's messy, but fast and great control for the shape. Final contours were done w/ a steak knife and tape wrapped sawzall blade.

I must saw though, that it is tempting to hot wire concave trenches, holes and the like.

[dehusman]

I cut foam with a steak knife.  Serated edge does pretty well.  Neither the fumes nor the dust is good for you.  Save your old dryer sheets and wipe down knives and tools with them to remove static and clean up all the little static-y particles of foam.

I cut big peices with a band saw before I attach them to the layout.

[bogp40]

dehusman

I cut foam with a steak knife.  Serated edge does pretty well.  Neither the fumes nor the dust is good for you.  Save your old dryer sheets and wipe down knives and tools with them to remove static and clean up all the little static-y particles of foam.

I cut big peices with a band saw before I attach them to the layout.

Great idea, those foam crumbs are a real pain!

[CTValleyRR]

This is one of the primary issues with a hot wire cutter. Only time can undo the damage to your body. Try not to add any more. Put the hot wire cutter on the shelf and get a better tool. I use a compact hacksaw, which has a handle that slips on one end of a standard hacksaw blade, leaving about 6" of blade free to cut with.

[rrebell]

Timh

I second Duane's reply, as an RN I strongly urge you to either wear the appropriate respiratory or do it outside (or both).  I simply cut my segments with a knife, vacuum cleaner is a must!

Good luck,

Tim

You obviously have not done the research!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  To emit toxic gases cutting foam with a hot tool type cutter you have to reach 467degrees so the first question to ask is what temp is the tool. By the way WS's tool only gets to 425degrees.

[MisterBeasley]

The hot wire cutter, because it has a u-shaped yoke to hold the wire, is only good for cutting 6 inches or less from the edge.  It's also hand-held, so it's hard to get a good straight cut.  So, I find it easier to just mark the cut, use a sharp utility knife to score the line, do the same on the other side and snap it apart.  Clean edge, no fumes and no bits of pink stuff all over the floor.

[rrebell]

Wish I could have gotten that stuff when I started, I use bead board, kinda need the hot wire cutter but an extended break off knife works and I tend to go outside for sawing. You also have to cover the finished area with plastercloth unlike the pinkstuff that you can just paint in some cases.

[Dannyboy6]

I use a Drywall saw, serrated steak knife, sureform tool and 80 grit sandpaper in that order. The hot wire cutters are a stinky proposition; and my spouse would freak if i did that indoors.

[mrtrumpet]

rrebel,

Do you have a source for this research?  I really prefer using the hot wire foam cutter (I have a Proxxon). If there is some substantiation to your comment about foam only being toxic above 467 degrees that would be great to read about. and put my mind at ease a bit.  Can you supply a link?

Thanks!

Dave

[rrebell]

mrtrumpet

rrebel,

Do you have a source for this research?  I really prefer using the hot wire foam cutter (I have a Proxxon). If there is some substantiation to your comment about foam only being toxic above 467 degrees that would be great to read about. and put my mind at ease a bit.  Can you supply a link?

Thanks!

Dave

Sorry, research was done over a year ago, best bet would be to get the info on WS"s foam cutter as they make comments on theirs being at a safe level. Yes it will emit noxious fumes but noxious and toxic are two different things. I research most everything I do, hobby wise, to the point of reading documents from  forensic electrical experts when I went to do electrical (you should see what they have to say about local fire forensics). In fact I went to extra lengths when going with bead board by even trying to set it on fire, hard to do in real life, tends to melt and go out,

[matthewd5]

I've had really good luck with the tippit foam cutter

I wear a good respirator and run a fan

It doesn't make hardly any mess or drippings

[Schuylkill and Susquehanna]

Of course it is toxic!  What you're smelling is most likely vaporized foam board, which can't be good for your lungs.  Use a hot wire cutter in a well-venitlated environment, just like most other stuff in this hobby.  Most people should probably install industrial venitlation fans in their layout room.  That's not likely, so either open a window or get a portible fan.  A respirator would probably be the best solution if ventilation is not an option.  Check the manufacturer of the wire cutter for safety information.

[selector]

Basically, wood or styrofoam, they'll both leave you in bad shape if you breath in much of it.  At the very least both produce CO.

http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/2009-10/1256931118.Ch.r.html

Crandell

 

[rrebell]

selector

Basically, wood or styrofoam, they'll both leave you in bad shape if you breath in much of it.  At the very least both produce CO.

http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/2009-10/1256931118.Ch.r.html

Crandell

 

Burned, like in above the combustion point or 654.8 degrees. The WS one gets to 424degrees, The Tippi dose get far above those numbers but they have a model now that has a temp. control. On another point, but found in my short research for this reply is that at the proper combustion point (like a modern incinerator) almost no toxic gases were emitted, always thought the opposite!

[yankee flyer]

Hey Dave

I know I'm late to the post but, I don't think anyone else has suggested you try what is essentially a filet knife.
5" or 6" slim blade. Keep a wet-stone on hand to keep it sharp. I used a metal straight edge to make straight cut lines in 2" pink or blue foam. I found I could carve rocks or vertical bluffs that looked quite nice to me. You can cut into your rock face and flick out a piece of foam. Take this piece and slide it down the mountain to make it look like a piece that  has fractured off and slid down the slope. My first attempt at mountain building was the one on the curve. It is made with plaster cloth over crushed paper and cast rocks attached to the mountain face.   I much prefer carving the foam with a knife and adding only a few cast rocks.

Have fun.

Lee