best methof of cutting foam?

[coliholic]

If the Sunday joint is so tough it needs a culinary chainsaw to cut it, the solution is better cookery rather than power tools

Pete

Ooh I'll tell SWMBO and you'll be right in the deep doo doo.

But sorry no, can't agree I find the lekky knife dead easy and controllable and safe to use.

 

[Halo]

mark up the foam. Go round a large city market. There will be a foam stall which offers a cutting service and get them to do it .

 

[Ruffles]

I too use an electric carving knife but it's true that commercial suppliers use a hot wire. I've thought about making the latter using some thick fuseewire powered by 12v battery. Would need some experiment on wire size (or calculation)

You need resistance wire. Handy for draining rechargeable batteries too.

 

[duncan99210]

We used a long bladed thin carving knife to cut the foam to size when we redid the seats in the saloon. The trick is to get an assistant to gently pull the cut bit away from the remainder so as to keep the cutting face open and stop it binding. Works well if you take care.

 

[stuhaynes]

I used to do this for a living. We always used a band saw that had a special blade (It also had a 4 foot throat!)

Nowadays, if I have to cut foam, I use a fine saw, or even a hacksaw blade. The idea of an assistant to 'peel' the cut material away is a very good idea. The trick is to keep the cut vertical. This is easier with a long fine cutter, particularly on something like a mattress.

The Stanley knife is a definite No!

 

[[2574]]

thanks all, lot's of good suggestions there. we binned our electric carving knife in about 1989; damn! I knew I should have put it in the "that'll be useful for somat one day" pile!