Model Boat Mayhem

Technical, Techniques, Hints, and Tips => Other Technical Questions... => Topic started by: aamcle on July 21, 2018, 10:04:17 am

Title: Hot Wire Cutters and wood?
Post by: aamcle on July 21, 2018, 10:04:17 am
If I put a wooden template on a block of foam can I cut around it without burning/cutting the wood?


Thanks       aamcle
Title: Re: Hot Wire Cutters and wood?
Post by: tigertiger on July 21, 2018, 10:33:29 am
Probably not. But if you mask the wood with tape, and they draw around it with a marker pen that might work.
Title: Re: Hot Wire Cutters and wood?
Post by: Andyn on July 21, 2018, 12:22:59 pm
Yes, absolutely it will not cut the wood, and to burn it you'd have to be very still for a very long time. By which time you'd have no foam left anyway
Title: Re: Hot Wire Cutters and wood?
Post by: StarLocAdhesives/FiveStar on July 21, 2018, 01:45:03 pm
Its how everyone used to cut foam wings for model aeroplanes , any wood works but ply was best as the multi direction grain meant the wire didn't catch in the grain the hot wire temp for cutting foam is nowhere near the temp of wood burn
My first foam cutter for wings had the wire tightened up over a 45 degree cut in the wood at each end and it didn't cut into the wood after initial tightening, for kits we used aluminium templates so they wouldn't wear out, not that the wood ones did wear out it was a `just in case` measure  m I only use CNC for foam cutting now though it is so much slower to cut but no templates to make and perfect finish every time.
Title: Re: Hot Wire Cutters and wood?
Post by: aamcle on July 21, 2018, 03:06:15 pm
Thanks All.      Aamcle