| Author |
Topic: Foam Cutter? |
Paul Crawford
From:
Orlando, Fl
|
Posted 20 Aug 2010 8:48 am |
|
Seriously. A Foam Cutter.
I just picked up a big composite case with wheels, handles, and lots of foam. I suppose it was originally used for some type of oversized medical equipment that needed LOTS of protection. Light, secure, and could likely withstand a head on train wreck.
It's big enough for the guitar, volume pedal, effects, and plenty to spare. Only thing I need to do is fit everything into a nice foam pouch.
OK. What to you use to cut this stuff? A sharp knife will kind of squish it. A utility knife will cut it, but at 1/2" at a slice will be more than a little time consuming. Before I fire up the band saw, I thought I'd ask; what do you use to cut this stuff? |
|
|
 |
John Swain
From:
Winchester, Va
|
Posted 20 Aug 2010 8:50 am
|
|
| I heard years ago an electric carving knife (for food), worked well..You might call a case company and ask>>JS |
|
|
|
Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
|
Posted 20 Aug 2010 8:51 am
|
|
I also used a band saw once for a long straight cut.
I've had good luck with an electric knife for smaller pieces.
I've heard some guys use a hot-wire to cut foam. |
|
|
|
Chris Lucker
From:
Los Angeles, California USA
|
Posted 20 Aug 2010 8:59 am
|
|
Freeze it, then cut it out.
_________________
Chris Lucker
Red Bellies, Bigsbys and a lot of other guitars.
Last edited by Chris Lucker on 23 Aug 2010 10:10 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Tim Hurst
From:
Newport, TN
|
Posted 20 Aug 2010 9:02 am
|
|
| I bought some foam to rebuild a pak-a-seat recently and the clerk at Joann's fabrics used an electric carving knife like you would use in the kitchen. Worked perfectly with smooth straight edges. |
|
|
|
Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
|
Posted 20 Aug 2010 9:36 am
|
|
| The electric knives work well. I have one I keep just for foam. Spray it with Silicone before cutting and it works better. All the foam shops that I've been in with the special foam cutters use Silicone on their cutters. |
|
|
|
Dave Yustin
From:
Vermont, USA
|
Posted 20 Aug 2010 9:53 am Electric knife
|
|
| Jack's right. An electric knife works well. When I bought foam for my Pac-Seat, that's what they used at the fabric store. I used one to trim it, got a nice clean cut. |
|
|
|
Bent Romnes
From:
London,Ontario, Canada
|
|
|
|
Joe Naylor
From:
Avondale, Arizona, USA
|
Posted 20 Aug 2010 10:06 am I cut foam all the time
|
|
That electric knife you cut your turkey with - that's it.
You can buy a special foam cutter but the electric knife you buy at WalMart works great.
Use a straight edge like a piece of wood but do not put pressure on the foam, if you press down on the foam it looks like you chew it off. The softer the foam the tougher it is to make it look good but it can be done.
Need more info just email me joe.naylor@att.com I will help all I can - will cut up about 20 or so sheets this weekend.
Joe Naylor
www.steelseat.com
_________________
Joe Naylor, Avondale, AZ (Phoenix) Announcer/Emcee owner www.steelseat.com *** OFFERING SEATS AND Effects cases with or without legs and other stuff ****** -Desert Rose Guitar S-10, Life Member of the Arizona Carport Pickers Assoc., Southwest Steel Guitar Assoc., Texas Steel Guitar Assoc., GA Steel Guitar Assoc., KS Steel Guitar Assoc. (Asleep at the Steel) tag line willed to me by a close late friend RIP |
|
|
|
Sonny Jenkins
From:
Texas Masonic Retirement Center,,,Arlington Tx
|
Posted 20 Aug 2010 10:37 am
|
|
| I did a several day job in a large furniture factory one time,,,couches, stuffed chairs etc,,,all the workers carried a 1 or 2 foot long peice of very course saw blade,,,like a light tree trimming blade....a line with a magic marker,,,zip,,zip,,,zip,,,(they wrapped the "handle" end with duct tape) |
|
|
|
Bill Ford
From:
Graniteville SC Aiken
|
Posted 20 Aug 2010 5:18 pm
|
|
band saw
_________________
Bill Ford S12 CLR, S12 Lamar keyless, Misc amps&toys Sharp Covers
Steeling for Jesus now!!! |
|
|
|
Stan Schober
From:
Cahokia, Illinois, USA
|
Posted 20 Aug 2010 7:07 pm
|
|
A plain old razor knife always worked fine for me for straight cuts.
Electric carving knives are great for curves.
Best place to buy an electic carving knife ?
Goodwill. $2, and it looked brand new.
_________________
Emmons S-8 P/P,DeArmond 40. Slowly drifting back towards sanity. |
|
|
|
Mark van Allen
From:
Watkinsville, Ga. USA
|
Posted 20 Aug 2010 7:50 pm
|
|
| A ditto on the electric carving knife, and double ditto on Goodwill. |
|
|
|
Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
|
Posted 20 Aug 2010 9:38 pm
|
|
| Large chain saw and hocky mask. |
|
|
|
J D Sauser
From:
Wellington, Florida
|
Posted 21 Aug 2010 6:49 am
|
|
| Chris Lucker wrote: |
| Freeze it, then cut with saw. |
This has got to be the COOLEST suggestion of'em all!
Never thought of it!
... J-D.
_________________
__________________________________________________________
Was it JFK who said: Ask Not What TAB Can Do For You - Rather Ask Yourself "What Would B.B. King Do?"
A Little Mental Health Warning:
Tablature KILLS SKILLS.
The uses of Tablature is addictive and has been linked to reduced musical fertility.
Those who produce Tablature did never use it.
I say it humorously, but I mean it. |
|
|
|
Ray Riley
From:
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
|
Posted 21 Aug 2010 9:42 am Cutting Foam
|
|
| I like to use string or guitar string. Ray |
|
|
|
David Beckner
From:
Kentucky, USA
|
Posted 21 Aug 2010 10:51 am
|
|
electric fish fillet knife..used everyday in the upholstery shop..wal mart $15.00
_________________
WILCOX SD10 (love the white mica)
WALKER SEAT
NASHVILLE 400
BEHRINGER RACK TUNER
CUSH CASE RACK
PEAVEY DELTA FEX
PARTS CASTER.Gospel and Classic Country Music
http://www.dbupholstery.yolasite.com |
|
|
|
Dennis Saydak
From:
Manitoba, Canada
|
Posted 21 Aug 2010 3:16 pm
|
|
The radio control airplane guys use an electric wire cutter to make foam core wings for their models. It's basically a guitar string hooked up to a model railroad transformer, which varies the amount of current flowing through the wire. If you know a person in the hobby check with them or your local hobby shop.
_________________
Dennis
Just when you think you're getting ahead in the rat race, the rats get faster. |
|
|
|
John De Maille
From:
On a Mountain in Upstate Halcottsville, N.Y.
|
Posted 22 Aug 2010 7:56 pm
|
|
| You could also try a "sheetrock saw". They're usualy about 6"-8" long and have a pointed tapered blade with coarse teeth. But, I think the electric knife sounds easier. |
|
|
|
David Beckner
From:
Kentucky, USA
|
Posted 22 Aug 2010 8:17 pm
|
|
WARNING>>>>>DO NOT freeze high density foam... I did some research on this and found that high density foam when frozen acts as a sponge.Therefore it holds moisture and will cause premature deterioration...
_________________
WILCOX SD10 (love the white mica)
WALKER SEAT
NASHVILLE 400
BEHRINGER RACK TUNER
CUSH CASE RACK
PEAVEY DELTA FEX
PARTS CASTER.Gospel and Classic Country Music
http://www.dbupholstery.yolasite.com |
|
|
|
Chris Lucker
From:
Los Angeles, California USA
|
Posted 22 Aug 2010 11:59 pm
|
|
| David Beckner wrote: |
| WARNING>>>>>DO NOT freeze high density foam... I did some research on this and found that high density foam when frozen acts as a sponge.Therefore it holds moisture and will cause premature deterioration... |
Don't get it wet. It will expand if you do. Just freeze it.
_________________
Chris Lucker
Red Bellies, Bigsbys and a lot of other guitars. |
|
|
|
Ben Jones
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
|
Posted 23 Aug 2010 6:08 am
|
|
I worked crating art work for years and cutting the foam inserts. If its the non rigid but firm black or charcoal grey type foam commonly found in anvil style cases, we used a fully extended boxcutter blade and a straightedge. The kind of blade with the snap off sections, but fully extended. Since you have 4 inches of exposed razor blade, you obvioulsy need to use great caution and a SHARP fresh blade. It takes sevral passes with theblade to cut thru foam a few inches thick, but the cut us straight and smooth.
If its the rigid foam, like insulation foam, band saw or cutting knife. Ive used the heated wire tools in making armature for large sculpture. kinda messy and smelly.
The electric cutting knife does work but leaves more a jagged edge than the razor and our crates had to be pristine.
we used a hot glue gun to tack together sections or foam sheet cut to size to fit any shape..a vase..a globe...a scuplture ....whatever. |
|
|
|
David Beckner
From:
Kentucky, USA
|
Posted 23 Aug 2010 6:45 am
|
|
| Chris Lucker wrote: |
Don't get it wet. It will expand if you do. Just freeze it. |
Freezing in any form ie. wet or dry is introducing moisture into the cells of the foam. Therefore you are changing the composition of the material..
I wouldnt advise this ESPECIALLY if you are planning to use this in a case ,You are introducing moisture to your instrument....That just spells trouble
_________________
WILCOX SD10 (love the white mica)
WALKER SEAT
NASHVILLE 400
BEHRINGER RACK TUNER
CUSH CASE RACK
PEAVEY DELTA FEX
PARTS CASTER.Gospel and Classic Country Music
http://www.dbupholstery.yolasite.com |
|
|
|
Joe Naylor
From:
Avondale, Arizona, USA
|
Posted 23 Aug 2010 6:54 am Wow so many ideas on something simple
|
|
I AGREE DO NOT FREEZE FOAM
Goodwill is a good choice - for an electric carving knife
The band saw deal works too - but I cut up about 25 sheets this weekend and the electric carving knife worked very good.
AND it even looks like the factory edges of the foam.
This has been some great humor too. DO NOT MAKE IT ANY HARDER THAN IT IS --- my moto "Work smart not hard"
Joe Naylor
www.steelseat.com
_________________
Joe Naylor, Avondale, AZ (Phoenix) Announcer/Emcee owner www.steelseat.com *** OFFERING SEATS AND Effects cases with or without legs and other stuff ****** -Desert Rose Guitar S-10, Life Member of the Arizona Carport Pickers Assoc., Southwest Steel Guitar Assoc., Texas Steel Guitar Assoc., GA Steel Guitar Assoc., KS Steel Guitar Assoc. (Asleep at the Steel) tag line willed to me by a close late friend RIP |
|
|
|
Chris Lucker
From:
Los Angeles, California USA
|
Posted 23 Aug 2010 10:10 am
|
|
Honestly, how do you guys drill holes in your foam to hold playing bars and spare George L jacks, and how do you cut out foam without going through the entire thickness using a turkey carver or hot wire? How do you make a clean bottom of the cutout?
I think everyone is assuming he wants to cut profiles through the ENTIRE thickness of the foam rather than making some cuts four inches deep, some a half inch etc.
If you are making the same simple full depth cuts whether you want to make a space for your guitar cabinet, or a Little Izzy, or a nylon tuner wrench, go ahead and use a turkey slicer. If you want to cut the bottom of the shaped cuts as well, stabilize the material so you can mill or route or forstner as you see fit. You can even sand.
_________________
Chris Lucker
Red Bellies, Bigsbys and a lot of other guitars. |
|
|
|
