10' Standie Foamie ... on hold

[aggie79]

What about take GPW's idea, but substitute the hot wire with a piece of sharpened spring steel like a cabinet scraper? The steel should be sufficient enough to cut thorough the foam.

[Wolffarmer]

A few days ago I used a very sharp knife to try and cut the foam. It works to a very small depth. Then it just starts pushing foam and breaking. Need a sawing type action, or the hot wire. Or just break it.

Randy

[GPW]

Actually the careful use of the belt sander to remove the heavy stuff and an oscillating sander to smooth it out is really the easiest way to go ... messy , but easy ... for less messy you could use an electric carving knife to remove the bulk of it in large chunks ... just like carving a Turkey .... something we should be well practiced at by the end of next week ...

Some “guideâ€

[Tiredoldwhiteman]

Actually the careful use of the belt sander to remove the heavy stuff and an oscillating sander to smooth it out is really the easiest way to go ... [snip]

While I'm a big fan of hot wire cutters & knives, for this application GPW's got the right idea. IMO, simplicity always wins out...

[swampjeep]

I like teh electric carving knife idea, I need to get me one...

[bonnie]

figures. I gave mine electric knife to one of the kids. I hadn't used it in years.
I saw a pvc saw that was a single strand of cutting material with padded loop handles at each end. Wonder if it could be rigged up to work and cut angles? Maybe with some sort of jig?

[crumbruiser]

Thrift stores usually have electric knives for cheap.
In talking about the hot wire cutters, could a hacksaw blade be heated and bent to the chosen radious and then be incorporated into the cutter instead of a wire?
Frank

[GPW]

Frank , I don’t think that would work very well... you’d need a lot of current to heat it ...

No use taking something real easy (but messy) and complicating it ...

[gullywompr]

This movie shows how to radius foam with a wooden radius block. Description of the block is about three and a half minutes in, demonstration of usage about five minutes in. Never tried it myself, but to me it looks to be easy and quick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9-CCvl3KUs

[atahoekid]

Thanks for posting that video. That is what I thought of trying but was unsure of the results. Seems like it will work just fine.

[mikeschn]

I don't think our pink EPS is quite that soft, but I do think the radiused block will work on it.



Mike...

[GPW]

The foam used in the video is Urethane foam , which sands very easily , and doesn’t tend to tear out as easily as the extruded styrofoam .. Big difference in working properties ... The radius block will tend to tear out the Styrofoam if not used very carefully ... been there ...

A good random orbital sander might be better for rounding Styrofoam ... belt sander for bulk stock removal , then finish with the RO sander ... Easy !!!

[mikeschn]

I will go out and experiment for a little bit today. Not sure how long I'm going to stay out there today, as it's 20° F. here.

On the other hand, if I could find a way to heat the garage, I could get small wheels on the foamie, and get the foamie in the garage, I might stay out there a little longer.

We tried a 1500 Watt room heater yesterday, didn't even make a dent in the temperature.

Any ideas?

Mike...

[mikeschn]

I have one of these... I think I'll try it today.



Mike...

[GPW]

Time to Foamie the Garage ...

Are you to the point where you can work inside the Trailer , gotta’ be easier to warm than outside ... 20 F , BRRRR!!!!