FoamStream...

[GPW]

I’m using much thicker wire .... but have a Variac where I can dial in the current I need ... The disadvantage of non-adjustable wall warts and battery chargers...

[ghcoe]

What I have a spool of is 30 thousandths, .030. I stopped at the local body shop and got 10 ft of .035 but found that no better. I am using 3 ft lengths and it bends before it cuts. I have a 10/2 amp charger on 2a and the start setting. In the charge setting it keeps cycling, clicking and getting cold.

I have read where some chargers will do that, but it should still get the wire hot. I am thinking that if you are using .035 it is too thin and would heat up pretty quick. This would probably make the charger cycle on and off and also make the wire too hot. I am using .30 wire. You just want to get the wire hot enough to cut and not red hot. If the wire gets too hot it will bend easy and break or melt. My charger is old school so it is possible that newer chargers may not work.

[Wolffarmer]

I am using .30 wire. You just want to get the wire hot enough to cut and not red hot. If the wire gets too hot it will bend easy and break or melt. My charger is old school so it is possible that newer chargers may not work.

3/10ths of an inch wire? .035 is 35 thousands. so .30 would be 300 thousandths = more than 1/4 inch. Just what is this .30 you speak of?

Randy

[GPW]

0.30 is pretty THICK ... I think I’m using ~ 0.065” and that’s waaay thicker than the wire we use on a HW bow ...

Going to set up some sheets and test the Kerf tool today ... Pics will be provided ...if it works ...

Also , I stopped by Vinnie’s yesterday , and he’s going to CNC out those two front ribs for me , pick them up next week ... He wanted to cut even more ribs for the “nose cone” , the rounded bit , so we’ll see what he comes up with ... He’s got the programs already written so it’s basically , pop the wood on the machine and hit the start button ...

[GPW]

Turns out my wire may be a bit too thick , turned it on , blew the 5A fuse in the Variac ...and typically no spares around ... off to the store ....grrrr!!!

[swampjeep]

George,

In the photo your jig looks like you used a heavy wire. Can you tell me what it is?

When I try to do the same with .035 welding wire in 1.5" blue foam it
bends before making 'cuts'. Even with 'no' pressure...

Thanks,
Pete

Are you using .035 or .35? I am using .30 welding wire. I am using a car battery charger set on 2 amp charge for the power supply. I found 3 feet of wire to be a good length to keep the heat right. Check out my hot wire thread for more info. viewtopic.php?f=55&t=55323

they dont' make .30 welding WIRE,
maybe rod for arc welding,

.30 = 3/10 inch, with is almost 3/8 thick

.030 and .035 are common sizes or welding w1re for a MIG or wire feed arc welder.
.03125 = 1/32

[swampjeep]

sorry, looks like a few of you already questioned the .30 wire LOL

[ghcoe]

Yup looks like all these numbers have now got me confused......

.030 here is the picture to unconfuse us all....

[mezmo]

I think you'll be happy if Vinnie cuts out enough ribs to space them
radially around the semi-circular front's base at the same spacing as
the side ribs are spaced at least, a couple extra wouldn't hurt, or
perhaps doubling them where it transitions from the side to the front.
The program's already done, Vinnie's willing to cut them, and it will
be negligible extra weight, and should make covering the front with
foam easier - you can pre-cut identical foam segments to fit over each
segment [or a couple at a time, staggering layers like laying bricks] -
should make that a bit more straightforward.

[Wolffarmer]

Tell Vinnie to forget about guitars. Trailers is where it is at now.



Randy

[GPW]

I have Vinnie thinking about it now ... we’ll see what happens ...

My kerf tool won’t work , well the tool works but the wire keeps blowing the fuses in the Variac ...thinner wire would bend , Now I have to re-think this whole thing ...

[GPW]

I guess it’s back to the old router idea ... Could get Messy ... Problem still , we have to make the kerf cuts 2.5” deep X 10’ long ...

[GPW]

Measured the circular saw blade .... that’s a 2 1/2” cut depth ... Not very wide , would have to make a lot of cuts ...

[GPW]

Test #1 ... The Jigsaw .... This actually worked pretty good ... easy to do , cuts like butter ... Only downside is since the blade is so narrow , you need More cuts to make up the area you need to remove... These cuts were 1” apart , and the material now bends just enough to make the transition ... The really nice thing is the little multiple cuts become unnoticeable when the panel is bent ... easier to finish off the inside , later ... And yes , once kerfed , the foam bends easily ...
In the picture , you’ll notice the prominence of the vacuum cleaner .... This was messy , but I can’t imagine Near as messy as a circular saw or router... The pic is After the vacuum was used .... once I made the cuts , quickly realized that if this wasn’t swept up immediately , it would be Everywhere in short order...in the Studio

[Wobbly Wheels]

I think I might have asked this in the big thread, but couldn't one use the nichrome wire and rheostat out of a toaster oven to make a 110V cutter ?
They're dirt cheap to buy at yard sales/thrift stores. One might need to add a ballast resistor to cool the wire down so it isn't glowing, but that's doable.

Hmmm....