Cutting Foam panels and glueing them together

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

What's the best method to cut pink or blue foam panels? I have 2 sheets 2" thick and 2 sheets 1" thick.
I'm thinking bread knife or maybe making a hot knife. What glue do I use to join several pieces together?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Cutting Foam panels and glueing them together

Electric carving knife to cut and Contact Cement to glue

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Cutting Foam panels and glueing them together

Member Tpenfield likes to use the great stuff spray foam to glue the panels together with, squirt a circle and then clamp or weight down the 2 pieces. Pieces can be stacked by repeating the procedure.

Test an area with the contact cement first, the weldwood contact cement is some pretty volatile stuff and eats plastic and foam, that why it still comes in a metal can.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Cutting Foam panels and glueing them together

Let me clarify. Use the Non Flammable Water based Contact Cement...

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Re: Cutting Foam panels and glueing them together

Thanks.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Cutting Foam panels and glueing them together

Member Tpenfield likes to use the great stuff spray foam to glue the panels together with, squirt a circle and then clamp or weight down the 2 pieces. Pieces can be stacked by repeating the procedure.

Test an area with the contact cement first, the weldwood contact cement is some pretty volatile stuff and eats plastic and foam, that why it still comes in a metal can.

Yes, he does . . .

 

[colbyt]

Re: Cutting Foam panels and glueing them together

I recently cut a bunch and tried 3 different methods. Utility knife, diamond blade and circ saw with a fine kerf combo blade.

The continuous rim diamond blade produced the cleanest cut of all. The utility knife cut cleanly when the blade tip completely penetrated the material but tended to pull pellets if the tip was not completely through. The circular saw cut acceptably smooth but was impossible to maintain a perfectly straight line.

Renting or borrowing a portable table saw which has a good fence system is the way to go. My table saw is not portable and I did not want the styro dust in the basement or that is what I would have used.
If you have a plywood blade you may want to test the vinyl siding method of mounting the blade backwards for a smoother cut.

You probably want a respirator or at least a quality dust mask with any power options.

 

[cedarlattice]

Re: Cutting Foam panels and glueing them together


Here is a home made straight edge for a circular saw. It is 2 pieces of plywood. The base and the straight edge. Screw the straight edge down to the base. The measurement from the outer edge of the base to the straight edge should be wider than the measurement from the blade of the saw to the edge of the base plate of the saw. Run the saw down the straight edge to cut off the excess wood on the base. Now all you have to do is line up the outer edge of the base with your cut line or marks and clamp it down. You can make this any length. I hope I explained it OK.

 

[Okieboatguy]

Re: Cutting Foam panels and glueing them together

Like WOG posted, an electric carving knife works great, however, Harbor Freight has an electric hot knife for $17.00. Search results for: 'hot knife'

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Re: Cutting Foam panels and glueing them together

Like WOG posted, an electric carving knife works great, however, Harbor Freight has an electric hot knife for $17.00. Search results for: 'hot knife'

Based on the reviews of HF's hot knife it a real POS but HF is 5 mins from home so I might give one a try. I do have access to an electric knife.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Cutting Foam panels and glueing them together

Based on the reviews of HF's hot knife it a real POS but HF is 5 mins from home so I might give one a try. I do have access to an electric knife.

Tread lightly, for @$9 you can get a SPECIFIC boat foam only electric knife from Wally World.

You (or more importantly, the Admiral) probably won't want to use it to cut the Thanksgiving turkey after it's cut foam, and possibly left in the garage for a few hours, or overnight.