Tuesday Tool: Hot Foam Cutter

One of the things I got this past Christmas was this cool foam cutter:

I have a Woodland Scenics hot wire foam cutter on loan, but it only has the thin wire which takes forever and isn't easy to control precisely. Also, ever since my and Bill's excellent adventure with a big hot knife foam cutter over 3 1/2 years ago, I wanted something a little less - um - dangerous.

So, it was time to get my own tool which includes the best of both worlds. On to the "unboxing"!

There are two trays of attachments. Here's the top tray....

... and here's the bottom tray, which includes extra wire and a stand.

It comes with two rods which will allow you to cut foam like you can with a hot knife, but since they're not as thick they won't create as much fumes.

And here's the hot wire attachment - similar to the WS tool.

Other than the versatility of the attachments, the other two features I really like over the WS model are the on/off switch (the WS model requires you to press and hold a slide switch to energize the wire), and the fact that the attachments are so easy to change - just pull one out and press/snap the other one in.

Here I did a little test over by the Middletown Meat Packing area . . .

I really like using a hot foam cutting tool over a steak knife or rasp (ugh!). All those little statically-charged foam shavings drive me nuts and get all over the place. But with a tool like this, the only thing you have to worry about are the fumes - and the size of wire/rod is small enough that not as many fumes are generated.

At under $30 ($10 less than the WS model), it's inexpensive enough to give it a try. And if you do, , be sure to let me know how you like it.