<![CDATA[Latest posts for the thread "Making my own foam trays - oh God help!"]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/8.page JForum - http://www.jforum.net Making my own foam trays - oh God help!
How the hell do you cut foam like that without it getting mangled? I tried a razor knife, but it still wound up with burrs and tufts all over the place. My plan was to cut a rectangle and glue it to a piece of craft foam the same size as a Battlefoam tray (so I can stack them with my existing ones). I was going to cut out spaces in the rectangular section for my models, but I don't know how to do that without getting ragged edges all over the place.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/591256/6751200.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/591256/6751200.page GMT Making my own foam trays - oh God help!
1. Get a thin paring knife with a very pointed tip. Sharpen it.
2. Sharpen it again.
3. Begin by cutting a small notch - small slices at a time - just to 'bite' into the material.
4. Once you cut through the material, 'saw' through it slowly, letting the (you did sharpen it, right?) very sharp blade do the work and applying little to no pressure on the foam (so as to avoid distorting it while you cut).
5. To change direction, you are best off beginning a new cut rather than trying to 'curve' the existing cut, unless your blade has a very low profile. Still, expect distortion in the foam. Squares are easiest to make, for sure.
6. Only once you have cut through the material should you glue on the bottom. I used hot glue and it worked great.

Good luck!]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/591256/6751219.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/591256/6751219.page GMT Making my own foam trays - oh God help! ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/591256/6751280.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/591256/6751280.page GMT Making my own foam trays - oh God help!
 BewareOfTom wrote:
either get a blade so sharp it will cut you by just looking at it, or get a laser


Just to clarify, the laser thing was humor, yeah? That's totally not a piece of equipment I'd ever be able to afford, right?]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/591256/6751362.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/591256/6751362.page GMT Making my own foam trays - oh God help!
Of course, mostly they'd just set the foam on fire unless you have the right power. And that's bad.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/591256/6751412.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/591256/6751412.page GMT Making my own foam trays - oh God help!
http://www.amazon.com/Festool-493656-Foam-cutting-Jigsaw-3-pack/dp/B0033LBOJY

Back when I learned how to do upholstery - I was taught using an electric carving knife (works quite well too) - but the jig saw allows for tighter turns and what not.

Of course, if it is less than an inch thick - just compress it down to almost flat and slice through in a single go with a razor blade (takes a bit of practice - but fast and clean cuts).]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/591256/6751549.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/591256/6751549.page GMT Making my own foam trays - oh God help!
In summary cutting foam is a terrible experience.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/591256/6751562.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/591256/6751562.page GMT Re:Making my own foam trays - oh God help! http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_query=elictric+knife&ic=16_0&Find=Find&search_constraint=4044
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really, that is what to use.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/591256/6752328.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/591256/6752328.page GMT Making my own foam trays - oh God help! http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/591256/6752573.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/591256/6752573.page GMT Making my own foam trays - oh God help! ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/591256/6753020.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/591256/6753020.page GMT Making my own foam trays - oh God help! http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/591256/6754469.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/591256/6754469.page GMT