Anybody cut styrofoam with a tablesaw?

F

fabsroman

AC Members
Sep 30, 2008
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West Friendship, MD
I'll apologize in advance to the mod for posting this here, but I had no idea where else would be a better place to post a shipping/packing question. Mod, feel free to move this wherever you feel it would be more appropriate. So, here goes.

This is the first summer that I will be using styrofoam and cold packs and cutting the styrofoam with a razor blade can be quite messy. Just wondering if anybody out there cuts it with a table saw or some other type of saw that cuts down on the mess.

If you use a table saw, what size tooth do you use on the blade? Likewise for any other type of power saw.
 
NYCguppydude said:
That or an old big kitchen knife. Hold it over a stove burner for a min. then slice right through the styro!!
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Both are really good ideas. I am going to try both and the table saw later this week to see which I like best. The table saw seems like it will be a lot easier as far as measuring each piece (i.e., set the guide and saw away).
 
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The Zigman said:
I built a hotwire cutter.

it works excellent. I can cut through 10 inches of foam with ease.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=192242


You should get a video of you cutting it with a table saw..
Its gonna be a blizzard!!
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If I didn't have to go to New York next weekend for a wedding, that would be next weekend's project. Guess it will have to be my project for the weekend after next weekend, along with installing a canister filter and CO2 on my 10 gallon tank.

So many projects and way too little time.

Awesome invention. Hope you don't mind if I pm you with any questions I might have.
 
This depends a LOT on the type of "styrofoam" you are using. If it's the cheap white stuff that looks like a bunch of little pellets glued together....I'm not sure you CAN cut that without making a mess, no matter what you cut it with.

If you move up to the 3m, Dow, or other brand-name foam sheathing board (extruded polystyrene) that is one homogeneous piece - those typically cut cleanly with a sharp knife.

Been there done that.

Caution on using hot-wire cutter...foam fumes are toxic. Proper ventilation required!
 
Yeah, I usually use the hotwore cutter in the garage or outside.
it doesnt make alot of smoke, and if it does the wire is too hot.

But nonetheless there are some fumes produced.
 
I usually just cut partway through with a sharp razor knife and snap the piece off, works like a charm and pretty much no mess.

If you're looking for less mass, I don't think a tablesaw is the way you want to go...
 
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