How to Carve Styrofoam

Styrofoam is an interesting medium that can be used to create a variety of crafts and decorations. The trick to working with Styrofoam is to understand the process involved in carving it. Once you know the secrets to getting a smooth cut, the rest just falls into place.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Decide on a shape. Before you begin to carve a piece of Styrofoam, you need to have a good idea of what you want to create with it. You can draw out a template on cardboard or simply sketch something out on paper. This will help you develop a plan of attack when it comes time to do the actual carving.

2. Start with the bigger cuts. Once you have an idea of the shape you want, begin by cutting large chunks of Styrofoam off to get close to the end result. You can use a serrated knife for the large cuts; if the Styrofoam is really thick, try an electric knife or hot wire tools.

3. Do some detail work. Once you have the general shape cut out, you need to go in and do the detail work. This can be done with a smaller serrated knife and a little bit of patience. A craft knife is also a good choice for the detail work.

4. Create some texture. If you want to create some texture, there are many specialty tools designed to help you carve Styrofoam. Some can help you create circles, while others can help you create texture or designs in your foam.

Tips & Warnings

• Rub your knife blade with candle wax for a smoother cut.