Comments on How to Cut Styrofoam

I also used a soldering gun, but I made my own tip out of 12 gauge copper wire. Formed the wire into a tip, mounded the mounting nuts, bent the ends to go into the gun, then flatted the copper with a hammer. Works like a champ, no fumes, no mess. The wire has a tendency to bend a little, so you have to turn the gun around to bend them back. Other than that, works great.

I also used a soldering gun, but I made my own tip out of 12 gauge copper wire. Formed the wire into a tip, mounded the mounting nuts, bent the ends to go into the gun, then flatted the copper with a hammer. Works like a champ, no fumes, no mess. The wire has a tendency to bend a little, so you have to turn the gun around to bend them back. Other than that, works great.

Quick and Easy, Use a Weller Soldering Gun. Take a piece of 12 gauge bare copper wire, form it into a tip, long enough to go through the styrofoam. Mount the attaching nuts if equipped, bend the ends to fit in the gun, then take a hammer and flatten the copper wire a little. Works like a champ, no smoke, no fumes. You do have to alternate how you hold the gun as the wires do tend to bend if you put to much pressure on them. Just turn the gun around to bend them back.

Quick and Easy, Use a Weller Soldering Gun. Take a piece of 12 gauge bare copper wire, form it into a tip, long enough to go through the styrofoam. Mount the attaching nuts if equipped, bend the ends to fit in the gun, then take a hammer and flatten the copper wire a little. Works like a champ, no smoke, no fumes. You do have to alternate how you hold the gun as the wires do tend to bend if you put to much pressure on them. Just turn the gun around to bend them back.

The electric knife worked great, thanks. Nice to get some use out it other than carving a turkey one time a year.

The electric knife worked great, thanks. Nice to get some use out it other than carving a turkey one time a year.

I need to cut 1/4" wide by 3/8" to 1/2" deep grooves into a 4' x 8' sheet of styrofoam, or more accurately, blueboard/pinkboard. Am thinking some sort of jig would be good to do multiple grooves at once, and to keep them parallel. Horizontal spacing would be 1 groove every 3/4" to 1 groove per 1". Any ideas on how to do this efficiently, accurately, and low cost? thanks in advance! tedyost1970 (at) hotmail-dot-com

I need to cut 1/4" wide by 3/8" to 1/2" deep grooves into a 4' x 8' sheet of styrofoam, or more accurately, blueboard/pinkboard. Am thinking some sort of jig would be good to do multiple grooves at once, and to keep them parallel. Horizontal spacing would be 1 groove every 3/4" to 1 groove per 1". Any ideas on how to do this efficiently, accurately, and low cost? thanks in advance! tedyost1970 (at) hotmail-dot-com

I used a soldering gun. I have an old one that is in the shape of a revolver. It worked really well and almost melted the edge straight. takes a little practice, but i set up my stryofoam piece and cut the shape of a tombstone for halloween and just slowly but consistantly drew a tombstone out of it. it was just the right amount of heat and didn't burn the edges. DO IT OUTSIDE THOUGH, kinda smelly. and for smoke dectectors too.