Results 1 to 9 of 9
Thread: Cutting foam
-
4 January 2011, 11:37 #1Contributing Member
- Join Date
- Feb 2010
- Posts
- 449
- Downloads
- 0
- Uploads
- 0
Cutting foam
Do I really need to put together a hot wire for this?
I'm only going to use it one or two times, are there any alternative methods?
I have a Pelican 1750 on the way and the center foam piece is solid, I saw those pop-out center pieces that you simply pull sections out of but I wanted to cut out my own sections.
-
4 January 2011, 12:38 #2
I have used a soldering iron before to cut Styrofoam. It should work okay, but probably not as clean as a wire cutter. Make sure you do it in a ventilated area to avoid having fumes throughout your house.
-
4 January 2011, 14:29 #3Distinguished Member
- Join Date
- Aug 2007
- Posts
- 1,584
- Downloads
- 11
- Uploads
- 4
- Buy one of those disposable razor knifes that you can snap-off the tip when it gets dull.
- Position your item on the foam and depress slightly to hold the item stationary.
- Extend the knife blade to the desired depth and cut around the perimeter of the item.
- Starting at one end of the cut-out in the foam, pull up and back and begin to make slices across the full width of the foam.
- Take your time and repeat the cuts across the foam until you have cut free that section.
- You should now have a "shadow" in the foam where your item will sit secure.
Some of us in aviation maintenance do this to our roll-away tool boxes as a means of tool control to prevent Foreign Object Damage (FOD) or a serious accident or incident due to a forgotten tool left on the aircraft. We call it "Shadowing A Tool Box".
Here's an example of my AR Tool Box Shadowed.
-
4 January 2011, 15:15 #4
-
4 January 2011, 17:07 #5Contributing Member
- Join Date
- Feb 2010
- Posts
- 449
- Downloads
- 0
- Uploads
- 0
Nice! I'm going to try that, thanks.
What are those little brass things to the right of that combo wrench?
-
4 January 2011, 17:11 #6Distinguished Member
- Join Date
- Aug 2007
- Posts
- 1,584
- Downloads
- 11
- Uploads
- 4
The brass items are bubble levels. They can be seen here: http://www.weaponevolution.com/forum...M-AD-68H-MOUNT
ETA: The "shadowing" itself is easy. The hard part is trying to explain the process in text. If you need a demonstration I could possibly put up a short video.
-
4 January 2011, 22:48 #7Member
- Join Date
- Feb 2009
- Posts
- 5
- Downloads
- 0
- Uploads
- 0
I've had excellent success with straight razors and electric knifes. (the kind you use to cut meat). They make nice clean cuts, straight or curved.
-
5 January 2011, 15:26 #8Contributing Member
- Join Date
- Feb 2010
- Posts
- 449
- Downloads
- 0
- Uploads
- 0
Nah no need for a video unless you're extremely bored, I get the idea from your post.
I think I'm still gonna end up cutting all the way through the center foam piece so I'm gonna get a long razor and just poke and slice.
I'm sure I can order a new piece of foam if I end up totally trashing it.
-
5 January 2011, 15:42 #9Distinguished Member
- Join Date
- Aug 2007
- Posts
- 1,584
- Downloads
- 11
- Uploads
- 4
Sounds good. Just thought I'd offer!