How to cut styrofoam

[Woof]

How do you cut styrofoam? I get those little gribbles all over the place. When finally cut I plan to tape the sides to make it neat. Any and all suggestions are welcome.

[Woof]

How do you cut styrofoam? I get those little gribbles all over the place. When finally cut I plan to tape the sides to make it neat. Any and all suggestions are welcome.

[Glenn and Kathy]

The professinals do it with a hot wire. run a little 12V through a wire that is held taught somehow. Otherwise use a shop vac to suck up the "gribbles". Good luck with whatever you use.

Glenn

[Mich]

I recently saw it done with an electric fillet knife. The kind that goes up and down as it cuts. It was a slick idea and allowed the user to cut any shape without any problem.

[John66]

I don't know how it would work on styrofoam, but for cutting foam rubber an electric carving knife works great. Just don't let the cook know (or buy one for the shop)

[alvinc]

In my experience any knife, electric or otherwise, creates the dreaded "dribbles". The hot wire is the only real way to avoid this.

I have cut some styrofoam using one of the gun style soldering irons. Take some copper wire, guage will depend on your gun, 12g worked for me, and make a longer soldering tip. Unscrew the stock one and install your special tip. Do not squeeze the wire of the tip too close together, electicity takes the shortest path, and the tip will not be hot. Crude, but it worked.

[Buzz]

I've always used a sharp utility knife to cut styrofoam, it it's too thick, cut on both sides.

Hope this helps.

[Comshaw]

Thin kitchen knife works great, fish filet style, works the best. Cuts a straighter line etc. Couple of quick swipes on a stone and its good to go again. Remodeled two bldgs. and found this to work the best and if you saw/cut around rafters etc, w/o wasting time, use the serrated knife.