How to cut foam/foamboard straight ?

[sundayhero]

Hi,

I'm wondering if anyone's got a good tip (or tool advise) to cut some insulation foam, foamboard, thick cardboard or balsa wood reallt straigth ?

Even being cutting very carefully with good tools (pro cutter, metal ruler) it's never perfectly straigth. It's really a pain.


thanks !

[Cory]

Sharp blades and shallow cuts help along with using a block cutter rather than a knife.

[racm32]

Here is what I use.

For general straight lines I use a modeling knife and sturdy straight edge.


For buildings I use a tool called a Rabbit that you can get off amazon for cheap. this is what it looks like and does, the tools here I got at a fabric craft store:






hope this helps

[starkadder]

Try not to use a plastic straight-edge (although I do it quite a lot ). Use a metal ruler wherever possible and, preferably, two metal rulers with the foamcore sandwich-clamped between them. Doesn't have to be crushingly tight, just very firm.

Keep replacing your blades because they blunt very quickly on foamcore and make a ragged cut. Any resistance then gets your cut veering off.

Do not skimp on your blade quality. Cheap cutters are shite. There are many many particular scalpel blade shapes available for specific jobs. Yes, they can be expensive but waste far less material. And you're already saving money by going DIY.

[racm32]

I heartily agree about the quality of the blade and changing them. The plast tool I use is purpose made for using as a straight edge. It does not flex or give and is hard enough not to get cut by the knife.

[sundayhero]

I'm already using good tools (xacto knife, metal OLFA -japan- pro cutter with stanley -england- pro blades, metal ruler, A2 size pro cutting mat), but my thick cutting (insulation foam, foamboard) are always straight on surface, and slightly defective inside the foam (or on the opposite side), not matter how carefull I am  


The blue tool seems to be the way to go, how thick can it cut ? I usually cut 5mm to 20mm boards.


thank you all for the help !

[6milPhil]

I use a metal ruler with a rubber backing, this stops slippage.

[MODman]

my wife has a rabbit, she loves it but i don't look like the one in the piccy

[sundayhero]

the "rabbit" seems almost perfect, depanding how deep it can cut 

[Schogun]

This works great:

http://www.logangraphic.com/products/accessories/foamboardcutter.php

Push or pull style, reversible fixed blade foamboard cutter can be used with any suitable straight edge. Cuts 90-degree and 45-degree bevel with an adjustable blade depth of 1/8" (0.32cm), 3/16" (0.47cm), and 3/8" (0.95cm).

Got mine at Michael's craft store.

[sundayhero]

thanks,

it looks nice for small thickness. I made my own research, and I guess for bigger thickness (20mm to about 1") I would need another tool...