I am using .030 for detail parts. The heated exacto blade would be very similar to the wire you mentioned. Having no money, I cut through five-inch-thick foam sections by making repeated swipes with a cheapie utility knife like the one above. I'm thinking of attaching wires from a battery to the blade on one of the rubber handled exacto knives. Is there a tool I can purchase? Just lay a straight-edge on it, score it with an Xacto and it'll break very cleanly along the line. You can try what I do with a dremel too. I trired cutting out the windows, but didn't look too great. 4 Place the styrene molding on the wall, holding it in place for 10 seconds. Thin plastic sheets – those less than ¼” (6.35mm) in thickness – do not require a power tool or saw to cut a straight edge and may be treated much in the same way as glass. i was just wondering what is the best way to cut it, planning on making the cross punisher (wolfwood) something like this, but the anime style[IMG]http://www.geocities.com/vash_tha_stampede/pu2.jpg[/IMG] I make lines on 1mm sheets, I use the mill for thicker sheets. im looking for a fast way to cut straight clean lines. or is the .08 the thicker stuff? I am probably going to use a combination of sheet styrene and polystyrene foam insulation, mainly because of the weight and cost of the sheet styrene. The only way to avoid the ridge is to cut with a saw, but that takes time and has it unique difficulties when doing long pieces. Drill holes in the plastic along the guide lines so your blade has places to start and stop easily. Using a very sharp scoring tool, clamps, a table or workbench with a straight edge and a metal rule, … The secret is to buy the styrene sheets with the lines already scribed into them. Inspired by Skottoman's 911 work, i thought i'd have a bash with styrene, since i need a rear wing for a second Hotshot body. For cutting different shapes I put M3 bit on my mill and drive the part under it. 2. Learning how to cut rubber properly can give you a clean cut that won’t leave you with gaps or crooked edges. 1) What thickness Styrene should I use for the walls and floor? Standard Cut-to-Size length and width tolerances are +/-1/8", but are typically more accurate. I had an idea to make a heated exacto blade or something to that effect, but I'm thinking that it would be more difficult to get decent results. Important Note: you do not need to cut all the way through the styrene. ... Spray painting provides the best finish on polystyrene particularly when the model represents well maintained wood sheathing or a metal surface. I am about to cut into my stryene Fett armor. That's a bit faster but I can never keep the edges straight or the corners square. This video shows how to easily cut acrylic sheet such as Perspex, Lucite, Plexiglas, Optix, Oroglas, Acrylite, Sumipex, Cryolite etc. The process doesn’t demand to use a power saw or any other heavy-duty electrical equipment. But it only works on styrene sheets. At the weekend i bought quite thick sheet on the basis it would be easier to join, but in hindsight its too heavy, and so i picked up a couple of 1mm sheets today which seem far better to cut … High Impact Styrene sheet thickness tolerances are +/- .003" and can vary throughout the sheet, but variations are typically less than 5%. Another diameter of nichrome is another current. You'd need to draw it all up in a CAD program first though. Sharp pencil: This is the best tool for marking styrene for cutting. Just a couple ideas, if you have any success or breakthroughs, let me know. As suggested, a utility knife is easier to handle, with stronger (and cheaper) blades. It may work better on the soft sheet-type styrene, such as that offered by Evergreen. so with all the styrene builds ive been doing, ive been using a razor saw, ( slow but clean) razor ( good for trimming) and a dremel ( fast and dirty). (its like a heated wire, use to cut foam). Thin sheets and strips can be cut through with a very sharp knife or single edge razor blade. There is a much simpler way to cut precisely parallel lines in styrene sheets, and it doesn't require any special tools other than your basic #11 X-acto blade with a regular handle, and a gentle touch. Here you'll find the BEST on the web video tutorial on how to make 1:48 scale WW2 German jet. I would suggest you use a laminate or acrylic cutting blade. thx yo, first score it (like 6 or 7 times ) with an Xacto knife and then break it gently (scoreing is just cutting a not very deep line), thx, but how would i cut sharp corner (semi-detail). Our site is currently being changed over to the new version. You just need to score it. Create a shallow cut mark in the foam. Right I’m looking to cut sheet styrene with my maker possibly a couple of thicknesses (0.5mm 1mm 1.5mm and 2mm) has anyone had any luck with this … In the past I've used the tried in true razor knife and steel ruler,but the blade always wants to "wander" away from the ruler. if ur going to do that u going to need a lot of waltage, my wire need a good 10 walt to get it heat up. Another catch is that one needs to cut some interior slots: I assume that wire knives are connected at both ends so a current can flow, which means that those slots will have to be cut another way. found it hard to do with .05 sheets. Cutting with a scoring knife: It is one of the easiest methods to cut acrylic table tops. Scale ruler: This is the perfect tool for making precise measurements and straight cuts. Best way to cut plastic? Use an electric knife to cut thicker pieces of styrofoam. Remember! 9. There is a proper way of doing it so you won’t damage your material or worse, an injury. sup!! Save yourself the trouble by using the different types of foam cutting tools for the fastest, easiest, and mess-free way of cutting, carving, and engraving foams. Different kinds of adhesives work for different situations and materials. Cut into the Styrofoam with the craft knife using small, steady movements. so with all the styrene builds ive been doing, ive been using a razor saw, ( slow but clean) razor ( good for trimming) and a dremel ( fast and dirty) fastest way to cut styrene? You'd have to score those details and hope they come out right when you break it. Work only with the right supplies to make a clean slice through the foam and leave a clean cut behind. I do the same, make a line on where I want it cut then bend it and it breaks. Additionally, the layout and UI will not be complete until all sections have been re-enabled, so please ignore any layout issues (or bland-ness) at this time. Make straight relief cuts from the outside of the plastic to the curves. :), thx for all the info guys. sup! 10. - Rcjeeps.com I have seen where you cut the wall into different pieces and then reassemble, but I tried it and it also didn't work too well. I spent a LONG time on the first few cuts of this project because I carved all the way through the styrene with my xacto knife. #7: It was time-consuming, messy, far from accurate, and doing the curves was a real pain. Everything you see is currently in read-only mode. This way you will end up with mats or rubber sheets which you can connect on your own, will fit better, and will look nicer. However, the process requires following steps: Mark the area of sheet you want to cut. About Cut Laser Cut; Bonding acrylic and other plastics. Sandpaper: Keep a variety of fine grits on hand. I am trying to determine the best way to cut out window holes from sheet styrene. I don't recommend it. If you have access to a table saw you could cut the styrene very easily provided you use the correct blade for the material. Jigsaws allow for better mobility as you make curved cuts into the plastic. i was just wondering what is the best way to cut it, planning on making the cross punisher (wolfwood) something like this, ... (its like a heated wire, use to cut foam). sup!! Using a blade with 10 teeth per inch, turn the plastic to make the shapes you need. The X-Acto saw (fits in the standard X-Acto handle) is probably the easier to use, though, and cuts fairly quickly. But I figure if you're spending $50+ per sheet, you'd want it done right anyhow. However, if the attachment point is thick it will need to be cut off with a fine saw, sometimes called a razor saw, ... Poly cement works by slightly dissoving the styrene plastic, but it wll not dissolve resin and so will not work at all. Create curved cuts by using a jigsaw. A quick swipe with the back of a blade is usually enough to remove it once the pieces are cut and separated. It's the dumb way to cut foam. When making complicated shapes or constructing large objects, it’s necessary to join two pieces of acrylic together, or join acrylic with plastic, glass and wood. To achieve the best result it is advisable to use a saw that has uniform teeth. ;) Do you use a Dremel beforehand? Best of all, styrene is easy to fabricate and assemble with adhesives or solvents. We will cut the pink panther insulation board with a putty knife quick and easy. Does anyone know of an easier way to cut openings for windows and doors in thick (1/8") styrene? Industrial scissors? You do know that Styrene can be scored and broken, right? This website uses cookies for functionality, analytics and advertising purposes as described in our, RcJeeps Based on live axles and 1.5 - 1.9 wheels. Discover all the advantages by stocking up today. As it goes, all the hot-wire cutters I've ever used have been fairly easy to detach/attach at the ends, simply because the wires break and need to be replaced easily. Stop about 1/2 to 1 inch from the end of the molding to prevent caulk from seeping over the sides. The way the pros cut foam is using one of these bad boys: trabus > hey, is the "heated exacto blade" ur talking about call a foam cutter like the one use to make warhammer terrain? I've tried a few different materials (polystyrene foam, foamcore), and they both ended in failure. Exacto knives? 5 seconds sanding and it's sharp and straight. 1. 1. Now, score the line in the opposite direction at least 3 times. Please contact us if you need greater precision. any suggestions? You don;t have to cut all the way through styrene, just score it a few times, don;t press down real hard - let the blade do the work. Whether bent, bonded, cut, drilled, fabricated, molded, painted, or recycled to make something utterly unique, you won’t be disappointed by choosing styrene plastic for your next project. Please watch the companion video that shows the sharping process. I've been wanting to make a functioning cross for a while as well. :P Also the way i'm making it i have to use styrene, it look something like this (do u want a copy of the crappy blue print?). If you’re cutting through several pieces of styrofoam at once, or through a single piece that is several inches (several centimeters) thick, an electric knife is your best bet. sup! Cutting through it with an X-acto is difficult at best. What is the best way to approach this? There is one other option (but it's a bit on the expensive side), you could look into getting it laser cut. 2) How in the heck do you keep a straight line when using a razor to score the .125 Styrene? Also the way i'm making it i have to use styrene, it look something like this (do u want a copy of the crappy blue print?) Cutting rubber is easier than you think. I've been scoring the edges with the knife, then sort of grinding it out with a drill bit in a Dremel. I have some clapboard siding sheets from evergreen. Glue: An adhesive designed specifically for styrene will yield much better results. I'll do the same if I have any.