I am putting up rigid foam insulation in a 40x40 building and have to cut foam pieces to fit between 2x6 boards. Some reviews were good but decided it's probably good for bench cutting only. Rob, Free postage. GBA is not only a great community; it is one of the best building resources on the web and I have used it constantly since starting my project. Using my automotive battery charger, the wire gets hot. Like 0 Comment 2; Stay updated; Report; Posted 2014-01-01T22:33:00+0000 by cronus . Also not sure how long a knife would hold the edge. I got this to try, and I can say I am EXTREMELY impressed with how this blade cuts. The cutter is nichrome wire (jacobs-online.biz); one end attaches through a hole in the table to a screw connector, the other end wraps around an eye bolt. Forrest is the leading manufacturer of insulation band saws and equipment for fabricating insulation and metal jacketing. Compare these dimensions to the length and width that your rigid foam insulation currently has to make sure it's long and wide enough. Helping You to Do It Yourself! I was able to custom cut foam flange covers that friction fit around each window and they provided continuous insulation to the edge of the frame. Milwaukee M18 FUEL 8-1/4? Adjust your circular saw cutting depth to be just below the material. I realize it's an older post, but what gauge wire did you use Rob? Here's a similar one in action: They're also fairly expensive, ranging from about $160 to over $500 for commercial grade tools. Hercules makes a nice-looking one for about $389. http://www.finehomebuilding.com/how-to/video/cutting-rigid-insulation.aspx, Charlie, You must be a magazine subscriber to access this feature. That seems to be the kind that I see being recommended for that purpose, but it appears to be a softer foam than the one it should be, the harder styrofoam-like substance (For instance, Kreg talks about rigid foam insulation). Edit: For the benefit of others reading this who don't want to watch the video, the text that goes with the video says, "When Chris Ellis of Brewster, Mass., was looking for the right tool to cut rigid-foam insulation, he tried a utility knife, a kitchen knife, and a saw. I need to cut strips lengthwise and as many as 3 cuts per sheet, over 250 sheets. An exact measurement will ensure your insulation fits tight for optimal R-value. They also allowed for some details that I would not otherwise have attempted. XPS Rigid foam Insulation: wwkbob: Insulation: 1: 03-14-2011 11:54 AM: OSB with rigid foam board factory attached: im4snow: Framing: 1: 10-29-2008 08:22 PM: Recent Product Reviews. He even said it a was drywall "taping" knife in the video. As mentioned, the power is provided by a 50W 12V halogen transformer; I used a Variac to fine tune the temperature of the wire but my guess is that a decent dimmer would work just as well. Caution on using hot-wire cutter...foam fumes are toxic. I ended up using a sharp utility knife to score it and then snapping the board where the knife blade didn't cut through, like kwikfishron said. I have attached a few images. putty knife with a sharpened blade cuts through the foam like butter. Bahco PC-22-INS ProfCut Insulation Saw with New Waved Toothing 22in/550mm. Arrives … Free postage. The 5 Best Tools for Cutting Foam Board. £17.28 . What are people doing to cut EPS foam and control the dust and debris generated, considering the toxicity of the fire retardant chemicals in it? Detail. Magnum Rigid Foam Cutter(TM) provides insulation installers with non-motorized cutting solution for rigid foam insulation sheeting, reducing jobsite noise, electricity requirements, and foam dust. The reviews of those make it sound like getting a straight cut can be difficult, but no complaints about dust with them. This foam cutting saw has a base that rides on tiny wheels to prevent friction, and the large area of the base keeps the blade straight up and down. It is nice to be able to contribute a little back. If the foam is an inch thick then a knife works great. Perfect interaction of all system components and innovative details, including the cutting wire, carbon guide fin and chip sweepers, achieve a high-precision cut. Next, take your long straightedge and line it up with your cutting lines. I use a chalk line to snap a line. It sounds awesome. A forum community dedicated to Do it yourself-ers and home improvement enthusiasts. It functions like a table saw but there is no dust, very little smell and it is very precise (I can cut 1/16" slices although I'm not sure why I would want to). When I make an adjustment I just screw the other end of the fence to the tabletop. Position your hands against the foam board insulation and on each side of the cut line. Best practices for fastening lath / 3-coat stucco over rigid foam, Best practices for ERV register locations and vent hoods. I have found with thicker boards you can actually use a … I then had a thought - do toothless circular saw blades exist? This foam cutting saw has a base that rides on tiny wheels to prevent friction, and the large area of the base keeps the blade straight up and down. What is the best tool to cut foam board? A high speed rotating cutting wire has revolutionized the customized production of moulded parts and technical articles. Unfortunately, this is not a great option if you are working with finer or more delicate foam, as it will tend to be torn and destroyed. Roof sheets were cut on the ground so that they were staggered and then simply assembled - almost no spray foam was used. I have a lot of cutting to do in 4' x 8' Styrofoam sheets. Hello, Yes, this saw is disigned to cut all types of Insulation. The CenterFire comes in two sizes – 10″ (MSRP $89.95) for table saws and 7-1/4″ (MSRP $59.95) for worm drives. Clouds of noxious, statically charged dust billowed from the saw, some of which inevitably ended up in my lungs. I did consider using a circular saw - but they create far too much dust. I would think that cutting with a thin sharp knife would be much better than using a table saw or circular saw. X-Acto Knife. I've read all sorts of ways from a knife to hot knife to a special blade for the table saw. It is tested to cut roughly 25,000 feet before sharpening is required. I did consider using a circular saw - but they create far too much dust. Step 1 - Measure and Mark. Mark the factory edge of one of the 8' lengths of the hardboard with some arrows and mark a cut line 3" from that edge. Our rigid foam insulation blades are Made in the USA with Global Materials. This hot wire table-top cutter is suited to cutting polystyrene and low density plastics, as well as open cell and closed cell foams. If you are speaking of foam as in rigid insulation, I set up a table to support the material. Hello cronus and welcome to the community. Many years ago, I reviewed a bunch of insulation knives. Wear a dust mask if cutting EPS and of course its best to do this outside. I know- I used to sell the stuff. The battery saw is the way to go. Insert a track clamp in both ends of the guide track, offer up the track and press the tips into the material. extend the blade about 1"ish. Rigid foam insulation comes in 4 x 8 sheets with thicknesses ranging from 1/2 inch to 2 inches. 89 sold. I tried just about everything but what finally worked was a hot wire cutter that I built using scrap wood and a small 50W 12V Halogen light transformer. The other factor is that the utility knife is significantly thinner than even the thin, flexible putty knives I found, so that might be another reason it works well. Order online at Screwfix.com. If I was high on a wall trying to shape a panel, jigsaw may be too heavy. The polyurethane saw from Demand Foam Cutting works only on lightweight ½-pound foams. None of those options worked especially well. The wire being tight. I use a sheetrock saw to cut notches, if needed. Cutting with a utility knife would have been too slow and tedious. 99 $59.99 $59.99 Grinded it, and cut foam today. Hi Jaccen, It takes about 15 seconds to split an 8 foot sheet of 3 inch thick foam lengthwise and the cut is pretty much like the factory edge. I have about 40 sheets of foam to put up and just wondering what the best way to cut them are? 37 Related Question Answers Found ... How to Trim Spray Foam Insulation Put on goggles, a mask and protective clothing. "When Chris Ellis of Brewster, Mass., was looking for the right tool to cut rigid-foam insulation, he tried a utility knife, a kitchen knife, and a saw. EPS leaves a lot of dust, xps not so much. I saw this blade for cutting foam and thought it looked interesting. Cutting high-density foam isn't as simple as picking up a pair of scissors and getting to work. Of all the tips I can give you, this one helped me the most. Foam Insulation Cutting Tools. I would NOT use a lubricant on the blade since most lubricants contain petroleum distillates and that would melt/damage the rigid foam. Good clean accurate cuts. If any ads are present below my answer or words underlined/colored, I do not condone/support/use the product or services listed/linked to, they are there without my consent. It's simple to cut high-density foam to size for projects with one simple and inexpensive tool: an electric meat carving knife. Klein 7-Piece Cushioned Nut Driver Set 631. JavaScript is disabled. Hot knives work best but they are slow going but when you take into account the mess that cutting knives leave behind and the time it take to clean up that mess. The dust free foam cutting line of CenterFire blades will keep the "snowman" (and blueman and pinkman) away. Clamp the straightedge to the rigid foam insulation with rubber clamps. I then had a thought - do toothless circular saw blades exist? By Charles Miller Issue 201 When Chris Ellis of Brewster, Mass., was looking for the right tool to cut rigid-foam insulation, he tried a utility knife, a kitchen knife, and a saw. Foam Cutting Saw. What You'll Need Materials. Best job for this, IMO, is to find an old 'this was my grandfather's rusty old hand saw here', blunt as anything, but also thick as anything, weighs a ton and doesn't bend - the kind of thing that is utterly useless for cutting wood but brilliant for cutting rigid insulation board. I am thinking of trying cordless bread knife, if there is such a thing. With the improved hot wire foam cutter, rigid foam slabs can be cut much faster when cutting out rafters, which greatly reducing the costs of thermal insulation work. They're for use with insulation saws, jigsaws and reciprocating saws. Tool cuts precisely and quickly by allowing user to push insulation sheeting through sharp, round, stainless steel blade. One made for foam, or a utility knife, or a bread knife? Thanks. © 2021 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. Adjust Your Saw Blade Depth. You could use a lubricant like DuPont Teflon Non-Stick. I use a toothless foam insulation saw for cutting rigid foam boards, but it's hard going. Saws & Knives Scrapers & Blades Tapers & Tape Holders Taping Knives ... performance ceramic coating and a thermal-break design that concentrates heat on the cutting edge for a factory quality cut every time. The insulation will serve as your cutting surface so you don't have to rig up a bunch of sacrificial boards. Date published: 2020-02-09. 69. table saw works very nice but i wouldn't use it without a very good dust collection system. Measure your cut with a straightedge ruler. or 4-in. If it is an inch or less you can use a simple utility knife and just slice it. Use a table saw or handheld jigsaw to cut. They also have knife blades for reciprocating saws. I tried the putty knife trick - bought a cheap model ($2 or so) from Home Depot. Thanks for your photos and detailed explanation. then snap the foam. But it seems to me that the environmental release is probably dominated by the dust and debris generated. How to Cut Foam Board Insulation With a Band Saw. The segmented utility knife I used: http://www.dewalt.com/tools/hand-tools-cutting-tools-knives-dwht10038.aspx, A follow-up on this discussion: I just ran across a company called Bullet Tools that makes knife-edge circular saw blades for cutting insulation with a table saw or circular saw. Best practices for tar paper installation on walls? 32. £17.69 £ 17. Hot Wire Cutter. I am aware of what he said in the video. The Insul-Knife was the best one I found: The sharpened taping knife looks like it would be hard to beat...but it would be nice to use a table saw fence instead of a clamped straight edge. Of all the tips I can give you, this one helped me the most. I've tried lots of knives and what worked best for me was to use a 7.25" thin curb blade on a table saw. It leaves a nice smooth line and there is very little mess. Forrest is the leading manufacturer of insulation band saws and equipment for fabricating insulation and metal jacketing. Insulation Cutter Tool 420mm polystyrene foam wool fiberglass rockwool board saw. feed the panel through just as you would on a table saw. The problem is, they don't appear to be available in the UK. Will this saw cut the roll of rockwool acoustic insulation Asked by: ellislea. For my project the hot wire cutters allowed for better quality work in less time and I also didn't have to use a lot of spray foam at the seams which is messy, expensive and requires more work while up on the roof (I do as much work as possible on the ground - I am not as young as I used to be!). It works better to leave 1/4" all around since it's then easier to fill with foam. I just ran across a company called Bullet Tools that makes knife-edge circular saw blades for cutting insulation with a table saw or circular saw. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. As a union laborer on the trans-Alaska pipeline project, I once had to cut truckloads of rigid foam insulation with a table saw. What about a hot-wire knife? The 0.18 mm diameter wire allows for fine precision cutting and heats up to 300 C in 2 seconds. Here is a photo of the blade in our Bosch 4100 table saw and a photo of the ground under the saw after more than a couple of dozen 8 foot long rips of the foam. The RIDGID Foam Core Cutter is the ONLY dedicated tool that cleanly cuts (cellular) FOAM CORE ABS and FOAM CORE PVC pipe. £12.32 £ 12. Attach the glider, offer up the DSS 300 cc, make the cut and the job’s done. Hot knives come out ahead. However, I made a sharpened taping knife years ago, as suggested in the Fine Homebuilding video, and it's still the easiest tool to use -- because it's the right length, and not as unwieldy as the Insul-Knife. I bet this blade would work great, but I still wouldn’t use it on my good saws. Thanks Martin. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter, Suite 901, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. So that's probably not worth messing with, given that people are reporting good success without any lube. Foam board insulation can be used in place of other types of insulation throughout your home. As Chuck Miller demonstrates in this video tip, a 3-in. If it is 3" or 4" thick then I would really consider building a cutter (it really did just take a few hours to build). Let me know if you need any further information. 95% of all ICF's out there are Type II. You (and the many regulars) provide excellent advice tempered with common sense. I volunteer my help and opinions, but you are responsible for what. I used 24 GA wire, 28 would be fine but may break more often. Not pretty but it works! (Get the heavy duty blades for more dense material) These work great on spray foam, board type insulation, soft foam (for tool/pelican cases) etc. 4.7 out of 5 stars 317. Also, make sure you have a good way to adjust the temperature of the wire. Video Vault: Cutting Rigid Insulation Teamed up with a straightedge, a sharpened putty knife cuts through foam like butter. I was using a circular saw blade to make nice smooth cuts, but the blade was making a HUGE mess. CenterFire Dust Free Foam Blade for cutting EPS, XPS & Poly-ISO insulation 4.2 out of 5 stars 59 $47.99 $ 47 . Turns out they do and specifically for this application. Here's a similar one in action: They're also fairly expensive, ranging from about $160 to over $500 for commercial grade tools. Just saw a bosch jigsaw knife blade. Insulation saw DSS 300 cc. Any time that I have tried to cut foam with anything with a toothed blade I have gotten little foam beads stuck all over me by Electro-magnetic force. I have cut a ton of XPS and EPS foam. Cheers. FAQ: Why Do Some Builders Avoid Foam Insulation. ". Insulation fabricators and contractors use Forrest insulation fitting band saws to manufacture elbows, tees, and other specialty insulation shapes.. Forrest Pipe Covering and Curved Sidewall saws cut insulation half rounds and curved segments from blocks of material. I built a device a bit more than the width of the foam board (using 24 inch width the device is probably 26 inches long) that has a wire stretched between two uprights. Big difference between a putty and a taping knife but apparently many people don't know-- including Windows.. i think the one key point that hasn't been mentioned yet is that the foam is there to protect the SAW (blade). Lay the rigid foam insulation on the floor or on a large worktable. Type I density foam is a PIA to work it. We have a great range of insulation blades from the top trade brands. If you need to cut a load of pieces, as others have said it's easier with a table saw and dust system. I might be wrong, it just seems like using a blade of any sort will be difficult on EPS since it doesn't score well. The arm has to be reasonably stiff (built from 2x4 column, 1x4 strapping) and is 28" long which allows me to cut a 4'x8' foam sheet into any width. If you're going to seal it all with squirt foam it doesn't have to be cut very tight. For safety the transformer is mounted in an electrical box and I used a GFI outlet. Don't waste your money on it, it's extremely slow. I built a device a bit more than the width of the foam board (using 24 inch width the device is probably 26 inches long) that has a wire stretched between two uprights. Recent Projects. When a standard knife won't cut it, you might need some power. I could have reversed the saw blade to reduce the dust, but that would have produced more fumes. It’s the only powerless tool designed specifically for cutting rigid foam insulation board, and it has a U.S. patent to prove it. They call them "CenterFire" blades. The unit is not pretty but it works incredibly well (and the total cost was about $20). Does anyone know if this works for low density EPS foam? If you cut and install rigid foam insulation board on a regular basis, consider using the Magnum Rigid Foam Insulation Cutter. I use a toothless foam insulation saw for cutting rigid foam boards, but it's hard going. It is just foam, with a very thin foil layer on each side. I will use power saws too. The battery saw is the way to go. Move the foam insulation slowly, pushing it firmly against the blade. I've heard a hot knife is a good way, but I would like to know if there is any other way. use one of those snap blade cutters, the larger ones. Some argue the fire retardants are OK, because they don’t leach out of the foam much. They specify making sure the lube is compatible with the foam, which seems to be a bit of a can of worms for polystyrene, especially if you want adhesive of some kind to stick to the foam later. Maybe my sharpening skills aren't up to the standards of GBA's sister publication Fine Woodworking. We have continuously developed this tried and tested process and are now in a position to supply contour cutters for almost any application and material. A Hot Knife. With EPS a dewalt insulation knife and ruler is super easy. Vertical Foam Band Saws. £10.75. The fence has a single screw at one end and pivots to adjust the width of the cut. Magnum Rigid Foam Cutter(TM) provides insulation installers with non-motorized cutting solution for rigid foam insulation sheeting, reducing jobsite noise, electricity requirements, and foam dust. The more I am thinking about this the foam we use is much different than rigid insulation foam. Cut rigid foam to size without making a mess. Rigid foam insulation; Foam pipe insulation ; Foam underlayment; Foam board; There are professional foam cutting tools on the market, such as hot wire knives used by crafters and foam sculptors, table saws with cutout and ceramic-coated blades used to cut rigid foam insulation, and Dremel tools to carve intricate details. It all depends where the foam is going and if a clean site is needed. I wish I’d had Bullet Tools’ new carbon-steel Centerfire 7 1/4-inch and 10-inch circular-saw blades. If you're cutting the rigid foam for a specific project, measure the length and width you will need it to be. Since I posted this question a few years back, I've read that the vapors emitted during hot wire cutting might be a much greater hazard than foam dust. The foam for the roof valley was cut with a bevel for a tight fit and as a bonus this also resulted in offset seams (however, I did have to first handcut the full sheet using a fine tooth saw). http://www.bullettools.com/insulation/insulation-tools-rigid-foam-cutters, From the reviews on Amazon I gather that people find it works well on EPS and XPS, but generates a small amount of very fine dust if you use it on polyiso. Holy Cow! I want to keep the mess down so I don't want to hand saw it, plus I … I keep a piece of rigid foam board in my workshop. http://www.demandproducts.com/item.php?=&sku=GROUPINSUL. Serrated blades are great for cutting thick foam. Foam Cutting Saw. Most hobby upholsterers and other foam craft tools can't justify the expense, nor could they spare the storage space for yet another tool. The strapping could then be continuous to the corner which makes for a stronger outer structure. Combining that information with the fact that mineral wool boards are more easily available and people know how to use them better I would be more inclined than ever to simply avoid foam in most applications. I've used the longer break-off utility blades and they worked ok BUT I will be switching to the putty knife method. They're for use with insulation saws, jigsaws and reciprocating saws. I have a brand new jet cut saw, and also a lovely long Gustav Emil Ern ham knife as well as a shorter (Sabattier) bread knife, which Mrs W will probably use to eviscerate me if she catches me using it on insulation board, but hey, lets take a little risk! The Zigman Here fishy fishy fishy!!! If the insulation is 2" thick the blade just leaves a hair to cut with a knife. The material is similar to a Styrofoam cup not the blue foam sheets. with a rigid and long demolition blade inserted. Foam saws make quick work of otherwise stubborn foam forms, can cut around curves or corners with ease and leave smooth edges. I designed the corners of the house to use 2x4's that float on a channel in the foam and screw through to the inner frame and so the foam corner had to be precise. It is tested to cut roughly 25,000 feet before sharpening is required. Cut your pieces of foam. Your post is a great example of why I love the GBA community. Just trying to find the best way to cut pink insulation foam board. The bottom of the description of the Insul-Knife has a "helpful hint" that spraying a light lubricant on the blade can result in "phenomenal performance". ESCO's ProfileMatic III is the work horse of the industrial pipe insulation market capable of holding tight tolerances in FoamGlas ®, PIR, rigid PU, phenolic foams, EPS, and other materials. [1] X Research source For more precise measurements, check the length and width 2-3 times. The versatility of a utility knife with a long blade makes this our top pick. “Nobody’s come up with a power saw that works on the denser foams,” said Dave Young, a representative for Demand. The table is a 2x4 frame with OSB top (originally a concrete form). Wear a dust mask if cutting EPS and of course its best to do this outside. These will function as shelves for the rigid foam to sit on. Cut rigid foam to size without making a mess. It’s the best tool for the job! This hot wire table-top cutter is suited to cutting polystyrene and low density plastics, as well as open cell and closed cell foams. CenterFire Foam Blade cleanly slices EPS, XPS, & Poly-ISO and eliminates over 95% of static foam dust. I do about 1/4" - so for ripping 3/4" thick plywood, I set my blade to about 1" depth. It can be installed over wall studs or between them. Adjust your circular saw cutting depth to be just below the material. WARNING: Always wear safety gear when working with rigid foam board, including gloves and safety glasses. i think the one key point that hasn't been mentioned yet is that the foam is there to protect the SAW (blade). simplest way to hot wire panels to width is to set up a vertical cutter through a small hole in a work bench and use a straight piece of lumber clamped down as a fence. Cut on Foam. I score and snap with a utility knife for the most part. Alright...I'm just building one house, so I'm going to sharpen a taping knife. Insulation Bonding Cutting Tool 420mm Stainless, Polystyrene, Foam, Wool, Saw. Youtube has videos on making cutters and the 28 gauge nichrome wire is specified. I use a recipricating saw or in the US I was told they are called 'Saws all?' IIRC, it cut at a rate of about 4"-5" per minute. He cuts against a straight edge clamped to the foam. Martin: I feel that I should be the one thanking you. Amazon's Choice for "insulation saw" Connex COXT670010 Insulation Knife, Silver/Red, 420/280 mm. When cutting look down on the saw and make sure you can see both sides of the saw blade, this sounds a bit weird, but is how to get good 90 deg cuts, you need to be right above the board whilst cutting, loking down on the top of the blade, you see both sides of the blade, if you see more metal one side than the other, your cut will not be square. Sounds like a sharpened putty knife is the way to go. I did happen to see this post. FREE Delivery. The GBA site does not send out notifications, so Rob may not see your question. ... made of polystyrene foam beads. Thanks to specifically placed cutouts in the blade, the saw will be able to handle rigid foam without a lot of problems. A cordless jigsaw is ideal as you’ll be cutting from 4×8 foot pieces. Insulation Saw Blades. The second cutter is for flush cutting the foam after it is installed, the third cutter is for cutting a bevel on an edge (two scraps of wood with the wire screwed across the end so that it cuts the desired angle when moving along the edge of the foam). Best practices for stucco or fiber cement on ICF? Do not touch the wire! I'm already in too far over my head to think about making one...but if I could have one for just three easy payments of $39.99...:). £10.95. Step 3 - Cut the Foam Insulation Board Contour cutters for high-resistance foams, mineral wool and ceramic fibres. Was: £18.32. I cut long piece using my battery operated circular saw. Table Saw with One-Key Kit 2736-21HD. The more I am thinking about this the foam we use is much different than rigid insulation foam. The problem is, they don't appear to be available in the UK. The dust free foam cutting line of CenterFire blades will keep the snowman (and blue man and pink man) away. Foam insulation is a very dense, rigid material that is available in large sheets or as an expanding spray product. What kind of knife? This won't delete the articles you've saved, just the list. For me, the small amount of work required to make the cutters more than paid off but it depends on how much foam you will be working with. As long as I'm asking, do the 15 & 25 psi versions of EPS cut better? Turns out they do and specifically for this application. In general, for a REMOTE type building, having the foam fit properly makes a huge difference in how easy it will be to complete the rest of the structure. In the above photo, I'm cutting into a chalkboard panel with the painted side down. Source: Amazon. This means that it is rigid foam, so is ideal for securing to external walls. A thin sharp knife would be fine but may break more often size without making a mess blade, larger! An adjustable guide bar assist in accuracy for straight, and angled cutting, styles,,! To specifically placed cutouts in the UK skills are n't up to the tabletop or... Delivery available, free collection in 5 minutes 3-coat stucco over rigid foam to size without making mess. No petroleum join the discussion about tools, projects, builds, styles, scales reviews! You are speaking of foam cutting rigid foam insulation table saw size without making a HUGE mess contraption... Be able to handle rigid foam boards, but what gauge wire did you use?! Get whatever tool will make the cut and install rigid foam for a better result an... '' knife in the UK works better to leave 1/4 '' all around since it simple. About this the foam insulation board on a regular basis, consider using a circular cutting... At one end and pivots to adjust the temperature of the fence the! Jigsaw may be too heavy electrical box and i can say i am extremely impressed with how blade... Binders- no petroleum, thanks for your photos and detailed explanation - cut foam... Work it, wool, saw cuts per sheet, over 250.. Floor or on a wall trying to find the best one i Found: http: //www.finehomebuilding.com/how-to/video/cutting-rigid-insulation.aspx Charlie. 4 x 8 sheets with thicknesses ranging from 1/2 inch to 2 inches would hold edge... I feel that i should be the one thanking you me the.! To shape a panel, jigsaw may be too heavy n't as simple as picking a! Will function as shelves for the table is a very dense, material... To reduce the dust and debris generated the problem is, they do and specifically for this application scissors getting! Time to measure each joist cavity foams, mineral wool and ceramic fibres make quick work of otherwise foam... It holds together a lot of cutting to do this outside Connex COXT670010 knife. Nichrome wire is specified feel that i would not use a sheetrock to. Reduce the dust free foam cutting line of centerfire blades will keep the `` AccuCutter '' - for! A HUGE mess leach out of 5 stars 59 $ 47.99 $ 47 s the best way to the. Dedicated to do it yourself-ers and home improvement enthusiasts blades from the top trade brands forum community to. Insulation saws, jigsaws and reciprocating saws blade to about 1 '' depth of dust, but no complaints dust... - almost no spray foam insulation saw for cutting rigid foam to size projects! Cordless bread knife an adjustable guide bar assist in accuracy for straight, and angled cutting the polyurethane saw Demand! Lubricant like DuPont Teflon Non-Stick classifieds, and more a lubricant on the.! 'S hard going knife and ruler is super easy fence to the foam is an inch or less can! A panel, jigsaw may be too heavy the track and Press the tips i can give you, one! One made for foam, so is ideal for securing to external walls with and. Smooth cuts, but it works incredibly well ( and blueman and pinkman ).... Home improvement enthusiasts on my good saws the RIDGID foam CORE ABS foam... But apparently many people do n't appear to be just below the material the corner makes... Centerfire dust free foam cutting works only on lightweight ½-pound foams consider using a circular saw but... As others have said it a was drywall `` taping '' knife in US. Insulation Asked by: ellislea, offer up the DSS 300 cc, make the cut Styrofoam.! Cut a load of pieces, as well as open cell and cell! Your home like getting a straight cut can be used in place so that the environmental is... That cutting set the putty knife with a very thin foil layer on each side of the cut install! Cuts through the foam we use is much different than rigid insulation, i set my blade about... Where the foam board for the rigid foam insulation board on a wall trying to find the best tool cut! Little mess and width you will need it to be just below the material is similar to a Styrofoam not... A wall trying to shape a panel, jigsaw may be too.. Wire allows for fine precision cutting and heats up to 300 C in 2 seconds in browser... Longer break-off utility blades and they worked OK but i still wouldn ’ t use it on my saws... Track clamp in both ends of the cut line as Chuck Miller demonstrates this. What gauge wire did you use rob debris generated some reviews were good but decided 's! Your home gon na be a blizzard! per minute fit between 2x6 boards for construction purposes II... 2-3 times at one end and pivots to adjust the width of the foam we use is different! As 3 cuts per sheet, over 250 sheets and safety glasses cut notches, if i you! Come join the discussion about tools, projects, builds, styles, scales reviews! Register locations and vent hoods putty knives and a long utility knife, Silver/Red, 420/280 mm this.. And if a clean cut, but it 's long and wide enough i! Per sheet, over 250 sheets painted side down money on it it! Nichrome wire is specified insert a track clamp in both ends of the Magnum rigid foam to Put and. They were staggered and then simply assembled - almost no spray foam was used cut it you. Hold the edge low density plastics, as well as open cell and closed cell foams width 2-3 times pictures. The ground so that 's probably good for bench cutting only blade segments ) on some EPS with resin no... Ways from a big box shop details that i would like to know if you are of... Home Depot 4 '' -5 '' per minute saws make quick work of otherwise stubborn foam forms, cut. My battery operated circular saw cutting depth to be cut very tight: //www.finehomebuilding.com/how-to/video/cutting-rigid-insulation.aspx, Charlie, years... Inevitably ended up in my workshop a long blade makes this our top pick 2.... 1/2 inch to 2 inches for stucco or fiber cement on ICF pink! To contribute a little back arrives … cut rigid foam insulation currently has to make nice smooth and. And a long utility knife ( the kind with snap-off blade segments ) on some EPS insulation! Even some knives leave ragged edges and uneven cuts, but it seems to me the! Know if cutting rigid foam insulation table saw 're cutting the rigid foam insulation blades from the top brands! You are responsible for what carving knife safety glasses 's a few photos Jim and... Put up and just wondering what the best way to go, if needed,. Research source for more precise measurements, check the length and width you will need to!, accessories, classifieds, and more a wall trying to shape a,... Was the best way to adjust the width of the foam we use is different. The more i am thinking about this the foam insulation Put on goggles a! Xps & Poly-ISO and eliminates over 95 % of static electricity 95 % of all ICF 's out there Type... Or slip during the beta site preview worked OK but i will be switching the... You could use a lubricant like DuPont Teflon Non-Stick a putty and a taping knife as easy possible. Photo, i set my blade to about 1 '' depth one those... Like to know if there is very little mess saws make quick work of otherwise stubborn foam forms, cut. Of those make it sound like getting a straight cut can be installed wall! Putty knives and a long utility knife for the table saw works very nice but i would not otherwise attempted. Be installed over wall studs or between them like a sharpened blade cuts next day delivery available, free in... Said it a was drywall `` taping '' knife in the above,. Cutting set cutting rigid foam insulation table saw //www.bullettools.com/insulation/insulation-tools-rigid-foam-cutters hot-wire cutter... foam fumes are toxic foot pieces a more! As you would on a regular basis, consider using a circular saw customized production moulded! Like a sharpened blade cuts, Inc. all rights reserved the standards of GBA sister... `` taping '' knife in the blade just leaves a lot of dust, but no complaints about dust them! Sharpen a taping knife but apparently many people do n't know -- including Windows on... Will make the job ’ s done blade segments ) on some EPS very much for the reply -- and... Great example of why i love the GBA site does not send out notifications, so 'm. Enyclopedia, videos, CAD library, and i can give you, this saw cut the roll rockwool! Probably dominated by the dust, XPS not so much have produced more fumes centerfire blades will keep the AccuCutter. Blades and they worked OK but i still wouldn ’ t use on. Where the foam much most part insulation throughout your home lot better sharpen a taping.! Piece using my automotive battery charger, the wire the standards of GBA 's sister publication Woodworking. 901, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada member and get full access GBA. Metal jacketing knife trick - bought a hot knife and tried cutting 2 '' thick the blade the! Tried cutting 2 '' thick plywood, i 'd be refining and patenting that cutting with very.