How to make a cutter for polystyrene with your own hands?

Polyfoam is used in many construction works. It has good thermal insulation. However, this is a fragile and crumbling material. Therefore, when cutting it, special equipment is used. Otherwise, the edges will be uneven, and the material itself will lose its thermal insulation qualities at the joints.

Special equipment is on sale. можно сделать и самостоятельно. However, the foam cutter can also be made on its own. This will significantly save the family budget. How to create different options for a tool for cutting foam, it will be interesting to know each master.

Tool type

, следует изучить существующие разновидности этого инструмента. When creating a manual cutter for polystyrene foam , you should study the existing varieties of this tool. There are mechanical and electrical varieties. If a piece of foam has a small size, and the accuracy of trimming is not so important, you can give preference to the first version of the tool.

However, in order to ensure a close fit of the foam plates to each other, it is necessary to ensure high cutting accuracy. The edges should be smooth. In this case, it is possible to create a warming layer of high quality. Its heat loss will be minimal. When rough cutting between joints, large slits are formed. Through them the heat from the room will go outside.

Professional designers and builders use only electrical equipment for cutting foam. At home, it is possible to create such a tool.

Simple electric cutter

, следует изучить конструкцию простейшего оборудования этого класса, которое работает от электричества. Considering how to make a cutter for polystyrene , you should study the construction of the simplest equipment of this class, which operates on electricity. It will be necessary to prepare a thin guitar string and several batteries (for example, from a flashlight).

The principle of operation of this equipment is simple. The design of the batteries forms a single unit. To it connect a guitar string. When the electric current passes through the circuit, it will heat up. It is in this condition that the string can easily cut a piece of foam.

When this tool is used, the material will melt. The string heats up to 120 ºС and even more. In this case, it is possible to cut several large plates of foam. If you need to do a lot of work this option will not work. Quickly sit down batteries. We will have to envisage the option of connecting the system to the household network.

Varieties of electric torches

может применяться в разных целях. An electric cutter for cutting foam can be used for a variety of purposes. This will determine the type of construction and the overall performance of the equipment. There are three main types of self-made cutters.

The first category is used for linear cutting. The second group includes cutters, which perform the cutting of the material. They are used by designers. To perform repair of the house this variety is used less often. There is also a tool with a working plate made of metal.

Such equipment necessarily has in its circuit a step-down transformer. It should be designed for a minimum power of 100 watts. The secondary winding of the transformer must have a cross section of at least 1.5 mm. It must withstand a voltage of 15 V. In this case, you can achieve a high result of work.

Features of work

, необходимо также рассмотреть особенности функционирования подобного оборудования. Studying how to make a manual cutter for a foam plastic , you also need to consider the features of the operation of such equipment. As already mentioned above, such a tool has a string. It heats up and melts the surface of the foam.

Such material reacts poorly enough to heating. Therefore it is important to maintain the technology of the whole process. Cutting with a hot thread is performed quickly. This allows us to achieve a high quality cut.

Check the heating level of the string simply. To do this, a test is carried out on a test piece of foam. If the thread is immersed, long pieces of material remain on it, it is still not sufficiently heated. If on the string there is no foam at all, then the temperature is too high. In this case, you have to cool the tool a little. With the correct heating it is possible to perform a fast, accurate cutting.

Cutter for linear cutting

позволит создавать блоки из материала требуемых габаритов. Linear cutter for polystyrene with their own hands will create blocks of material of the required dimensions. This greatly speeds up the work of the wizard. If necessary, this tool can be cut into polystyrene circles, triangles or squares.

Two racks are mounted vertically on the table surface. Two insulators are attached to them. Between them stretches the nichrome thread. This alloy quickly heats, providing a sufficient temperature for cutting. Through one of the pillars let loose a freely hanging load. Connect the contacts from the transformer to the filament.

Passing along the nichrome thread, the current will begin to heat it. It will be stretched all the time thanks to the weight hanging from one side. This is necessary, since the string can sag when heated. If desired, the design can be modified by adding a spring instead of the load. However, the original version is easier to perform.

Process of linear cutting

, необходимо также понять, как правильно им работать. Considering how to make a cutter for polystyrene with your own hands , you also need to understand how to properly work it. Cutting can be done vertically or horizontally. To do this, the thread is pulled in the appropriate position.

If the string is stretched horizontally, you can use it to make the same cuts. Styrofoam evenly pulls on the table. The thread will evenly cut it into the required pieces.

When vertically cutting the structure is added a frame of metal or plywood. The holder is mounted on it. An insulator and a nichrome string are fed to it. On the other hand, the cargo is suspended. It will pass through the hole drilled in the table. It should be large enough and covered with a special insulating material. Then you can perform vertical cutting.

Figured cutting

If you need to cut enough large sheets of foam or create decorative elements, sculptures from this material, a special type of equipment is used. You can also do it yourself. This is a manual cutter for polystyrene foam. It is made on the basis of a hand-held jig saw or a hacksaw. In them, the cutting element is changed to a nichrome string.

If you want to create curly elements, you can make several tools of different shapes. A wire is fed to the handle of the jigsaw. It must be carefully isolated. Otherwise, it will be unsafe to work with this equipment. A nichrome string is attached to the wire contacts. This can be done with the help of nuts and screws with washers.

An impulse soldering iron or a wood burner can also be used to create such equipment. This tool is considered convenient. From such equipment, remove their working element and replace it with a piece of nichrome wire. In this case, the threads can be given different shapes.

Cutter with metal plate

в конструкции которого применяется медная пластина. There is a cutter for polystyrene, the construction of which uses a copper plate. To create this equipment you can remake the soldering iron. Suitable equipment with a capacity of 60 watts. Remove the heating element from the appliance. Instead, a plate is placed here.

One side of the copper billet needs to be grinded. This will create a section of greater accuracy. The angle of sharpening should not be made too large. Cutting will be done by heating. To pick up its required level, you will have to experiment on a test piece of foam.

This method is also used by masters of various skill levels and profiles. If necessary, the copper plate can be replaced with a steel blank. This option will require more effort when grinding. But with the help of such a tool it is possible to cut even more dense polymeric materials.

Expert advice

больше подойдет для работы мастера, следует учесть рекомендации профессиональных строителей. Choosing which cutter for foam plastic is more suitable for the work of a master, one should take into account the recommendations of professional builders. The larger the amount of work performed, the more complex the design will be. A simple battery cutter is quite suitable for cutting several blocks. However, to perform a large amount of work, it is necessary to give preference to network types of equipment.

When cutting, the foam is heated. At this point, substances that are unsafe for human health are released from it into the environment. Therefore, work is carried out in a well-ventilated room or on the street.

In order not to be mistaken with the configuration of the cutting, it is necessary to mark all lines with a pencil before starting the action. This will avoid mistakes when cutting. These simple recommendations will allow you to perform work quickly, correctly and safely.

Having considered what types of cutters for foam plastic can be made with their own hands, each master will be able to choose the best option for himself.