Thicker pieces of foam rubber, up to approximately 3 to 4 inches thick, may be cut with an electric carving knife. For designs that can't be cut with scissors or a paper cutter, use an X-Acto craft knife. I also have had questions regarding foam board and it … I remember when I took my first class at college, the first thing the professor did was show us how to use an X-Acto properly and how to cut a mat board. Illustration board is a good, strong backing to use to mount your artwork. Step 3 - Cut the Foam Insulation Board. Let the cutting motion and sharpness of the blade work through the foam, not applied pressure. Type Hot Wire Knife. I know almost everyone has used an X-Acto knife at some point. (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. The X-Acto knife is perfect for tiny and intricate spots where other utility equipment won't work. This will result in a small impression or etching in the board. Before you begin, cut your mat board to the size of your frame. They cut straight lines just fine but when it comes to curves, they leave a big mess. When using a serrated blade, make smooth and gentle back-and-forth cutting motions through the foam. 1. Good clean accurate cuts. 5. View the video above to watch one recommended method for cutting foamboard with an X-ACTO knife. While cutting, make sure that your knife cuts to the outside edge, or "waste area," of the board. Using the Exacto knife cut foam board to desired size using the puzzle edge as a guide. Serrated blades are great for cutting thick foam. Typically I leave a 1/4″ on all sides. In Stock - Ships within 48 Hours General Tools 16 Piece Hobby Knife. Before using an exacto knife, it is always a good idea to check if the collar can be tightened. To get the professional beveled look, you will need a mat cutter. Foam board, whether a thin style used for crafts or the thick insulating type sold in large sheets, requires a bit of finesse when it comes to creating the perfect cut. If you are cutting 3 inches thick or less try an Olfa L-2 utility knife. Having no money, I cut through five-inch-thick foam sections by making repeated swipes with a cheapie utility knife like the one above. It's the dumb way to cut foam. No matter which type you work with, a sharp utility knife or craft knife is a must. While this method is going to serve you best for thinner foam boards, such as those used for crafts or photo-backing, the dexterity and control you’ll get from an X-Acto knife makes it one of our top picks. I lay the board flat and use a ruler & the exacto to score the board (just a shallow cut), then I stand the board on end, place the exacto blade in the scored groove at the top of the board and cut downward, and I almost always get a perfectly smooth edge. Step Two: Place your artwork in the center of the mat to measure the location of the opening. If you allow your child to use an X-Acto knife, supervise carefully. It helped my son in cutting 10mm craft foam for a project. Once you select a cut setting and load your mat for a Knife Blade project, an alert will inform you that a longer-than-usual cut time is expected. Over all a good tool to have for most projects. For thicker basswood,you may want a little model-making saw, which you can get there as well. Kohree [2020 New] 3 in 1 Hot Wire Foam Cutter, Upgrade 18W High Power Styrofoam Knife Cutter Electric Hotwire Foam Cutting Tool, 100-240V /18W Heated Foam Carving Knife … The handle of this knife is rubberized for a more comfortable … I tried making my first insert last night using my craft knives and while they work, I'm not getting straight edges because it feels like the blade isn't cutting through the foam board, even by making three cuts as recommended on here. I have tried all types of foam board cutting gadgets. Measure the reveal area you want around your art. If you are cutting paper, the blade life will be longer. After tracing, cut out the section of mat board using your X-Acto knife or other sharp blade. I have used exacto knives and razor blades. As mentioned earlier, cutting foam is essentially the same as cutting bread, so it only makes sense that you would use the same type of knife as well. We have long had a DIY Mat Cutting Kit that we bought for $35 (at half off) from Hobby Lobby about 5 years ago. One of the things I neglected to mention in my banquette-building post was how to cut the foam. I lined the letters on the blade of the knife and put them down ~ when I didn't get it straight I used the blade to pick up the letter and re-position it. Hang the areas to be cut over your cutting table and slowly run the knife around the traced design. With your utility knife, score the foam insulation board by firmly running the utility knife along the outer edge of your straightedge. The X-Acto knife did not disappoint me~ cut clean even in the tight spots!!! Cutting thicker material can wreak havoc on your hands. I used the X-Acto knife to help me add some mini letter stickers to a scrapbook page. 5 Push hard so that the tip of the knife penetrates all the way through the final 1/2 inch. They usually come in small or large sizes, with replaceable blades. Xacto X5282 Basic Knife Set Discover a variety of premium blades for every hobby and craft - X-ACTO However, because it is so strong, it can be difficult to cut down to your preferred size. Note: Depending on the puzzle size, two form boards and multiple cuts may be needed. I know I have had to use them in my personal and professional life a lot over the last 10 years. If you are cutting cardboard or foam board, you may need to change your blade very frequently. This leaves a nice clean white border around the art. Place the electric knife on the foam along the desired cutting line. The blade has a sharp edge and pointed tip, so it's necessary to use it with care. Your Price: $4.99 Put the thinnest and sharpest blade you have on the knife. Use an x-acto knife and a metal ruler to cut through the mat board. It was time-consuming, messy, far from accurate, and doing the curves was a real pain. It's also made from foam board (bought for a dollar at Dollar Tree!) It can be tricky, but if you have a steady hand, your illustration board will become the perfect frame for your masterpiece. Using your craft knife, make a second cut down to the paper. 3. Once again, the knife blade cut was smoother. Stenciling – Due to its extremely precise cutting edge, the X-Acto knife is ideal for creating stencil designs and shapes.. Pencil shading – A lot of artists use X-Acto knives to create bold highlights and shading to works of art by scoring lines on the canvas or paper before shading.. When the first cut pass has been completed, Design Space calculates the expected cut-time remaining based on how long the first pass took and based on how many passes are pre-programmed for that material. I will note that with both I had to slightly push out of the material as it was just not quite cut all the way through. Then, a third cut through the paper back. X-Acto #1 precision knife is the original cutting tool for any application requiring a precise, accurate cut. We recommend changing your X-ACTO blade frequently to insure that you always get a precise cut. You do not want to have the blade come loose while you are cutting! and involves minimal tools and effort. Place foam board to the side and put puzzle face down on wax paper. I will be using foam board even more in future projects. Precision knife with a safety cap for fine deep cutting Built with a black A-type handle and a carbon steel blade for a reliable cut every time Soft grip removes tension from the hand, allowing you to continue making precise cuts needed to finish the job with comfort and confidence Start the knife before touching it to the foam rubber to prevent ripping. Cutting incorrectly results in shredded and bumpy-edged foam board that looks unprofessional. Will need to buy blades separately. X-ACTO is the home to precision cutting knives, cutting tools, blades & office supplies. Source: Amazon If you are going to be cutting a lot of foam and don’t want to have to deal with a mess, then the best option for your use is a hot wire knife.This knife will either run on batteries or plug into the wall and it can quickly heat up to very high temperatures, allowing you to use the blade to slice easily through foam without any problems. I use an exacto knife too. Wish they provided more than 2 blades. Tightening and Changing the Blade. This X-Acto knife can smoothly penetrate through cloth, film, balsa, paper, acetate, mat board, foam board, plastic, and even thin sheet metal. Use scissors, or an adult can use an Xacto knife to cut off the extra foam board from around the Santa Advent Calendar, leaving just Santa and the egg carton candy cups. Rated 5 out of 5 by Denedee from The Go to Hot Knife This is a great tool that we used cutting craft foam and poster board. When I say easy, I really do mean easy! I am having much difficulting cutting curves (particularly circles) on foamcore board. Bits of foam always break off and don't leave the nice edge that straight line cuts do. Also note that there is a 5 mm thick craft foam and it is too thick for the machine. Stop cutting when you get to within 1/2 inch of penetrating through the foam. Scoring – X-Acto knives are often used to score cardboard and paper in order to create precise folds. Highly recommend. Now for the most exciting part of making this entire DIY Kids advent calendar….filling it with candy or chocolate! Use an electric kitchen knife, such as a carving knife or a fish fillet knife, to create clean cuts in Styrofoam. This is the easiest and best method I have ever used. 3. The X-Acto #1 precision knife is built with a carbon steel blade for a reliable cut every time. To measure for artwork that is perfectly centered on the mat, simply subtract the width of the artwork from the width of the mat and divide that number in half. A mat cutter is basically a blade that cuts a 45-degree angle, instead of a 90-degree angle like an X-ACTO knife. You can usually find a kit with multiple types of handles and tips. I used my favorite m itre saw to cut the wood dowels, but you can make this sign with a simple X-ACTO knife or small hand saw. You can cut them with x-acto knives, which you can get from the craft store, as well. 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