Re: [Paddlewise] Cutting foam

Erik Sprenne wrote:
> 
> > BTW, since we are talking about tools for cutting foam + I have
> a pretty
> > much fully functional shop, <snip list of tools>
> >
> 
> Wow, Gabriel - I'm jealous.

my lathe was born near you in South Bend.
> 
> Having carved entire seats and a number of thigh braces, I find
> that a hand saw (rip for fast cuts, and crosscut for a smoother
> edge) works fine for straight or gradual radius cuts on wide
> pieces.  If the profile is traced on opposite edges of the foam
> block, it's pretty easy to keep the cut from wandering.  Concur
> that a serrated knife works great on thinner pieces for tighter
> curves.

I would never admit this in front of Doug, the woodworking safety tool
zealot, but I often use profiles as you describe to carve minicell on
the bandsaw.  Interestingly, my last trip o the emergency room for
stitches was doing exactly that carving a hand out of wood.
> 
> For contouring after the rough shaping, I've been using a 4 inch
> low angle grinder with a 60 grit medium (careful!!!), and
> finishing with 60 grit paper by hand.  After all the shaping, the
> minicell surface is still a little fuzzy, and a quick once-over
> with a propane torch melts the fuzz into a smooth finish.

I like the angle grinder idea as well.  Seems there is a lot of
different things to try that has been suggested on the list.

Next is figuring how to upholster all these ideas with red vinyl and
white piping....


-- 
Gabriel L Romeu
http://studiofurniture.com  furniture, mixed media
http://members.xoom.com/gabrielR a daily observation, photograph ± text
http://studiofurniture.com/paint  paintings, etchings, photographs and
objects
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