If you want to learn how to cut foam board with a scroll saw, there are many things that you will need to know and do. Many people simply use a Miter saw to cut up foam board, but in order to get nice smooth cuts you will need more than just a Miter saw. Of course a Miter saw is an easy to use saw that cuts foam easily, but the smooth cuts they make can actually scratch the surface of the foam board. The best thing to do is to use a scroll saw that has specially designed scroll saw patterns.
One of the first things you will need to know is how to apply hot glue to a board. If you are doing it by hand, it can be a bit time consuming. You should use about six inches worth of glue. When you apply the glue, don’t hold it on for too long. You should let the glue dry about as long as you can between passes. Once the glue dries completely, you can start cutting.
The next step is to lay the foam on the saw table. Start at one end of the board and trace a pattern over the foam, cutting out shapes as you go. When you reach the other end, use a straight edge to check for mistakes. It is much easier to make mistakes when the board is still hot from being glued.
Some people find that using hot glue and a scroll saw together is easier than just gluing the foam board together. In this case, you should start by setting the scroll saw blade to a mitered cut. Then, you will lay the board down and turn the saw on its “traffic” setting. This will speed up the ripping action, which will also help you cut through the foam more quickly.
To complete your cutting project, you will want to use a piece of pliers that are similar to an empty beverage can and place it between the foam and the scroll saw. With a dampened hand, start rotating the saw on its “traffic” setting. This will help get the glue to be more spread out and will make cutting the boards a lot faster. Be sure to pay close attention to the board while it is being cut because if you drop anything on it, like a drink, you could hurt yourself. If the foam starts to stick to the scroll saw, immediately remove the piece of pliers and try again.
If you find that there is a lot of excess glue when cutting the boards, then you can take two pieces of dowels and cut them with the scroll saw. Make sure you get a clean start because you don’t want any water on the surface of the boards. Also, be sure to always start your cut on the long side so that you can cut all the way around. If you end up with boards that don’t need glued, simply take all the excess cut off the board and sand it down. Another option would be to take all the nails out of the boards and sand the surface down to bare wood.
One last thing that you can do with can you cut foam board with a scroll saw. If you want to try using a soldering iron, it can actually be quite difficult to cut these types of materials without a heat gun. However, if you don’t mind using the tools provided by the soldering iron, then you can place a sheet of thin foam on the work area and start heating up the iron. Once the foam has become soft enough, you can place it onto the board and start heating it up. If done correctly, you should get some nice hot air going. This will start to harden the foam, and once it does, you can start carving into it.
Overall, you should have no trouble making can you cut foam board with a scroll saw. You should have the best results if you make sure you use a quality scroll saw with a diamond tip and start off on a clean surface. When cutting boards like this, it is important to remember to use plenty of lubrication to keep your joints from sticking when you cut them.