Do not try this at home! Or in your shop!
I've been using an electric carving knife to cut my foam. I've gotten pretty good at it and I don't think I cut enough foam to justify buying a Bosch or other cutter made specifically for cutting foam.
I sharpen the blades on my electric carving knife and over the years they got worn to the point where I was going to get a new one. Then I had this great idea!
I've cut foam a few times by holding a hack saw blade in my hand. It works well but is tiring on my hand. So, I epoxied a hack saw blade to one of the worn out electric carving knife blades. What a great idea! Unfortunately, it does not work. I think the hack saw blade is moving too fast with it's small teeth and it just does not cut the foam. I was so proud of myself just before failure entered my world. Sometimes reality is harsh and uncaring.
Never give up. It took the inventor of WD40 40 try's to get the formula right.
It's definitely worth purchasing a dedicated foam cutter. Maybe you can keep your eye open on ebay for one.
Expensive but what isn't ? Solid business expense for deduction -
SA
I look all the time ebay and rarely does a used bosch go for much less than a brand new one.
Gene, you must have cut an awful lot of foam for those blades to become dull.
I've looked at a couple fileting knives (electric) which some people say work great. But they have the short coiled cord. And, no bottom guide to keep the blade straight.
I used a turkey cutter for many years before I ran across my foam cutter. Here are some things I learned.
Some electric knives last longer than others. I remember it was always a crap shoot when choosing one. I bought one that lasted only a year while others lasted 5 years or more. The problem with the short lived one was the plastic gears did not hold up. I never owned one long enough to wear out the blades so maybe Jean can tell us what brand he currently has.
Learning to get straight cuts is a skill. Spraying the blade with silicone helps tremendously. I found if I kept my focus at the base of the blade it was easier to get a straight cut. No cut edge will be absolutely perfect when cutting with an electric knife. But by the time you add Dacron and add push to the cushion the foam will conform to the casing.
I bought a slightly used foam cutter from a guy I was working for. Brand name was Queen. It was basically a jig saw with a long blade and a flat base. Unlike a turkey cutter blade this blade has tiny teeth. The motor died after 6 months. I had a Montgomery Ward jig saw I bought back in the 70"s. I switched out the blade assembly and it has given me good service for 18 years.
Bosch is the Cadillac of foam cutters. Well worth the investment.
Quote from: kodydog on August 17, 2018, 06:19:47 am
Bosch is the Cadillac of foam cutters. Well worth the investment.
Bosch isn't making the 1575A foam cutter any more. They sold the patent to Consew.
You can still find a few Bosch's for sale, but the price has gone WAY WAY up (over $900).
The new Consew 1575A is a carbon copy of the original Bosch.
https://www.ebay.com/i/132718708822?chn=ps
Yup, straight cuts are tricky. I do fine now, and as you say, with Dacron etc it doesn't matter much.
Still using a Monty Ward that was given to me. And first used as the tool for the TG turkey. Keeps on hummin away.
A trick I found with the electric carving knife is that I always pull the knife toward me. I usually use both hands to pull the knife toward me. If it's a long cut I will stand on a stool and lean over the table to reach out as far as I can and push the knife into the foam and pull the blade toward me. I'll then flip the foam around so I can do the same thing from the other side of the foam.
On curves I'll pull the knife toward me and then rotate the foam so I can continue to pull toward me. I've found that this helps me to keep the blade perpendicular to the table top.
I've tried hanging the foam over the edge but that doesn't seem to cut as well as pulling the knife toward me on top of the cutting table.
I don't know why I've never bought a professional foam cutter. Here's a link to some less expensive one's.
http://www.upholster.com/upholstery-tools/foam-cutter.html
gene
With the $600 Consew/Bosch, both blades move alternatingly.
With the $300 Acu-cutter, it has 2 blades but only 1 blade moves.
With the $150 EZE cutter, it only has 1 blade.
I'm sorry guys but being frugal with your tool choices is not a very professional way to be in business. The time it takes to cut foam with an electric knife is way out of line with any sort of production. Let alone the ragged look of the cut edge. Dacron is not meant to fix being frugal. I use this term so not to offend the easily offended of this day and age. LOL
Quote from: MinUph on August 18, 2018, 06:01:07 am
I'm sorry guys but being frugal with your tool choices is not a very professional way to be in business. The time it takes to cut foam with an electric knife is way out of line with any sort of production. Let alone the ragged look of the cut edge. Dacron is not meant to fix being frugal. I use this term so not to offend the easily offended of this day and age. LOL
Your point is well taken. But I'm not sure that I completely agree in this case regarding foam cutters.
I have 2 Bosch foam cutters. Love 'em, use 'em everyday. But I do a lot of foam replacement for walk-in customers. If I tried to do that with a cheap electric turkey knife, I'd burn the motors up about once a month.
But for a shop that only cuts a few cushions a week, it's harder to justify the cost of a Bosch.
I cut foam with a turkey knife for many years. I didn't really have overly "ragged" edges to contend with. They were fairly smooth.
My grandmother used to hold a butcher knife over a heater. Her results were EXTREMELY ragged.
If I were starting a new shop from scratch, and only had X number of dollars to spend, an expensive foam cutter would be pretty far down on my list of priorities.
I would either stick with a $15 turkey knife from Wally World, or go all in for a Bosch. I wouldn't buy any of those "tweeners".
But that's just me. Many people report being completely satisfied with the EZE or Accu-cutter.
Paul, I am highly, highly offended. I can't even begin to --
Sprung for an EZE. Letcha all know how it goes. Next job pays for it anyway. My edges weren't ever ragged, but looking foward to an easier tool to use.
Good for you 65,
You will appreciate the tool.
The EZE is basically what I have, just a different brand. You will be happy with the results.
Well the EZE is pretty burly compared to a turkey knife.
Thick, solid foam - cuts like 'a hot knife thru budda'
Though, soft foam, it kind of just runs into it. Which is a bit concerning - like say I pad the backrest with soft foam, and I want to trim it to the top rail. Will it do the same thing?
65Buick - Just wait until November when you take that EZE home to carve the Thanksgiving turkey. You'll wish you had stayed with the electric knife. LOL
I wonder if the two knife cutter does soft foam easier?
gene
With my cutter on soft foam sometimes I have to let the cutter sit there a few seconds before it gets going. Also I have found if you start cutting at the edge of the foam, where the foam makes a 90* angle it starts easier. Perhaps if you cut a small slit before you start cutting the cutter will work better.
"like say I pad the backrest with soft foam, and I want to trim it to the top rail. Will it do the same thing?"
I'm not sure what you're trying to do here. Are you trying to trim the foam while it is attached to the piece? I've never tried this method. I think for best results the foam needs to be on a flat table.
Quote from: gene on August 29, 2018, 05:20:57 pm
I wonder if the two knife cutter does soft foam easier?
I've never compared the one-blade and two-blade cutters side-by-side, but I can say that I have no trouble cutting soft foam with my two-blade Bosch.
Have you considered the Bosch oscillating tool (corded) ? Come on Doc -
SA
Compared to my one blade cutter the Bosch is quieter, smoother (less vibration), faster and yes it cuts soft foam as soon as it touches it.
Quote from: SteveA on August 30, 2018, 09:51:33 am
Have you considered the Bosch oscillating tool (corded) ? Come on Doc -
SA
You mean these? Luv 'em.
(https://s5.postimg.cc/gb3rbfzqr/1723_C6_C2-_AF11-4814-_A036-_D596_B58_EF8_B0.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/gb3rbfzqr/)
no boss - this one for staple shaving
(https://forum.upholster.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi934.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fad181%2FSteveA_2010%2Fth_IMG_5829_zpsfuvisvan.jpg&hash=d6f7a4b2681b296ca356caf2da55ee47) (http://s934.photobucket.com/user/SteveA_2010/media/IMG_5829_zpsfuvisvan.jpg.html)
Quote from: SteveA on August 30, 2018, 01:08:48 pm
no boss - this one for staple shaving
Oh OK. I'm with you now. Mine isn't a Bosch brand, but I do use one for shaving staples.
KodyD-
Yes, in certain situations I have attached foam to the backrest, then cut it. Especially if curved. I suppose I could do it another way, just seemed easiest.
This can probably be done with an electric knife but I don't think with a EZE. I'm pretty sure the base of the EZE needs to be on a flat surface to work right. I like to lay the foam inside the cavity and mark it with a Sharpie. Then lay the foam on the table and cut with the foam cutter. If its a big piece like a sofa I'll cut it big and mark it a second time to fine tune it. Sometimes it takes a couple of try's to get it just right.
Cutting foam that is on the furniture with the base plate removed from the Bosch foam cutter.
https://youtu.be/7oBDgbqXyLE?t=58
gene
That young fellow does a really nice job. I've watched his videos many times, - they are up in Canada - doesn't look like a very big shop but a lot of action there
SA
I'm more interested in his glue gun.
Yes, that's where I learned of that technique.
I don't think that is a glue gun - it looks like a gravity feed finish gun. It's going to clog - adhesive guns don't mix internally -
SA
Yeah. What I really meant was that I'm more interested in his system of gluing. The type of glue and the type of sprayer that he uses it with.
The Camie adhesive that I use now with a Critter spray gun isn't supposed to clog. But it does eventually. I'm always interested in a better system if one is out there.
Any glue gun will clog if not used all the time. That has been a PITA forever.
That table is awesome !!
I've looked up that table before. It comes out of Poland, and is around $1700 plus freight. And it's an air hog, so you'd better have a bad-ass compressor.
Quote from: sofadoc on September 01, 2018, 06:16:47 am
I've looked up that table before. It comes out of Poland, and is around $1700 plus freight. And it's an air hog, so you'd better have a bad-ass compressor.
Aint gonna pay that kinda money for one but would like one.
I like them bosch tools they are some well built purchases. I picked up on the glue sprayer also , seems pretty thinned glue in there.
The lift is a real nice option for sure
Good day there
Floyd
The EZE does take some getting used to. Folks use something to rest the foam on to account for the thickness of the foot?
You can set the foam on another piece of foam leaving enough hanging over to clear the foot of the saw. Then you will get a 90 degree cut on the edge or just tip the saw a little.
One more foam cutting option I learned about on this site-A band saw. It has become one of the most useful machines in my shop, cutting foam, wood and plastic. I use it to cut angles (wedge shapes) that are next to impossible to do even with the Bosch cutter. Mine is a JET brand with the optional extension block which allows the use of a 105" blade (12" thickness capacity). The only drawback is that the throat depth limits how far into the foam you can cut.
Rich
Yes Rich, I've used the bandsaw for ever to cut everything and a lot of foam. Great way to get rid of smaller pieces when you need a special thickness. Say you need 2 1/2" thick just cut 2 1/2" slices out of a 6" piece and glue them together. Very little waste at my shops this way.
The band saw is an option that expands your options/capabilities of cutting foam.
I have two and the way my fence (guide which works well on wood cutting) makes the tool
very effective. The fence can be made to accommodate long piece cutting. It is another way
of using residual foam.
Doyle