I just wanted to tell you that I ordered an Acu-Cutter 500 foam saw through this site last Thursday. It arrived on Saturday (I was shocked), in perfect condition, and it cuts like a dream (both blades move on the 500). I've needed one for a long time now and I felt the price was very fair; I couldn't handle the price of Bosch. If you are considering buying one, know that I'm delighted with mine.
That's something I've been needing for a long time, With Thanksgiving around the corner, I need to clean up my wife's electric knife to carve the bird with. I just may order one like your's and let her keep her knife in the kitchen this year. ;D
Kyle
I've finally reached the point in my career where I now feel like I can afford tools that I used to consider a luxury item. I bought a EZ cushion stuffer, and a Jiffy steamer. Both are gathering dust in my shop. Bought a servo-motor, even though my clutch motor was working just fine.
I've been using the turkey knife from Wally World forever. So I guess the foam saw is next on deck for me. I'll take your recommendation under advisement.
I used a Bosch in the the first marine canvas shop I worked for. It was a fabulous foam saw and if funds were unlimited it's what I would buy.
I use an Acu-Cutter 350 at my current job. It's better than an electic carving knife, but since only one of the saw blades moves it doesn't deliver the clean, crisp cut of a Bosch. And it can get sort of bogged down when cutting closed cell foam. I have been forbidden to use silicone spray on it (don't know why) and I suspect that that would make the cutting easier. It's been a solid performer in the shop for the better part of 7 yrs. now, so I think the Acu-Cutters are solidly reliable.
Quote from: SHHR on October 18, 2010, 12:43:48 pm
That's something I've been needing for a long time, With Thanksgiving around the corner, I need to clean up my wife's electric knife to carve the bird with. I just may order one like your's and let her keep her knife in the kitchen this year. ;D
Kyle
Kyle, your a hoot..................LOL...........
My wife made me go buy my own turkey carving knife for the shop. :)
Chris
Good info. We stock the 350, but I've never even seen the 500. I'll keep this in mind that it works well/better.
When nearby upholstery shops close, I swoop in like a vulture, and offer pennies on the dollar for their stuff. Such was the case today. I picked up a Bosch foam cutter (in near mint condition) for $50.
One of my supply catalogs lists the same one for $569.
I got it back to the shop and tried it out.
My verdict:
For $50, I LOVE IT!!
But, if I'd had to pay over $500 for it, I'd be boxing that sucker up and sending it back right now. It just isn't $500 better than an electric turkey knife from Wally World. :(
Can the. Foam saw be used flat on a tablr
Ut
I've cutby so far with a turkey knife and a. band saw I'd like use a foam saw if I could run it under the foam and cut it.
Can't beat a band saw for cutting foam clean and square. I can't see a turkey knife cutting better than a purpose built foam cutter, carving knives are for turkeys.
Quote from: scottymc on October 28, 2010, 05:23:08 pm
Can't beat a band saw for cutting foam clean and square. I can't see a turkey knife cutting better than a purpose built foam cutter, carving knives are for turkeys.
I didn't say the turkey knife was better. I said the Bosch cutter wasn't $500 better.
I've tried a new Acu-Cutter. Model # unknown two blades one moves, and was very disappointed in its capabilities. Had to push hard on it to get through 5" standard foam. The Bosch is a much better cutter. I found one on ebay as I had sold my original and this one is as good as my original. You can save money buying the Acu-Cutter but it ain't a Bosch.
Many years ago I used an electric knife but once I bought a Bosch the cuts were as they should be and faster. Still use the band saw for some cuts.
QuoteWhen nearby upholstery shops close, I swoop in like a vulture, and offer pennies on the dollar for their stuff.
That's class. Hopefully that $50 was all they were short to cover his funeral costs.
Mike; yes . The Bosch, and I think all of them, have a foot plate available that squares it up to the table with little rollers under it and it works like a band saw saw working backwards. The foam sits and the saw moves.
Quote from: Darren Henry on October 28, 2010, 06:05:20 pm
QuoteWhen nearby upholstery shops close, I swoop in like a vulture, and offer pennies on the dollar for their stuff.
That's class. Hopefully that $50 was all they were short to cover his funeral costs.
Ha-ha! Actually, $50 was the price he asked for. The young man had been estranged from his father for many years. He had no appreciation for his father's business, or his possessions. I told him that the stuff was worth more than I was willing to pay. He was only interested in fast cash.
Quote from: Darren Henry on October 28, 2010, 06:05:20 pm
The Bosch, and I think all of them, have a foot plate available that squares it up to the table with little rollers under it and it works like a band saw saw working backwards. The foam sits and the saw moves.
I find the plate under the bosch actually throws the foam out of square, just a touch, so I prefer to use a band saw when it really matters.
Quote from: scottymc on October 28, 2010, 07:46:23 pm
I find the plate under the bosch actually throws the foam out of square, just a touch
That was my observation when I tried it out today.
This is the best machine that I have used for cutting foam but it's a tad to expensive.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Lightning-8-fabric-cutter-/200535945723?pt=AU Sewing&hash=item2eb0dfb1fb
We do a lot of sailboat cushions and I'd be lost without the 12"blade on the Bosch. When you need a "true" square edge I raise the foam on scraps of 1/2" ply. This brings the foam up to the same level as the shoe and takes the wieght off it making it easier to cut.
Funny, eh? We have 2 bosch's at the shop but now I really want a bandsaw. "When does it stop Peppy?!?"
Had to make three of these things last week,
(https://forum.upholster.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1020.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faf328%2Fpeppypower%2Fnot%2520boats%2Fth_PB050003.jpg&hash=4413dd06edb00d756f0ad7d673a898eb) (http://s1020.photobucket.com/albums/af328/peppypower/not%20boats/?action=view¤t=PB050003.jpg)
and it got me thinking about turkey knives.
I don't make things like this everyday, thankfully,
(https://forum.upholster.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1020.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faf328%2Fpeppypower%2Fnot%2520boats%2Fth_PB050001.jpg&hash=90cf93ccab7b1a24d26b14635b04cb83) (http://s1020.photobucket.com/albums/af328/peppypower/not%20boats/?action=view¤t=PB050001.jpg)
(https://forum.upholster.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1020.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faf328%2Fpeppypower%2Fnot%2520boats%2Fth_PB050002.jpg&hash=02019818e040819bf59566e9ad94bd90) (http://s1020.photobucket.com/albums/af328/peppypower/not%20boats/?action=view¤t=PB050002.jpg)
but I'm really thankful it didn't take all day. I'm sure it could be done with a turkey knife but it wouldn't make a crappy job any less uncrappy.
Peppy
Wouldn't be as easy with turkey knife now would it? My Bosch is only 5" I need an 8" blade set for it. Can't afford it right now though.
The first shop I worked for had a Bosch foam saw. I didn't give it much thought until I started working for a different shop. There, they used an electric carving knife. I was shocked, frankly. It was slow, left a jagged cut edge, and was brutally hard on your hands; esp. when cutting closed cell foam. It took 2+ yrs. of lobbying on my part to get a proper foam saw into the shop... it's the Acu-Cutter 350, so only one blade moves, but what an improvement in overall ease, speed, and accuracy! (now if I'd only be permitted to use silicone spray).
My new Acu-Cutter 500 cuts like a dream. 8" blades and both move, like the Bosch. And I use silicone spray, too! If I'm not mistaken, it will accept 12" blades, too.
Bobbin and Peppy, are the foam saws you're using capable of trimming foam well? I've had moderate success with a turkey carver and lots of silicone, but it won't do any "fine tuning". You can't trim anything less than say, 1/2" off the edge. The foam just compresses and/or the knife blades escape due to the lower pressure (I assume) of the already-cut edge.
June
I have the Bosch foam saw with the 12" blades. 8) I do not use the shoe on mine because I use it for carving and not cutting slabs. You can do some thin shaving with it, but it is not perfect.
If I need to cut any thin slices off of sheets or cut 1" foam down to 1/2'...etc I will use the bandsaw and rip fence. That is limited to the 6" depth of cut on the bandsaw though.
I found this;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1j0UurpIKAA#! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1j0UurpIKAA#!)
Might be an interesting DIY alternative.
hiya
In a former life i used to make the plastic components for the inside of Bosch motors
and they were really bad because of the trash tooling . I wouldn't by Bosch anything.
Funnily enough though i've been looking around for a foam saw and may try an 8"
cloth saw because it think it will do cloth and foam, I know someone who has one so
i'll have to try it out.
Rich
June, I don't think any foam saw is going to give you a really clean edge when you're trying to shave off pretty small amounts of foam. But the saw will give a very straight, clean accurate cut right out of the gate. For purposes of cushion foam (I do a lot of cushion work) a less than perfect cut really doesn't make a huge difference, certainly nothing a layer of batting or sew-foam can't cure. Interestingly, I actually prefer the electric knife when I have to cut bevels in V berth cushions or to get the right "tilt" on seat backs. Again, a perfectly straight edge isn't really necessary since the foam is generally overcut and poufs out the covers. Hope this helps.
That set up for the electric knife on You Tube is very, very clever! I think I may just look at it more closely and see what can't be rigged up here. Thanks for posting that!!
Quote from: JuneC on November 10, 2010, 05:39:50 am
Bobbin and Peppy, are the foam saws you're using capable of trimming foam well?
Like Saddleman says, It's not a great shaver. Although it depends on the density, higher densities shave better. It helps to silicon it up and make up and down sawing motions with the saw and take it slow. But ya, it's better taking chunks.
I don't mean to say the bosch is the best in the world, or the answer to all life's problems, just that it's better than a turkey knife. I was the guy that dropped the bosch for the last time (after 10 years) and it died. While it was being fixed the boss bought a new one (why we have 2) but we had 2 months where we used everything else. Yes, a turkey knife works. Yes, a hand saw with silicone works. Yes a turkey knife in a router table might work (WATCH YOUR ARMS DUDE!!!!!!) But we're in the foam cutting business. It only makes sense we'd have a foam saw. My brother's a carpenter, even though it might save him a couple bucks I don't think he's going to put a hand saw in a paint shaker.
I was up in the big smoke at Daley's, a large auto trim supply shop that has warehouses in all the capitals on east coast Australia and I spied a pile of leaflets. I tried to upload it but no go, any way it was for a Bosch foam cutter with a 300mm blade, the exact same one I bought at a closing down sale , I had to be talked into buying it for $150.00. The price on the leaflet is $1125.00+gst, so that makes a grand total of $1237.50 and yes they do sell them was the answer, we would not stock them otherwise.
Yep, we've been selling the Acu-Cutters for probably 8 years now. It's a nice machine. Never heard a complaint. We've also been selling the Bosch's for geez... many many years... and they're great machines too. The biggest difference is the Acu-Cutter is a 1 piece unit with only blade replacements. The Bosch can swap out the guides, footplates, blades, etc. The Acu-Cutter is actually a Black & Decker motor. We use Bosch's in house at all of our locations. I also advise DIY'ers to use the turkey carving knives. Always remember your silicone!
http://www.duboisfabrics.com/category_s/250.htm
That's a link to the Acu-Cutters - we don't have the Bosch's online yet, but you can call and we've got em.
-Andrew
Intresting read here.
Nothing new to me, but DOES confirm what a lot of we have been telling our customers. Not to steal anyones thunder here, but we also stock and sell Acu-cutters and replacement blades as well.
Greg, I didn't see the Acu-cutter 500 model Bobbin described on your site. I assume you can get those as well?
BTW, I'm in love :-* .... with this.....
http://www.keysew.com/union_special_38200c.htm
Maybe if I take out a second mortgage... sell my husband... I dunno. ::)
June