foam cutting

[trishaanne]

I agree with the rest. I latex in the house and carve foam in the house and while I never get the headaches, I'm sure I've killed off quite a few brain cells. I guess that explains why I can't follow a set of simple directions anymore!

If you ever have the opportunity to carve foam as a group (make and take) DEFINITELY take it outside. We had maybe 15 haunters carving foam inside and, well......that explains the reputation of the NJ/PA make and take group!

[dionicia]

If you ever have the opportunity to carve foam as a group (make and take) DEFINITELY take it outside. We had maybe 15 haunters carving foam inside and, well......that explains the reputation of the NJ/PA make and take group!

Just like booze with the GoE?

[Sparky_the_spook]

The foam fumes are lovely, dark and deep but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I creep . . . and miles to go before I creep . . . annnywho, I picked up a cheap soldering iron at harbor freight that has changeable tips and shaved one of them down to be pretty thin. Works great on the half inch foam I have used it on so far it only cost me around $12 bucks. Changing the tips out, I can do basic cutting and detail. I love it because of the range of work I can do with it. I'm looking into fashioning my own tips for it so I can cut larger pieces of foam.

[Bascombe]

Originally Posted by nixie

Just please make sure are in a well ventilated area and take frequent breaks from the work space. The headache from the fumes is one you won't soon forget!!!

Rather, only do this in a well ventilated space. Either do it outside on a breezy day or do it in a commercial fume hood. When you melt foamed polystyrene (blue or pink extruded foam or white bead foam) you are releasing Hydrogen Cyanide Gas into your environment.

That is the same gas that was used in the Nazi deathcamps and was used in the gas chamber in some of America's more notorious prisons.

remember that if you can smell the fumes, you are being poisoned. Melt foam with care

[The Watcher]

Originally Posted by Arris138

How did the harbor freight knife work? Been thinking of picking one up.

The harbor freight will cut the heck out of it. But on 5 if you cut the heavy 2 inch foam it will burn it about 1/2 inch gap. So you just need to allow for it. It is like every thing it takes a little practice.

[RoxyBlue]

Originally Posted by Bascombe

Rather, only do this in a well ventilated space. Either do it outside on a breezy day or do it in a commercial fume hood. When you melt foamed polystyrene (blue or pink extruded foam or white bead foam) you are releasing Hydrogen Cyanide Gas into your environment.

Your more likely troublemakers when burning foamed polystyrene at lower temperatures are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, carbon black, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide, with some possible off-gassing of pentane if that was used in the manufacturing process. I agree that cutting the material outside in the open air is well advised and highly preferable.