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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Central Coast, NSW
    Posts
    3,330

    Default How do you slice foam rubber?

    I have a lot of thick foam rubber that I want to slice up to use as cushions. I'm wondering if anyone knows a neat and accurate DIY way to slice it.

    The particular problem is, for example, starting with a 600x600x100 block and cutting it down to 600x600x75. I'm not talking about cutting vertically through the 100mm height, I can do that no problem.

    Cheers
    Arron
    Apologies for unnoticed autocomplete errors.

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    4,470

    Default

    Bandsaw , electric kitchen knife, (only thing they are good for) or very expensive jigsaw specifically set up for slicing foam rubber

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Tallahassee FL USA
    Age
    82
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    4,650

    Default

    They're too big (~2ft sq) for a bandsaw or an electric knife.

    I see two options:
    1. Re-design to use 100.
    2. Sell the 100s and buy 75s.

    Cheers,
    Joe
    Of course truth is stranger than fiction.
    Fiction has to make sense. - Mark Twain

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Bundaberg
    Age
    54
    Posts
    3,402

    Default

    I think option 2 would be best.

    However; if you had to use what you have and have your own 12" bandsaw then chop it into four quarters (300 X 300 X 100), resaw to 75mm thick and then glue the quarters back into one piece using a really thin smear of contact cement. If it's going to be a cushion then no-one will see or feel the joints.

    Bandsaw blades for cutting foam don't have teeth, they're just a knife blade. If you have an old blunt blade you could cut the teeth off and grind an edge on it.
    Nothing succeeds like a budgie without a beak.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Cherrybrook,NSW
    Posts
    344

    Default

    hot knife?

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Thornton NSW
    Posts
    456

    Default

    Hot wire cutter, simple to build. Just need a wire (guitar string works well), a frame for the wire, power supply. Silicon Chip had instructions on how to build one, so shouldn't be hard to find.

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    SE Melb
    Age
    64
    Posts
    1,277

    Default

    Japanese marking knife Japanese Woodworking Marking Knife

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    McBride BC Canada
    Posts
    3,543

    Default

    Freeze the foam block. Fine tooth bread knife. Get some proper foam rubber contact cement, it looks like green syrup. From upholstery shops/hot rod & boat builders.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    1,809

    Default

    It is easy. No fuss. As others have said, an electric carving knife (very inexpensive second hand) cuts foam really well. It will cut close to 300 mm. Mark your line all around the block (unfortunately woodworking tools not much good here) and cut all the way around. IF there is any uncut material in the centre foam (unlike wood) is delightfully flexible - bend it out of the way and slice though the remainder.

  11. #10
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Central Coast, NSW
    Posts
    3,330

    Default Thanks

    Ok, thanks for the replies.

    lots of good guidance there.

    Cheers
    Arron
    Apologies for unnoticed autocomplete errors.

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