Tips & Tutorial for Foam Hot Wire Cutters & knives

Insulation foam, XPS foam, foam core (or foam Board) & styrofoam are all excellent options for building miniature scenery. The are quick and easy to use, have a huge variety of applications and are cheap to buy, sometimes even free! Moreover you can sculpt foam, paint it, glue it and shape it in any number of ways. Unfortunately, its is also hard to cut! In this video tutorial I am going to provide tips on your best options to work with foam. I will review hot wire cutters and some blades that will make your life a lot easier for your miniature, diorama and scenery builds builds.
It does not matter if your build model railroads, or play Warhammer 40,000, Napoleonics, Bolt action, Flames of War or Team Yankee, the skills and items I demonstrate in this episode will be essential for your hobby work!
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Supply Links:
#11 bulk hobby blades: amzn.to/3fUpVdH
Hot Foam Knife: amzn.to/3hyjuxc
Hot Wire Foam Cutter: amzn.to/3Esb6Z6
Hot Wire Table Cutter: amzn.to/3Aaqkj3
Mat Cutter: amzn.to/3tqm76N
Important links:
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Thanks to Aubrey Brawley for assistance with audio.

[@mcampagna41]

Great video, Joe. Super informative. Your builds are amazing too!

[@MiniatureLandscapeHobbies]

I appreciate that!

[@petermotta1623]

Great video very informative.

[@MiniatureLandscapeHobbies]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ParteeFun]

what about those hot cutters that have blades like a xacto knife?

[@MiniatureLandscapeHobbies]

I don't have one..yet. It is on my christmas list though.

[@davesykes1966]

I sharpen my blades, box cutter or the triangular ones. They last for MONTHS or years.
Buying so many blades is a HUGE waste of money. A whetstone is like 2 dollars. Try it.

[@MiniatureLandscapeHobbies]

I had not thought I that. I will give it a try.

[@davesykes1966]

@@MiniatureLandscapeHobbies Great, you will save money. I swear the large blade on my box cutter is over a year old :P

[@Chef_PC]

4:49 - As Crafsman says, don't forget to wear your dust mask. Alright.

[@MiniatureLandscapeHobbies]

Ok good point!

[@Chef_PC]

@@MiniatureLandscapeHobbies @TheCrafsMan

[@fexgy5595]

I literally buy the one that say no but i don't need cut large forms just small stuff soo I guess is okey???

[@MiniatureLandscapeHobbies]

If it works for you iut is good! Perhaps you can perfect the use and prove me wrong. If you have any further thoyghts or techniques you come up with please let me know!

[@chubbyops]

Nice katana

[@MiniatureLandscapeHobbies]

Thanks! It is a good one. I practice Iaido occasionally.

[@ryuutohazame3349]

You look like Sid Meier

[@MiniatureLandscapeHobbies]

You know I kind of do…

[@dispatchdave]

No commentary on the dangers of fumes from burning foam? I'm disappointed.

[@davesykes1966]

Breathing in ANYTHING that burns is bad...it seems common sense should be enough no ?

[@MiniatureLandscapeHobbies]

My warning about this ended up on cutting room floor and I missed putting it back in. I will address it in the future.

[@dispatchdave]

@@davesykes1966 Considering how bad these fumes are? No, common sense is not enough. Add to that the fact that "common" sense isn't so common.....

[@davesykes1966]

@@dispatchdave Lol, Maybe you're right ! Personally I can't imagine someone thinking the fumes are ok :)

[@RyanPMcGowan]

If foam is being burned your tool is too hot and should be adjusted. The white parts that come off of the foam is water vapor and the common comparison used is that it is the equivalent of standing next to a highway. It is no worse than what construction workers experience on the day to day while working on highways.
It becomes dangerous if the vapor is black but your tool does not need to be that hot in order to get quick, fast, and accurate cuts.