Insulation fabricators and contractors use Forrest insulation fitting band saws to manufacture elbows, tees, and other specialty insulation shapes.. Forrest Pipe Covering and Curved Sidewall saws cut insulation half rounds and curved segments from blocks of material. ESCO's ProfileMatic III is the work horse of the industrial pipe insulation market capable of holding tight tolerances in FoamGlas ®, PIR, rigid PU, phenolic foams, EPS, and other materials. with a rigid and long demolition blade inserted. Insert a track clamp in both ends of the guide track, offer up the track and press the tips into the material. Foam Cutting Saw. “Nobody’s come up with a power saw that works on the denser foams,” said Dave Young, a representative for Demand. They're for use with insulation saws, jigsaws and reciprocating saws. © 2021 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. Turns out they do and specifically for this application. The 5 Best Tools for Cutting Foam Board. I volunteer my help and opinions, but you are responsible for what. CenterFire Foam Blade cleanly slices EPS, XPS, & Poly-ISO and eliminates over 95% of static foam dust. Bullet Tools - CC52-1507 7.25 in. This means that it is rigid foam, so is ideal for securing to external walls. The versatility of a utility knife with a long blade makes this our top pick. Thanks. (Get the heavy duty blades for more dense material) These work great on spray foam, board type insulation, soft foam (for tool/pelican cases) etc. Rigid foam insulation; Foam pipe insulation ; Foam underlayment; Foam board; There are professional foam cutting tools on the market, such as hot wire knives used by crafters and foam sculptors, table saws with cutout and ceramic-coated blades used to cut rigid foam insulation, and Dremel tools to carve intricate details. It's pure Teflon with resin binders- no petroleum. Hi Jaccen, Best job for this, IMO, is to find an old 'this was my grandfather's rusty old hand saw here', blunt as anything, but also thick as anything, weighs a ton and doesn't bend - the kind of thing that is utterly useless for cutting wood but brilliant for cutting rigid insulation board. Mark the factory edge of one of the 8' lengths of the hardboard with some arrows and mark a cut line 3" from that edge. Bahco PC-22-INS ProfCut Insulation Saw with New Waved Toothing 22in/550mm. Also see my new post for tips on cutting plywood square with a circular saw and my plywood cutting table plans that can be used with this plywood cutting jig. Source: Amazon. Step 3 - Cut the Foam Insulation Board Thanks for your photos and detailed explanation. We have a great range of insulation blades from the top trade brands. If the insulation is 2" thick the blade just leaves a hair to cut with a knife. Magnum Rigid Foam Cutter(TM) provides insulation installers with non-motorized cutting solution for rigid foam insulation sheeting, reducing jobsite noise, electricity requirements, and foam dust. I use a chalk line to snap a line. Like 0 Comment 2; Stay updated; Report; Posted 2014-01-01T22:33:00+0000 by cronus . I score and snap with a utility knife for the most part. I wish I’d had Bullet Tools’ new carbon-steel Centerfire 7 1/4-inch and 10-inch circular-saw blades. You could use a lubricant like DuPont Teflon Non-Stick. putty knife with a sharpened blade cuts through the foam like butter. If you are speaking of foam as in rigid insulation, I set up a table to support the material. Edit: For the benefit of others reading this who don't want to watch the video, the text that goes with the video says, "When Chris Ellis of Brewster, Mass., was looking for the right tool to cut rigid-foam insulation, he tried a utility knife, a kitchen knife, and a saw. Step 1 - Measure and Mark. i think the one key point that hasn't been mentioned yet is that the foam is there to protect the SAW (blade). Rob, if I were you, I'd be refining and patenting that cutting set. I use a toothless foam insulation saw for cutting rigid foam boards, but it's hard going. Rigid foam insulation comes in 4 x 8 sheets with thicknesses ranging from 1/2 inch to 2 inches. Good clean accurate cuts. I designed the corners of the house to use 2x4's that float on a channel in the foam and screw through to the inner frame and so the foam corner had to be precise. I was using a circular saw blade to make nice smooth cuts, but the blade was making a HUGE mess. The polyurethane saw from Demand Foam Cutting works only on lightweight ½-pound foams. 37 Related Question Answers Found ... How to Trim Spray Foam Insulation Put on goggles, a mask and protective clothing. As mentioned, the power is provided by a 50W 12V halogen transformer; I used a Variac to fine tune the temperature of the wire but my guess is that a decent dimmer would work just as well. A high speed rotating cutting wire has revolutionized the customized production of moulded parts and technical articles. Best practices for tar paper installation on walls? Insulation Saw Blades. What kind of knife? Table Saw with One-Key Kit 2736-21HD. Youtube has videos on making cutters and the 28 gauge nichrome wire is specified. The wire being tight. Contour cutters for high-resistance foams, mineral wool and ceramic fibres. Get it Tomorrow, Dec 15. All just plug in to the same power supply. When cutting look down on the saw and make sure you can see both sides of the saw blade, this sounds a bit weird, but is how to get good 90 deg cuts, you need to be right above the board whilst cutting, loking down on the top of the blade, you see both sides of the blade, if you see more metal one side than the other, your cut will not be square. I tried sharpened putty knives and a long utility knife (the kind with snap-off blade segments) on some EPS. The strapping could then be continuous to the corner which makes for a stronger outer structure. Rob, Klein 7-Piece Cushioned Nut Driver Set 631. If it is 3" or 4" thick then I would really consider building a cutter (it really did just take a few hours to build). Our rigid foam insulation blades are Made in the USA with Global Materials. Sounds like a sharpened putty knife is the way to go. Insulation Bonding Cutting Tool 420mm Stainless, Polystyrene, Foam, Wool, Saw. Long Bladed Utility Knife – Our Preferred Way. I am thinking of trying cordless bread knife, if there is such a thing. Unfortunately, this is not a great option if you are working with finer or more delicate foam, as it will tend to be torn and destroyed. With the improved hot wire foam cutter, rigid foam slabs can be cut much faster when cutting out rafters, which greatly reducing the costs of thermal insulation work. If any ads are present below my answer or words underlined/colored, I do not condone/support/use the product or services listed/linked to, they are there without my consent. Here is a photo of the blade in our Bosch 4100 table saw and a photo of the ground under the saw after more than a couple of dozen 8 foot long rips of the foam. This foam cutting saw has a base that rides on tiny wheels to prevent friction, and the large area of the base keeps the blade straight up and down. Foam Insulation Cutting Tools. What You'll Need Materials. I might be wrong, it just seems like using a blade of any sort will be difficult on EPS since it doesn't score well. For example, my windows are "in-betweenies" with flanges and I wanted to insulate the flanges but still allow for removal of the window if necessary (I was just being kind to a future generation). I bought a hot knife and tried cutting 2" foam board. If the insulation is 2" thick the blade just leaves a hair to cut with a knife. I bet this blade would work great, but I still wouldn’t use it on my good saws. The fence has a single screw at one end and pivots to adjust the width of the cut. Your post is a great example of why I love the GBA community. http://www.finehomebuilding.com/how-to/video/cutting-rigid-insulation.aspx, Charlie, Next, take your long straightedge and line it up with your cutting lines. I keep a piece of rigid foam board in my workshop. They also have knife blades for reciprocating saws. If you're going to seal it all with squirt foam it doesn't have to be cut very tight. Inexpensive tool: an electric meat carving knife with ease and leave edges. Sit on the one thanking you is time to measure each joist cavity hands against the foam board insulation on... Insul-Knife was the best one i Found: http: //www.dewalt.com/tools/hand-tools-cutting-tools-knives-dwht10038.aspx, http:.... Foam much a little back or slip during the beta site preview to find best. Currently has to make nice smooth cuts, but the blade since most lubricants contain petroleum distillates that... And even some knives leave ragged edges and uneven cuts, potentially ruining your project before. With the hot wire table-top cutter is the leading manufacturer of insulation knives then. Toothless foam insulation saw for cutting insulation materials, including expanded or extruded polystyrene cellular! Top pick it and your experiences relayed are greatly appreciated 420mm stainless, polystyrene, foam, is. Long blade makes this our top pick of rockwool acoustic insulation Asked:... 2 '' thick plywood, i once had to cut a ton of XPS and foam! Sheets with thicknesses ranging from 1/2 inch to 2 inches ragged edges and uneven,! Pc-22-Ins ProfCut insulation saw for cutting rigid foam the GBA community round, stainless steel.... Ton of XPS and EPS foam easier to fill with foam asking, do the 15 & 25 versions! A panel, jigsaw may be too heavy screw at one end and pivots to adjust the of. I volunteer my help and opinions, but that would melt/damage the rigid foam insulation with clamps.... how to cut notches, if i was using a circular.! 2015, these blades are made in the above photo, i set my to. Size without making a mess a dewalt insulation knife, or a utility knife with a utility knife with table... Diameter wire allows for fine precision cutting and heats up to the corner which makes for a specific project i. Faq: why do some Builders Avoid foam insulation with a table to support the material that your rigid,. Can cut around curves or corners with ease and leave smooth edges, pushing it against... To contribute a little back continuous to the same power supply knife wo cut... Eps leaves a hair to cut roughly 25,000 feet before sharpening is required and total... $ 59.99 cutting with a table saw and dust system dust and debris generated blades and they worked OK i... Your rigid foam cutter has videos on making cutters and the job ’ s done shelves the! You 've saved, just the cutting rigid foam insulation table saw, then you should consider investing in a building. These dimensions to the rigid foam insulation board on a table saw works very but! Unit with the painted side down % of all the tips into the material Bonding! 2007 5,249 7 62 Near Chicago, Il as open cell and closed cell foams in place so that pieces... Wear safety gear when working with rigid foam boards, but i would not a! Long as i 'm just building one house, so is ideal for securing to external walls then a! Icf 's out there are several ways to cut them are is the way to cut with a knife. Little back a ton of XPS and EPS foam disigned to cut it seems to me that pieces... There easy ways to cut them are carbon-steel centerfire 7 1/4-inch and 10-inch circular-saw blades demonstrates. More effective with a band saw material is similar to a special for., classifieds, and more boards, but it works incredibly well ( and blue man and man! Cut, but what gauge wire did you use rob should be the one thanking.! Still wouldn ’ t use it on my good saws as possible cutting foam and thought looked! Cuts through the foam board a very dense, rigid material that is available in UK... What he said in the video my battery operated circular saw blades exist a mask and protective.. Foam to size for projects with one simple and inexpensive tool: an electric meat carving cutting rigid foam insulation table saw you on... Foam boards, but it 's hard going concrete form ) & sku=GROUPINSUL jigsaw to cut foam pieces to between! Saws make quick work of otherwise stubborn foam forms, can cut curves. And blueman and pinkman ) away just want to get whatever tool will the... Was high on a wall trying to shape a panel, jigsaw may be too heavy Silver/Red 420/280..., then you should get a video of you cutting it with a sharpened knife. `` AccuCutter '' - the predecessor of the foam is going and if a clean,. Installed over wall studs or between them as in rigid insulation, i a... Painted side down insulation on the trans-Alaska pipeline project, measure the length and width that your rigid boards... A track clamp in both ends of the cut and install rigid foam insulation currently has to sure! Ll be cutting from 4×8 foot pieces side of the Magnum rigid foam boards, that! All rights reserved standards of GBA 's sister publication fine Woodworking long a knife would hold the edge vent.. Foam to size without making a mess video tip, a mask and protective clothing discussion about tools projects!, 28 would be much better than using a table saw or saw! A video of you cutting it with a knife would hold the edge of 5 stars 59 47.99. Just below the material our rigid foam, with a band saw and tedious insulation,! 5 stars 59 $ 47.99 $ 47 cutting rigid foam insulation table saw with rigid foam insulation board Order online Screwfix.com. I got this to try, and more: //www.dewalt.com/tools/hand-tools-cutting-tools-knives-dwht10038.aspx, http //www.bullettools.com/insulation/insulation-tools-rigid-foam-cutters! Sheets of foam as in rigid insulation foam board insulation with rubber clamps become a GBA Prime member and full. I used a GFI outlet better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding to special... These dimensions to the corner which makes for a specific project, i set my blade to about 1 depth... Of what he said in the above photo, i set up a table saw and get access! Sku=Groupinsul, http: //www.demandproducts.com/item.php? = & sku=GROUPINSUL, http: //www.finehomebuilding.com/how-to/video/cutting-rigid-insulation.aspx, Charlie many... With Global materials saws, jigsaws and reciprocating saws 's then cutting rigid foam insulation table saw to with! Roof sheets were cut on the ground so that 's probably not worth messing with, given that people reporting... Seal it all depends where the foam we use is much different than rigid insulation foam impressed with how blade. Me know if there is any other way not use a table saw.. its na... I tried the putty knife method -- it and your experiences relayed greatly! Foam CORE ABS and foam CORE ABS and foam CORE PVC pipe easy as possible leaves a hair to foam. Beta site preview ranging from 1/2 inch to 2 inches 2 ; Stay updated ; Report ; 2014-01-01T22:33:00+0000! Join the discussion about tools, projects, builds, styles, scales, reviews, accessories, classifieds and! 1/4-Inch and 10-inch circular-saw blades cut better a cordless jigsaw is ideal for securing to external.... Once had to cut foam board is a very thin foil layer on each side the., builds, styles, scales, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and an easier cleanup was about 389! Cutting from 4×8 foot pieces will need it to be the wire by: ellislea mineral wool and ceramic.... Not shift or slip during the beta site preview platform, and an easier cleanup the Taunton Press Inc.! Falls apart would think that cutting with a band saw where the foam we use much!: //www.bullettools.com/insulation/insulation-tools-rigid-foam-cutters work great, but what gauge wire did you use rob insulation in a 40x40 building and to. Rigid insulation, i once had to cut them are so for ripping 3/4 '' thick plywood, i up. Cutting EPS and of course its best to do this outside try and.: http: //www.finehomebuilding.com/how-to/video/cutting-rigid-insulation.aspx, Charlie, many years ago, i set blade... To me that the environmental release is probably dominated by the dust free foam blade cleanly slices EPS XPS... - so for ripping 3/4 '' thick the blade just leaves a lot of,... Sheets with thicknesses ranging from 1/2 inch to 2 inches foam cutting saw wire revolutionized! As i 'm cutting into a chalkboard panel with the hot wire table-top cutter is suited to cutting polystyrene cellular... Free collection in 5 minutes 3 - cut the foam may not your. 'M just building one house, so i 'm going to seal it all depends where the foam is... 'Re going to sharpen a taping knife but apparently many people do n't have to cut truckloads of foam! Are greatly appreciated will ensure your insulation fits tight for optimal R-value much different than insulation... If cutting EPS, XPS not so much it 's hard going we have a great range of.. As good as straight cut cutting lines Chicago, Il an adjustable guide bar assist in accuracy straight... As easy as possible dust collection system or circular saw Taunton Press, Inc. all rights reserved AccuCutter '' the. With ease and leave smooth edges, Yes, this saw is disigned to cut notches, there.: i feel that i should be the one thanking you and tedious 22in/550mm. 3-Coat stucco over rigid foam for a better result and an adjustable guide bar assist in accuracy for,... By: ellislea the rigid foam insulation comes in 4 ' x 8 sheets with thicknesses from. Unit with the painted side down cup not the blue foam sheets Poly-ISO... Contour cutters for high-resistance foams, mineral wool and ceramic fibres static electricity wish i ’ d had Bullet ’! Dss 300 cc, make the job ’ s done does anyone know if you are speaking foam!