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Heroic Knight
 
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Last Login: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 11:55 PM
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I've just started my first attempt at making a weapon physrep and I was wondering if anyone has tried using heated resistance wire for cutting the blade?
I know it works wonders on higher-density polystyrene, but I'm curious if it could be used on the 30kg/m^2 closed-cell polyethylene foam with much success.
I'll probably end up giving it a test run on some cut-offs, but I thought I'd post here in case anyone had any advice. If it does work (and not do horrid melty things to the surface in the process) then I'd imagine it ought to give a very smooth edge!
Maelstrom: "Steel" Drane Haversham
Odyssey: Shabake, Temple Guard of the Khemenethorus
Masquerades & Massacres: Hrabia Podstoli, Baltazar Komorowski, Ordynat Komorowskowie, the Szlachta Sierota
DUTT: ref
'Curse you! What am I supposed to angst about if you continue resolving my emo background plots?'
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Wag
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Last Login: Tuesday, August 17, 2010 9:33 AM
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| It works in theory- it's just that the wire tends to snap, and thicker/stronger wire needs more power- and ends up costing more than it would have to use a knife
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Heroic Knight
Group: Basic Members
Last Login: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 11:55 PM
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I'll give it a go, then. Should be an interesting experiment.
Maelstrom: "Steel" Drane Haversham
Odyssey: Shabake, Temple Guard of the Khemenethorus
Masquerades & Massacres: Hrabia Podstoli, Baltazar Komorowski, Ordynat Komorowskowie, the Szlachta Sierota
DUTT: ref
'Curse you! What am I supposed to angst about if you continue resolving my emo background plots?'
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Champion
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Last Login: Monday, August 09, 2010 4:56 AM
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I've done it with 45kg/m3 plastazote polyethene foam.
One to two amperes through 0.375mm constantan wire (4.2 Ohm/m) seems to work well: available as "Resistance Wire" from Maplin (£5 for 50m).
Depending on just how you do it, it can be smooth or you can end up with ridges of melted-and-solidified stuff across the cut surface.
Also you can use a hot wire to weld pieces together.
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Apprentice
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right im having a blonde moment.. how would you use the hot wire method to weld foam together??
"if you want it broken ... give it to Bait"
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Champion
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Press the two pieces together lightly and draw the hot wire between them along the join.
Probably not practical for joining large surfaces, but it works for for edge-to-edge joins and could probably be done for welding an edge to a big surface if you mounted the wire in a suitable holder.
A hot air blower (paint-stripper style) works for welding foam too, but it's tricky and the foam expands.
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Apprentice
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Last Login: Friday, May 11, 2007 3:08 PM
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| I used a hotwire quite recently on a huge scimitar i made, it worked rather well and didn't create any melted mess whatsoever. the glue inbetween the layers of foam created resistence and made the wire snap, but that was the only downside, as long as you don't rush it and take your time on carving it works well.
patience is my strongest ally........
And so is a Chainsaw !!!
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