I am working on my next Rodmaker magazine article and trying to put as much info in there as possible with alternative methods for cutting EVA blocks. I use a bandsaw, I know people use handsaws & hacksaws and Japanese pull saws and miter saws & table saws - if anyone uses this can you let me know how smooth the edge of the foam is after the cut, and specifically what model you use? If you don't want to post this info please e-mail me at xlrods@yahoo.com. I know a couple of handsaw models that work, a couple of that do not work, I spent $40 on a foam wire cutter which was a waste of $40.

Thank you, Billy

I spin the EVA / Hypalon on an arbor on a lathe and slice it with length of Size "E" thread to make smooth horizontal cuts. Now I make angle cuts on a fine toothed band saw with an angle jig. In the "hand tool days" I used a miter box with a Japanese wood working saw. I too found the foam wire cutter useless.

When building in ones living room a miter box works well Just can not do the swirly cuts with power saws

Bill - willierods.com

Billy,
I use the Bill Marchisella EVA cutting tool to make straight cuts in Eva and cork. I sent you one, but as far as I know, you never used it. I also use a Japanese pull saw for angles, but the wire in my Eva cutting tool cuts the smoothest.

I mount the block on a mandrel and cut with a fine tooth hacksaw while spinning at 1200-1500 RPM, smooth every time.

Walt Davenport
"Roadhouse Rods"

What about angle cuts ??

Bill - willierods.com

swiss army knife

Thanks. I'm looking for cutting in blocks, not cylanders - and not as it spins, I should have been more specific. Ken, do you remember how smooth the EVA was after you cut with the japanese saw? Bill M, you wire thing cuts great but it only cuts straight and has to be used with a clemens/renzetti.

Ken,
Can you describe your fine toothed band saw with an angle jig?
Thanks

"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble.It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." Mark Twain
John in Wethersfield, CT

Billy,
I wonder how well a hot wire cutter would cut EVA.

I have used a hot wire cutter of all other types of foam for perfect cuts, but have never tried it on EVA.
But since EVA is foam, I don't see why it wouldn't work just fine.

[www.wintechint.com.au]

[www.youtube.com]

[www.demandproducts.com]

Or you can use a laser to cut your eva foam with perfect results:
[www.cnczone.com]

By the way, if anyone wanted to make a hot wire foam cutter, just drop me an e-mail at hflier@comcast.net
I have made several different foam cutters that all worked very well.

Basically, there are made from a piece of nichrome wire, a transformer, a variable voltage supply and a wire holder.
Then, if you want to cut straight, just use straight jigs to make your cuts.




Roger



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 04/23/2012 06:14PM by roger wilson.

Billy, I just got done with an EVA grip and used both a table saw and a miter saw for the cuts. The cuts are smooth as glass and done with out issue, the only thing to watch with EVA is it can't have any kind of bind as you cut or it will catch on the smooth part of the blade, pulling the piece out of alignment. The saws are both Craftsman, but the blades are sharp carbide fine tooth blades. The miter saw is a 12" and is an 80 tooth blade, the table saw is a 10" with a 40 tooth blade. The link below is a photo of the grip, I also used Tite-Bond Polyurethane to join the pieces.

[www.rodbuilding.org]

Been meaning to ask you how that wire cutter world for ya.

Freddwhy (Rapt-Ryte)

Billy, I get good smooth results from metal band saw blade. Don't think it is 1/2" wide but fine 18 teeth. Have done ellipticals and random grips with gd results.

Billy, I get good smooth results from metal band saw blade. Don't think it is 1/2" wide but fine 18 teeth. Have done ellipticals and random grips with gd results.

Before you think about hot wire cutting EVA....

"Burning of ethylene vinyl acetate compounds leads to release of toxic and carcinogenic compounds to the atmosphere."

Read more: The Methods of Recycling Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate | eHow.com [www.ehow.com]

_________________________________________
"Angling is extremely time consuming.
That's sort of the whole point." - Thomas McGuane

For the @#$%& of it ....Has anyone tried an Electric Knife?...................

I am using 1/2 in 24tpi in bandsaw for straight cuts and switch to 1/4 in with 24 tpi when I make curved cuts. Kind of a pain to switch blades but worth the results. Both get pretty smooth cuts.

Chuck,
Any time you work with something that may be injested, absorbed, inhaled, or have other effects, one must use proper precautions in the form of body and vapor inhalation, with body, hand covering as well as appropriate ventilation.

Roger

I use an electric knife robbed from the Thankgiving turkey in a homemade variable angle jig. I get no "sawdust", no vibration and a very smooth cut.

Larry

roger wilson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Chuck,
> Any time you work with something that may be
> injested, absorbed, inhaled, or have other
> effects, one must use proper precautions in the
> form of body and vapor inhalation, with body, hand
> covering as well as appropriate ventilation.
>
> Roger

Right. That's why we shouldn't burn EVA - because who is going to put on an air supply or do it outside for every cut? ;)

_________________________________________
"Angling is extremely time consuming.
That's sort of the whole point." - Thomas McGuane