Basics: How to get good, clean, straight cuts in XPS Foam (Black Magic Craft Episode 030)

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In this Basic's episode I show you a few simple methods to help you get good, clean, straight cuts in xps foam when building things like dungeon tiles for Dungeons & Dragons and other tabletop games.
Black Magic Craft intro music by Black Magic Craft
Background music:
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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Пікірлер: 360

  • @lizpollock6534
    @lizpollock65344 жыл бұрын

    Based on my quilting experience - which involves lots of detailed and "fussy" cutting, I'd suggest cutting while standing rather than sitting. I find it easier to get accurate cuts on many layers of fabric by standing over it.

  • @acmaurer50

    @acmaurer50

    4 жыл бұрын

    When you're standing, you get more leverage from your upper body.

  • @deadinside4372

    @deadinside4372

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yes because sitting is not standing

  • @jamesmikulski1183
    @jamesmikulski11836 жыл бұрын

    Just a little tip to add to your knife technique. If you do end up with a slight bevel, put the smaller side down. That way the top surfaces will still butt tight together.

  • @Xerock
    @Xerock4 жыл бұрын

    Having cut thick material for a living, i would recommend getting a weighted ruler, or if they are too expensive, get an iron bar cut down to match the length of your ruler and adhere it to the ruler using epoxy or some other adhesive. This prevents the knife from pushing the ruler around as you cut.

  • @xXKyledkXx
    @xXKyledkXx7 жыл бұрын

    I was just trying this and it works perfectly with lining up my metal ruler with the cutting mat to get great pieces using a razor blade! Thanks, I was so frustrated trying to get the cuts right!

  • @tonymin1555
    @tonymin15556 жыл бұрын

    Man I should have done my homework. I’ve been a fan but I never thought to start from the beginning with your basics. I donated and did the Dice Tower build. It is a very cool project, but I was butchering some XPS with a $20 craft store foam cutter, a PVC saw and one pass cuts with a ratcheting blade. I made three bases. The one I covered so far ended looking nice, but a bit rough, almost like a goblin tower. The multi pass cut I just tried (even with a dull blade) is so much smoother. It would have saved me a lot of time and heartache. Now I know. Keep up the good crafting! Thanks again for working with St. Jude!

  • @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    6 жыл бұрын

    Yup the basics vids are here for a reason :) glad to help.

  • @WylochsArmory
    @WylochsArmory7 жыл бұрын

    Rockin! I have also done some mitered cuts with the Proxxon table. You need a protractor to set it up, but works aces.

  • @StrongholdCrafterKev
    @StrongholdCrafterKev7 жыл бұрын

    Great stuff. I mainly use a hot wire tool for cutting large pieces of foam. Only foam core is cut with my hobby knife. I like that blade you demonstrated in the video as well as the method of cutting it.

  • @PossumMedic
    @PossumMedic7 жыл бұрын

    I had been planning on making dungeon tiles as a thank you gift for the people who volunteer as DMs at my local comic shop. Thanks to your videos they are now getting double sided 1/2" foam tiles instead of the 1/4" printed and mod-podged foam tiles I was planning on making! Instead of just giving them a functional gift now I think they will be getting something they can really appreciate and integrate into their own games. Thanks man! :)

  • @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    7 жыл бұрын

    That's actually really cool to hear. And if any of them are interested in how to make more, make sure to send em over here :)

  • @jirhonarmstrong4107
    @jirhonarmstrong41077 жыл бұрын

    Once again awesome video, I've been having alot of issues cutting the pink foam cuz all I have is a knife. But you have given me some great tips. Now I feel better on it. Thank you my friend

  • @theexchipmunk
    @theexchipmunk4 жыл бұрын

    I can always recommend one of these kitchen knife sharpeners (those round ones made from metal) if you do a lot of work with the cutter knife. If the blade gets a bit dull, use it and you are ready to go again. Makes your blades last longer and you won't have to change them as often. Withe the added benefit that it saves you some money, especially if you use more expensive blades. (which I always recommend as the cheap ones simply don't work that well with foam)

  • @reneestanko6707
    @reneestanko67074 ай бұрын

    This is so great! I'm taking an architecture class and getting ready to model a rammed earth structure. Amazing tips. Thank you!

  • @DaisyMae404
    @DaisyMae4046 жыл бұрын

    I like the straight foward approach you use.

  • @tain-uwelemmer4489
    @tain-uwelemmer44895 жыл бұрын

    a good trick to make a 90°-Cut on thick material: use a strait, well sanded block of hardwood, instead of a ruler and keep the knife strait at the side of the block. (does not work with too flexible knifes). Hobbyknifes doesn't cut so easy in hardwood, so it works.

  • @SG-hg2zj
    @SG-hg2zj3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for all your help getting started in this hobby. Go Jets!

  • @trojan403
    @trojan4037 жыл бұрын

    Great idea on the depth gauge! Never thought of that before

  • @intzbk1
    @intzbk13 жыл бұрын

    From 2017, and still helpful. Thanks!

  • @shiroidaruma5046
    @shiroidaruma50467 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the list with good XPS suppliers! I've literally been searching for days, but to no avail. Recently came across your channel and there's a lot of great stuff on there, so I subbed straight away and pretty lucky that you covered this subject now.

  • @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    7 жыл бұрын

    Hopefully you can track some stuff down now

  • @shiroidaruma5046

    @shiroidaruma5046

    7 жыл бұрын

    Thanks! Yes, I'll be driving down to either Germany or Belgium today immediately, haha. Thanks for the inspiration!

  • @beavisemojihere
    @beavisemojihere5 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for this. I WAS trying to cut foam with an xacto knife, which was tearing, and I wondered what I was doing wrong. Will try using a razor utility knife and see if that works better. Thanks again!

  • @ryancarter6876
    @ryancarter68764 жыл бұрын

    I've been using a crappy exacto knife and getting rough edges, but honestly, I have been making it work quite well IMO. It creates a rocky effect around the edge of the dungeon tiles, wouldn't be good for more detailed things, but for the ground beneath a layer of stone in a dungeon, it works. Also, I used 1 inch instead of 1/2 inch material for those tiles, and it was my first try.

  • @terrymyers699
    @terrymyers6996 жыл бұрын

    Great tute. Heres a quick FYI for your safety. I highly recommend investing in a chef's/meat cutters Cut Glove. They are gloves made from Kevlar that will not let a knife penetrate or slice thru to your hand. There are also chain male gloves that meat cutters use to keep all their fingers Intact. You can find them for like $5 or $6US on eBay. You get one good slip of the knife you can seriously gouge you can loose fingers. These gloves have helped save my hands for over 30 years of modeling.

  • @theexchipmunk

    @theexchipmunk

    4 жыл бұрын

    Yeah, thats a good recommendation. Its also why I stopped using cutters for the bigger stuff and got me a Proxxon. Had a few close calls that I will remember the rest of my live.

  • @AVspectre

    @AVspectre

    3 жыл бұрын

    When I first read this comment I thought you were saying you were saving your hands for a hand modelling career. :)

  • @jeffd3201
    @jeffd32013 жыл бұрын

    Hi, came upon this and took your recommendation on the proxxon and couldn't be happier. thanks for the great video! I am off and running with it...making some scale structures for a bunch of projects and this provides real nice, light weight building material...

  • @Zeoinx69
    @Zeoinx695 жыл бұрын

    Menards Local Store, I got three quarter inch thick XPS for 12 dollars for 4 foot by 8 foot sheet. They also cut down the sheet into 4 feet by 1 foot slabs for me, so I could get it home without being blown away by the wind.

  • @mattott4274
    @mattott42745 жыл бұрын

    If you want a REALLY cheap hot wire cutter and like to get inventive... you can actually run a current to an olfa knife/blade and heat it up to make your cuts. I wouldn't say it's necessarily "better" but I've found it's faster and seems to help the blade stay sharper longer.

  • @richardmorris6425
    @richardmorris64257 жыл бұрын

    Drafters/artist want that cork strip or thick tape on the back of the ruler so when they run a marker across the ruler, the ink does not bleed under the ruler.

  • @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    7 жыл бұрын

    very interesting, did not know!

  • @Scar589
    @Scar5897 жыл бұрын

    I use a serrated steak knife. I like the 'rough' looking edge as it makes it look more like stone.Will probably use the box cutter for things I want more refined or nicer looking.

  • @VikingFyre
    @VikingFyre7 жыл бұрын

    I keep a sharpener on hand to get the most out of my blades. Thank you Bill Doran and Evil Ted for teaching me that trick haha

  • @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    7 жыл бұрын

    yea, I actually sharpen my blade on my jeans after ever few cuts (an oldschool technique for razors), but I didnt want to show that and have some person try it incorrectly and slice open their leg.

  • @VikingFyre

    @VikingFyre

    7 жыл бұрын

    I use a 4 dollar dual sharpener I got from Smiths grocery store. Works in all blades really well

  • @strandednseattle

    @strandednseattle

    6 жыл бұрын

    I use Jewelers Rouge and a piece of leather on a board to polish the blade. keeps it razor sharp.

  • @theexchipmunk

    @theexchipmunk

    4 жыл бұрын

    I can recommend the Zwilling Kitchen knife sharpener. That thing is normally for high quality kitchen knifes but turns my cutters razor sharp again and again.

  • @laranettle9252
    @laranettle92525 жыл бұрын

    Burnings in New Zealand also stock the same brand of xps as they sell in Australia.

  • @TheUserInterface

    @TheUserInterface

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks was about to go looking for some in NZ

  • @King-ci8sk
    @King-ci8sk2 жыл бұрын

    holy hell my man. ive been practicing and racking my brain about why my frickin cuts are just never perfectly straight for a couple days now. glad to know it isnt exactly all me

  • @rickdillenbeck7397
    @rickdillenbeck73974 ай бұрын

    Fantastic tutorial, I don’t have a hot wire cutter so your tips on knife cutting was very helpful. Thanks

  • @randyrice1429
    @randyrice14293 жыл бұрын

    You are "Best Teacher Ever."

  • @Runehammer1
    @Runehammer17 жыл бұрын

    that cutter is amazers

  • @josht9518

    @josht9518

    7 жыл бұрын

    We are still waiting for you guys to make a mini Guillotine to do the same job though... or behead some miniatures.

  • @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    7 жыл бұрын

    Its the absolute best crafting tool ever made. Hands down. No question.

  • @Katniss218

    @Katniss218

    5 жыл бұрын

    Hankerin'.... Hello there. ;)

  • @3create432
    @3create4326 жыл бұрын

    "Let's cut to the chase" Lol.....I love it!

  • @joshmercer8980

    @joshmercer8980

    3 жыл бұрын

    I took 1d6 psychic damage from that xD

  • @robd1329
    @robd13292 жыл бұрын

    Holy cow..that machine is perfect!

  • @h.p.4839
    @h.p.48393 жыл бұрын

    Thanks again for that advice. Good thing I watched this video before starting to build up my terrain. ;)

  • @rubenvor
    @rubenvor3 жыл бұрын

    Let's cut the crap! Thanks for sharing such useful information! Exactly what I was linking for. Working on a boat project.

  • @emveedee
    @emveedee7 жыл бұрын

    You hit the nail right on the head. I made my first batch of dungeon tiles using a box cutter and although it did work, it was a lot of work, and getting the tiles nicely square was just a pain in the ass. Making a whole bunch of squares at the same time (4 x 4) did help speed it up a bit though. I did have lots of jagged edges since my knife wasn't very good, but you couldn't really see it in the end because you roughen up the tile anyways. When I got a hot wire tool it was suddenly so much easier. The end result does indeed not look very different, but it saved me so much time. Making squares you only need to set the distance right once, then you can just first cut long strokes of foam, give them a quarter turn and cut again. Cutting thin strips is really difficult to get done nicely imo, but with a hot wire table it is a piece of cake. Great advice, I fully endorse this :)

  • @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    7 жыл бұрын

    One you go proxxon you never go back!

  • @emveedee

    @emveedee

    7 жыл бұрын

    I built mine myself as a hobby project but it's very similar to the one you have. Definitely don't want to go back!

  • @lllllllllllllllllllll1lll1
    @lllllllllllllllllllll1lll1 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much for the techniques and demonstration!! Great info!

  • @JimmyJamba
    @JimmyJamba4 жыл бұрын

    Another great video! Good work.

  • @PannkakaMedSylt
    @PannkakaMedSylt6 жыл бұрын

    Keeping your blades sharp is the most important factor, BUT I suggest getting something like a sharpening stone, I have one next to me when ever I'm cutting things and do a light pass on the stone every 4-5 min while cutting something that dulls the blade fast like Styrofoam. that said I still use a hotwire cutter pridominatly when dealing with styrofoam.

  • @majintoast5278
    @majintoast52789 ай бұрын

    ive used exacto knives for cutting my tiles for years. no problems at all. perfect cuts. its all in the technique.

  • @flinch622
    @flinch6222 жыл бұрын

    I find a 10" T-bevel handy. I can mimic angles for layout, and [at least for small pieces] I have a steel straight edge at the ready.

  • @luxiscarbonus
    @luxiscarbonus2 жыл бұрын

    Where has this video been all my life?

  • @AxelAllieu
    @AxelAllieu4 жыл бұрын

    I forgot to like this one, sorry! Error corrected. Sometimes, going back to basics helps a lot. Thank you!

  • @Tovenaar13
    @Tovenaar134 жыл бұрын

    Can't wait to build my HeroQuest tiles!

  • @saintmatthew956
    @saintmatthew9567 жыл бұрын

    J, this video is great. I wish I had it a year ago!

  • @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    7 жыл бұрын

    Better late than never

  • @GeneralKetchup57
    @GeneralKetchup577 жыл бұрын

    Nice video, glad I'm not the only one having problems with angle cuts:) Just ordered the table and your razor set from your shop. Hopefully, the fee amazon pays you compensates for the beating I'm going to get from my wife ...LOL Seriously, it was the best price I found:)

  • @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    7 жыл бұрын

    Yea, I don't think you can beat the amazon price.....and if you craft a lot it totally pays for itself with the time saved. I mostly want lots of crafters to get it so I can use it more on tutorials without making people feel left out, lol. For the record, because I'm all about transparency, I get a $7 cut for every proxxon table sold through my shop....so not quitting my job anytime soon, but it's actually an amount that adds up with a lot of purchases (and hey $7 for the channel is better than it going to amazon's pocket, they have enough $). People have bout 15 of them through my shop over the past month, so that's a lot of extra business for proxxon. I'm going to be reaching out to them to see if they can send me some of their other tools to test out for you guys.

  • @GeneralKetchup57

    @GeneralKetchup57

    7 жыл бұрын

    Great, looking forward to the next video:) Finally, going to attempt some of your killer buildings!

  • @ColonelIzabelleThorn
    @ColonelIzabelleThorn4 жыл бұрын

    B&Q has different types of XPS foam in the UK, though can potentially be a little pricey depending on shop location.

  • @XRPDegen

    @XRPDegen

    3 жыл бұрын

    Builders skips sometimes are a treasure trove ... 😉👍🏻

  • @giotabiol1895
    @giotabiol18954 жыл бұрын

    XPS Foam: For Greece, you can find it as "θερμομονωτικό φελιζόλ", "Εξηλασμένη Πολυστερίνη", "Styropan XPS", "φελιζόλ styropan" etc. Its available at almost relatively big craft stores (I get it in a local one), including Practicer, Leroy Merlin etc. If researching for prices, pages like skroutz. gr can compare prices from physical shops & e-shops all over the country.

  • @FoEDekker
    @FoEDekker5 жыл бұрын

    Just messing around, I tried this foam in some of my woodworking tools. My table saw cuts this to a factory finish with no tearing, so I decided to step up a notch. Believe it or not, you can feed this stuff through a thickness planer with zero issues. The only things I find don't work well are spinning bits. Drill presses and routers tear it apart.

  • @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    5 жыл бұрын

    I’ve also run it through a table saw. Gives a nice cut but the foam dust is a nightmare.

  • @davidgates1122

    @davidgates1122

    2 жыл бұрын

    I regularly use the table saw with a carbide blade and a good dust collection system.

  • @benamisai-kham5892
    @benamisai-kham58928 ай бұрын

    I had no idea hot wire tables existed! I know what i wanna get myself for christmas now! I was making shabby cuts with a saw blade and xacto knife and smoothing them with a mini belt sander, terrifyingly 😂

  • @workingTchr
    @workingTchr Жыл бұрын

    For a perpendicular cut using the razor knife, I'd try taking the blade out of the knife and clamping it to a known right angle object (say, a piece of wood) and using that along with a straight edge.

  • @DRI1966
    @DRI19663 жыл бұрын

    Thank You for all this tips :)

  • @TimMcMahon80
    @TimMcMahon80 Жыл бұрын

    The taller your straight edge the more perfectly vertical your cut will be i.e. if you use a half-inch square rod as your straight edge you can keep the knife flush with the edge and be vertical.

  • @KendellConiff
    @KendellConiff2 жыл бұрын

    I already have a woodworking bandsaw so I use it to cut my styrofoam pieces. It's a little messy but works great!

  • @kylemcburgerson5207
    @kylemcburgerson52072 жыл бұрын

    You and brent are great

  • @amethystcraft8792
    @amethystcraft87927 жыл бұрын

    Good instructions!

  • @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    7 жыл бұрын

    Thanks :)

  • @BoArtTakeOver
    @BoArtTakeOver3 жыл бұрын

    Awesome thanks!

  • @ilonash.8157
    @ilonash.81574 жыл бұрын

    I wandered to your channel absolutely accidentally, but this is such a treasure. Your way of explaining is so clear and really engaging. Thank you a lot! (and please, in the future use some protection gloves or something working with the hot wire, bc my level of anxiety reached extreme markings watching you do it with your bare hands! I was worried you would cut your arm through!!)

  • @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    4 жыл бұрын

    I don’t think you understand the tool. My arm isnt made of styrofoam.

  • @ilonash.8157

    @ilonash.8157

    4 жыл бұрын

    Oh, I'm sorry then. It looks more intimidating than it apparently is :)

  • @jaekaelae1198
    @jaekaelae11987 жыл бұрын

    Bandsaw is also an option to cut different foam boards and you don't get toxic fumes. Downside is the crumbs but they can be get rid of with vacuumcleaner. Small bandsaw can be bought for $120+ and they can be used to cut all kind of materials not just foamboards. I have used bandsaw for cutting styrofoam and it works wonders. I like your videos and keep watching them.

  • @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    7 жыл бұрын

    Couple things.....for the price of the bandsaw I would rather have a dedicated foam cutter. I am a professional carpenter and have a band saw and a scroll saw but far prefer the precision, perfectly smooth, no mess cuts of the foam cutter. Saws are also loud and if like me you craft while the rest of the house sleeps a silent tool is better. As for dangers/fumes....heres the thing, this foam is only harmful when BURNT (black smoke), if your hotwire is set and used correctly it emits a white water vapor, and as long as you have some ventilation you are at very little risk.....the fine dust from cutting with a saw or sanding is actually FAR more dangerous. Not to mention a band saw is far more dangerous to use...For me as a carpenter that isn't an issue, but a band saw is not a tool everybody should be using.

  • @jaekaelae1198

    @jaekaelae1198

    7 жыл бұрын

    :) Good point. But small bandsaws are not that dangerous when one is cutting soft materials like foams it won't kickback. Ofcourse it is more dangerous than hot wire cutter.

  • @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    7 жыл бұрын

    really though, the risk of both tools is very low unless you are really really careless. The biggest factor for me is noise and styro dust....the main reason I got the hotwire was to not have to deal with staticky styro dust that sticks to everything.

  • @dolfinmagikpro
    @dolfinmagikpro3 жыл бұрын

    Any pointers on cutting curves with a blade? Like doorway arches, for example. Great video! Keep up the great work!

  • @rexmundi8154
    @rexmundi815410 ай бұрын

    A bandsaw makes quick work of thick foam and the mess is containable if you use a saw with a dust collector. The hot knife can make a closed shop’s air quality pretty dismal.

  • @claylewis8233
    @claylewis82337 жыл бұрын

    Evil Ted Smith uses a Kershaw Blade Sharpener to extend the life of his blades. He builds eva foam costumes, the stuff dulls blades like crazy. I picked one up and its super nice.

  • @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    7 жыл бұрын

    yea I need to start doing that I even have a really nice wet stone

  • @paulbrasted8584
    @paulbrasted85842 жыл бұрын

    great, thanks!

  • @___Chris___
    @___Chris___3 жыл бұрын

    I own a proxxon wirecutter, but it turned out being too slow for big parts (I was building big foamcore/fibreglass sandwich parts for the interior in my selfmade RV). I ultimately ended up using a jigsaw with a thin aluminum blade - works like a charm. As far as I've heard, a bandsaw with a thin blade does the job, too (and also with perfectly straight angles). I once was cutting with one of those larger knives like shown in your video and ended up in the ER to get some stiches: The knife got stuck for a microsecond and when it quickly got free again I ended up swinging it towards my other hand that was holding the part and cut a good cm deep, down to the bone. Oops.

  • @fuzzywigschickenemporium
    @fuzzywigschickenemporium6 жыл бұрын

    Guess I know what I need to ask for for Christmas...lol

  • @elysesmith8460
    @elysesmith8460 Жыл бұрын

    Watching these basics videos as I get ready to go to Dollarama and Michaels 😅

  • @jasonraper3864
    @jasonraper38647 жыл бұрын

    Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!

  • @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    7 жыл бұрын

    so.....i guess this was a helpful video then :)

  • @jordanpark5533
    @jordanpark5533 Жыл бұрын

    Hey man, love the videos and I love the work you create. It's opened up a whole new experience for me and a very nerd hobby. I do not have the space for a hotwire table though, as much as I would like one. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind eventually making a few videos based purely when using a knife. A hot wire table is clearly the more efficient and precise way but it'd be good to watch and learn from purely knife based techniques. Either way, inspirational shit man

  • @mikeet207
    @mikeet2077 жыл бұрын

    I went cheap and bought a Styro Cutter for about $9.00 from Hobby Loppy. Does the same job as the foam cutter youre talking about. That being said i mostly just cut with my blade and yes good blades matter a lot.

  • @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    7 жыл бұрын

    Yea, handheld hot cutters are great for a lot of things, especially organic shapes. Personally I find them to be a pain to use for repetitive straight cuts without building a jig....and I'd rather save the time and use a table cutter.

  • @mikeet207

    @mikeet207

    7 жыл бұрын

    Yea it's basically useless for straight cuts.

  • @manuelurdaneta8649
    @manuelurdaneta86493 жыл бұрын

    To make 90 degree cuts, instead of a ruler, I use a 1 "x 1" aluminum angle.

  • @Mikey__R
    @Mikey__R5 жыл бұрын

    Cheers! It's funny that, whilst it's easy with practice to cut a 2x4 square with a hand saw, even easier to cut thinner timber with a back saw, and cut a mortice plumb with a chisel, it does seem odd that a knife tends to angle like that in softer material. Do you think it might be because of body mechanics? We often cut timber whilst bearing over the board with our body, looking down on the cut, and chop with a mortice chisel whilst standing back to judge plumb. My woodworking bench is quite low, my sawhorse is even lower. Do you think crafting whilst hunched at a desk might be to blame for off square cuts?

  • @bamsgian9759
    @bamsgian97592 жыл бұрын

    Thanks mate

  • @charliehodges3940
    @charliehodges39407 жыл бұрын

    Would I be able to cut a piece of foam to 12" x 12" using the fence?

  • @modest2921
    @modest29217 жыл бұрын

    oooo that intro

  • @manp1039
    @manp10394 жыл бұрын

    It just occured to me to use a piec of 2/4 ontop of the metal straight edge as a guide to keep the angle of the cut uniform along each pass. the metal straight edge would still keep the blad on target. and the 2x4 would be where the blade handle would ride along?

  • @kickford
    @kickford3 жыл бұрын

    Outside of a hot wire, I can tell you the absolute easiest way to cut foam board, is with a small, quality fillet knife. It's way better than any other knife you'll ever use, hands down.

  • @TattooBull
    @TattooBull4 жыл бұрын

    I recently bought a aluminum fishing boat and I have been seeing videos of people using this to help make flooring to stand up easier in the boat .. my question is .. if you took a two-by-four and put it under each outer edge and stood on the middle so that the foamular board bent about 2" like the letter U , how much pressure would it take before the board snapped .. how much can it Bend before breaking more or less .. the reason I am asking is because the bottom of the boat has a little bit of a V shape and isn't perfectly flat .. I'm sure I can use something to fill in the center to make it where the board wouldn't bend much but I think it would still have a little Bend to it .. also how well can you sand the edges to round them off

  • @paintingtracey
    @paintingtracey6 жыл бұрын

    Great overview!

  • @solarsynapse
    @solarsynapse2 жыл бұрын

    You could use a thicker metal bar instead of a ruler and run your blade alongside it to maintain a 90 degree cut.

  • @ozzyosmond1
    @ozzyosmond1 Жыл бұрын

    Great videos - I bought the Proxxon on your rec for cutting XPS and it's great but I'm wondering if you have tips for cutting a curve (like a large arch). I have some ideas, but I'm wondering if theres a way to use a template that doesn't get cut with the foam or another method. Does making a shallow blade cut first help? (I know I should be experimenting but I thought I'd ask a pro) Freehand is way too impossible for me.

  • @logowatchman
    @logowatchman3 жыл бұрын

    Absolutely right regarding Olfa knives. The only one I have used since I discovered the company 20 years ago. Home depot sometimes doesn't have them with the other brands in the tool department - look in the paint department.

  • @yassperiano5401
    @yassperiano54014 жыл бұрын

    What would you say about using fire for texturing?

  • @blaked7532
    @blaked75326 жыл бұрын

    btw, what did you set it to for that first cut?

  • @chd64
    @chd646 жыл бұрын

    in Europe, one manufacture is called stryodur and make 3000cs to 5000cs, variety of depths, in uk the only manufacture is in birmingham

  • @chd64

    @chd64

    6 жыл бұрын

    company called FoamTech

  • @goldiesincity8005
    @goldiesincity80053 жыл бұрын

    I was wondering how to cut a design out of this foam , not a straight line , i carved out a design out of this foam using a exacto blade and your right it dulled it and the exacto blade wasn't 2 inches long anyway to finish , so i had to use a really sharp thin kitchen knife to cut the rest i took my time and it came out pretty good a little rough around the edges , i didn't think i could sand this foam with out destroying it , but you can actually sand it , i sanded out all the rough edges and any other imperfections , and it looked perfect . But it was a lot of work and i was thinking if i had a rotary type tool or something to make the cutting easier and more precise would be better for a future project , i now have a Dremel but not sure if it would work you really have to have a steady hand but the Dremel works for carving design into the project , haven't tried it yet , that's what brought me here to your video .

  • @692ALBANNACH
    @692ALBANNACH3 жыл бұрын

    I have a proxxon but can't use in in my room at the moment will set off the alarms.I do use knives but they can dull up and I go through a far number of blades ! Until I get a place to use my machine will use a variety of sharp knives!

  • @1biggrigg1
    @1biggrigg13 жыл бұрын

    What knife using solid blades would you suggest? Using it to cut 4'x8'x2" polystyrene sheets

  • @ericmallory3050
    @ericmallory30507 жыл бұрын

    Olfa +1. I first came across an Olfa cutter while working for a sign company, and the yellow plastic had a whole bunch of red acrylic paint on it, made me remember to be careful to not cut any fingers off...lol Olfa blades are amazing, but first time users...safety tip, go real slow, these things are extremely sharp, and try not to work alone, because if you do cut yourself, you can do some serious damage if you are not paying attention... (Raises hand, shows scars) Why is it Olfa cutters always seem to be some of the ugliest, beat up, misused, tools? They pretty much last forever...looks like you're using one with a black handle almost, but I could see the yellow peek they in some spots... I think you almost have me convinced on the proxxon, but I doubt it will happen before xmas...rock on.

  • @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    7 жыл бұрын

    Yea a fresh olfa blade can cut right through your finger nail and you wont even feel it....I know from experience. I manage and see many different trades in my job and I've only ever seen olfa knives on site. They are the best. The one I have in the videos I spray painted black a while ago to designate it as the "black magic craft" one, ie it stays at the crafting table and doesn't end up in a pocket, tool pouch, or at work.....I've said elsewhere, I've never had an olfa knife break on me (no matter how many times dropped or used to open paint cans, lol), they only end their life with me when I loose them.

  • @TheSerpent753
    @TheSerpent7537 жыл бұрын

    You can also use a scroll saw to cut this foam. It cuts clean and your cuts will be perpendicular. I don't use foam enough to warrant buying a hot-wire cutter.

  • @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    7 жыл бұрын

    I am a carpenter so I own a scroll saw BUT I craft while the family sleeps and a scroll saw is way too loud.....the cuts with a scroll saw are decent, but not nearly as clean, and there are a ton of things you can do with the hotwire table that you cant do with a scroll saw. The other thing is the mess, I don't want the mess....and the health concerns. People always worry about the fumes of cutting foam with a hotwire, but if done correctly (not burning/black smoke) the vapors are essentially just water, and with a little ventilation you are fine. With a scroll saw you make fine dust that is way more dangerous and actually requires a mask. Anyway, this is just what works best for me, your needs and stuff may differ.

  • @cheeseymann
    @cheeseymann3 жыл бұрын

    I'd say a knife is fine for the average joe just trying to make things here and there. The proxon is definitely more consistent and a lot quicker, so if your planning to make a lot of tiles or just a ton of the same things, youd probly benefit from a hotwire table.

  • @xamanoth
    @xamanoth7 жыл бұрын

    Hi, i've been building a few terrain pieces out of xps and learned a lot from you. I still got a question ( maybe you already addressed it ): Do you remove the factory surface ( not a coating but simply the little bit harder, shiny surface with the logos )? Apart from the indented logos i found that the cut surface holds details or tin foiled-structure much better and also appears to be matte when painted. If you do - have you any special tips how to cut down large tiles (like 12x12 or your huge irregular cave tiles)? Thanks a lot!

  • @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    7 жыл бұрын

    On the foamular I use I've never found a need to remove any of the outer surface.

  • @mcane227
    @mcane2274 жыл бұрын

    Just came across this video. Great tips. I’m going to get the Olga knife. Do you use the 18 mm or 25 mm size? Thanks again.

  • @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    4 жыл бұрын

    18mm

  • @xaxzander4633
    @xaxzander46335 жыл бұрын

    do you have to peel off the plastic on the face with the lettering?

  • @spaceflows
    @spaceflows7 жыл бұрын

    Great advice! Also... new camera (DSLR)??? Lookin' good!

  • @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    7 жыл бұрын

    Yea, been using it for a while, still learning though.

  • @BlueSparrow23
    @BlueSparrow235 жыл бұрын

    I realize this is an old video and people are unlikely to see this, but it's worth a shot. Does anyone know of a left-handed version of that knife? As a leftie crafter, I'm always dismayed by seemingly simple tools that I either have to use with my non-dominant hand, or just go without. If anyone knows of a good place or site to buy quality left-handed tools, let me know. I've yet to find one that's more than novelty.

  • @seanooley7377
    @seanooley73777 жыл бұрын

    For your standard dungeon tiles, do you use 1/4", 1/2", or 3/4" XPS? I also found that my contractor's table saw cut through the 1/2" foam with no problem and it came out very smooth.

  • @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    7 жыл бұрын

    1/2" for all my tiles!

  • @seanooley7377

    @seanooley7377

    7 жыл бұрын

    Thanks, that's what my local Lowe's has for $9.94 for a 4' x 8' sheet. The 1/4" stuff is much more expensive because you buy almost a wall of it and they won't sell it in smaller amounts. However, the 1/4" stuff probably has its uses in craft.

  • @thingsilikeful
    @thingsilikeful7 жыл бұрын

    just commenting on the most recent video so it can be seen. painting tile pieces ( like your dungeon tile) for outdoor like grass or sandy, is it the same process?

  • @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    7 жыл бұрын

    sure, whatever you want....i don't do tiles for outside, or a grid. I just have one big 2'x2' grass square

  • @gurfuzle
    @gurfuzle4 жыл бұрын

    What is the best way to make cuts on a large sheet? If I have a 2" x 4' x 8' sheet, what is my best method for cutting it down to more usable sizes? (I've been using a circular saw and guide, not sure it's the best though)

  • @solarsynapse

    @solarsynapse

    2 жыл бұрын

    Don't breathe the dust a circular saw makes! There is a foam cutting blade for jigsaws and oscillating saws that you may like.

  • @hyoomanmaol
    @hyoomanmaol6 жыл бұрын

    Do you think that it would work to affix a block to the narrow side of the carpenter square so you can lay the blade against it as a guide to make straight downward cuts?

  • @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    6 жыл бұрын

    I'm having a hard time picturing what you mean, so I'll just say test it and find out. No harm in trying.

  • @WilliamRampart
    @WilliamRampart5 жыл бұрын

    So I only had access to 1in foamular, do you have any advice on cutting it evenly down the middle? It's been murder using the razor to cut them apart. I don't have a proxxon

  • @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    @BlackMagicCraftOfficial

    5 жыл бұрын

    I don’t know a practical way without a hotwire.

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