How To Repair Hot Wire Foam Factory

Tool FAQs

Common (and not so common) Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions virtually Hot Wire Foam Factory Tools

Q: Are your tools made for crafts and hobbies, or professional artists?

A: Since 1991, Hot Wire Foam Factory tools have been used by the professional and hobbyist alike. You lot accept come to the all-time identify for affordable, yet professional foam cutting tools! These revolutionary foam sculpting tools take helped create the life sized Oscar Award for its 75th anniversary, were used to build the props in Disneyland's "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "The Haunted Mansion." Sculptors for Six Flags amusement parks, window designers for Fao Schwartz, haunt designers for Knott's "Scary" Subcontract, and Deal or No Deal stage prop builders are just a few who have added our line to their toolboxes. Did y'all take hold of us on Home and Garden Television and Do Information technology Yourself Network? How most Wacky World Studios and Group Publishing's Decorating Places line of DVD's that show how anyone can hands make life sized stage props with our tools?

Now anything is possible! Ten-foot sculptures, architectural models, rockets, electric airplanes, diorama landscaping, game terrain, floral and party decor, custom molds for casting, unique mosaics, 3D wall murals, custom frames, crown molding, business signs and decorations for the holidays. With foam it's fast and like shooting fish in a barrel.

Hither are the tool kits that Disneyland and many other commercial foam artists utilize: The Compound Bow Cutter, The Pro Hot Knife and Freehand Router Kit, The Original Hot Scroll Tabular array, or if you lot are doing a lot of complicated cuts, the 3D Scroll Table. Look at our Gallery to see just a few of the wonderful creations our customers are making with their Hot Wire Foam Manufacturing plant tools.

Q: Do your products carry a warranty, and if so how long and what is covered?

A: The tools and power supplies have a 90 twenty-four hour period warranty, but we are very lenient with this. If we find there is some sort of defect with the tool that acquired it to fail even a year or ii after purchase nosotros usually repair information technology at no accuse.

Q: Are the blades on the Hot Knives replaceable?

A: The blades are replaceable, but require special tooling. If information technology stopped working due to a defect we will repair or supervene upon it at no charge. If the bract has been physically broken, nosotros volition replace the 4″ blade for $xv plus return aircraft and the Pro 6″ and 8″ blades for $xx plus return shipping.

E'er let the heat practise the cut. Forcing and bending the blade volition not speed up the cut. If you are cutting a high density foam, or just need to cutting faster, inquire nigh our generous upgrade discount to a Pro or Industrial Pocketknife, which will cutting much faster.

Q: I lost my tool manual – can I get another one?

A: Admittedly! Nosotros have the tool manuals for the Crafters Kits and Pro Kits available as downloadable PDFs.

Crafters Power & Tools Instruction Manual

Pro Ability & Tools Instruction Transmission

Q: What is the master difference betwixt the pro sets and the craft sets? I realize that the pro has variable temperature, but how is that beneficial? Seems that the hotter the faster the cutting, so I'd probably set information technology on maximum anyhow. But mayhap not…? Too, is there a difference in the quality of the tools and/or blades?

A: The Pro and Craft Tools themselves are the same, except that the Pro Pocketknife is longer and the blade is stronger and cuts 1.5x faster than the regular Hot Knife. Besides, the cutting wire on the Sculpting Tool is thinner on the Craft than on the Pro, and does non cut equally fast. The Pro tools will only piece of work with the Pro Ability Station. The Pro Power Station is protected with a resettable fuse, whereas the Crafters Air conditioning power supply is not. If you use the Arts and crafts tools on the Pro Power Supply, they can run up to 2-3 times faster by raising the tool'south temperature. Also, you will be able to control the cut better by being able to turn the tool'south temperature down when doing detailed piece of work, especially with the Engraver. The regular Hot Knife reaches the aforementioned temperature with the Air conditioning as with the Pro Power. The handles and switches are the same on all the hand tools.

Q: Can I use the craft tools with the Pro Power Station?

A: Yes, all our arts and crafts tools can exist used on the Pro Power Station, but not all of the Pro tools can work on the Craft Power Supply. If you use the Craft tools on the Pro Power Supply, they can sew together to 2-iii times faster past raising the tool'southward temperature. Also, y'all volition be able to command the cut amend past being able to plow the tool's temperature down when doing detailed work.

Q: Why is the Pro Power Station so expensive?

A: We make all of our products in the Usa, and the Pro Power Station is a more than complicated slice to manufacture. The tools do work much ameliorate with the Pro Ability Station, so information technology is worth the investment.

Q: What temperature practice the Hot Knives work at?

A: Our tools are designed to cut EPS (polystyrene) foam, which melts at 180 degrees Fahrenheit/82 degrees Celsius. The four″ Hot Knife blade that is in contact with the cream is about 194-212 degrees Fahrenheit/xc-100 degrees Celsius. The vi″ Hot Knife is about 266-302 degrees Fahrenheit/130-150 degrees Celsius if the ability supply is turned all the way upward. The blades reach a temperature of about 2 times hotter than that when they are not cutting, as the foam absorbs a not bad deal of heat from them while they are cutting. The 4″ Hot Pocketknife tin can exist used with either the Crafters Power Supply or the Pro Ability Station, and reaches the same heat with either. The half dozen″ Hot Pocketknife tin can only be used with the Pro Ability Station.

Q: Is there a trick to make the wire on the Sculpting Tool taut like a tight rope that stretches across the two artillery?

A: Nosotros have the arms of the Sculpting Tool adjustable and then you can make a slight outward loop of the cutting wire for etching indentations (i.e. canyons) in foam. This does create a trouble with keeping the cutting wire taut. The best mode to arrive taut is with the wire mounted, to pull one arm all the fashion in one direction, then grab the other arm and pull it dorsum and so everything is centered once more. Y'all can also wrap your fingers around the brass arms to hold them taut while making your straight cut. Permit the heat do the cutting so in that location is no resistance to the cutting wire.

We also offer a Sculpting Tool Wire Tensioner, an accessory which holds the cutting wire taut when y'all do non need to shape the cutting wire or loop it outward for sculpting negative cuts.

Q: What is the estimate of the blades on the hot knives?

A: The 6″ and 8″ Hot Knives are 17 guage (0.0578 – 0.0585 bore) and the 4″ Hot Knife is 19 approximate (0.0415 – 0.0425 diameter)

Q: I am a long fourth dimension user of Hot Wire Foam Factory's tools, just I have been going through the wire blades for the Bow Cutter when using the 2′ portion. I accept cleaved all my original wires and have ordered replacements and have cleaved 3 in two weeks. They are breaking at the prune end. The bow is very loose when using 4′ and too when using the extended 2′. Why are these blades breaking and why is the cutter not taut? You cannot replace the clip end because information technology becomes as well short.

A: It is rare for the blades on the Bow Cutter to break. We have hundreds of customers who are using the bow cutters all the time and we rarely hear of blades breaking. I have been using our bow cutters for years, and have constitute some tricks to extending the life of the blades. Naturally every bit with all hot wire tools e'er allow the heat practice the cutting. Here are a few less obvious tips:

If you are irresolute sizes and blades ofttimes yous should effort non to unbend and re-bend the ends with the terminals, as this will crusade them to break prematurely. Push them dorsum downwardly into the slots so that the bend stays in the same place.

To put more than tension on the blades plough the rut on (notice that the blade grows in length and slackens with heat) so rotate i or both arms until you get the tension you need. If the bract is slack while you lot are cutting information technology allows it to bend back and forth at the slot in the arm, which volition weaken it to the point where it will suspension. It is very important to let the tension off the blades before turning off the oestrus. If you just turn the heat off it volition create too much tension and the blade might break.

I will have a new set of two′ and 4′ blades sent to you at no charge. If you continue to have problems, we can sell you a l ft roll of the cutting wire and bag of terminals at a much lower cost than buying blades. Nosotros can ship y'all some terminals that you can use to recycle your iv′ blades into 2′ blades if you lot would like.

Q: I have an sometime Pro gear up (with an all black handle) that I bought 8 years ago. I finally bankrupt my first wire but I tin't find the replacement wires. I tried using 20 gauge galvanized wire and 22 approximate copper but neither work. Where can I get replacement wire?

A: You probably need .010 or .020 Nichrome wire. Using any other kind of wire volition very likely kill your power supply. Nosotros can ship y'all wires if you tin can't find them near you lot or you tin call us at 1-866-735-9255 and we will endeavor to find a dealer well-nigh you lot.

Q: Can 1 of the wires for the Freehand Router be mounted taut, and then that it volition substitute temporarily for not buying the Sculpting Tool? I know I want to buy the Pro products from the first, and I desire to start out with minimal investment, only practise I actually NEED to get the Sculpting Tool in order to see if making foam sculpture works for u.s.a.?

A: You lot cannot make the wire straight between the artillery on the Freehand Router because the wire is 10″ long and cannot exist shortened without stressing the Pro Power Station. You can, notwithstanding, shape the blade somewhat on the Sculpting Tool. We have videos on these tools in the video department of our website, just the Sculpting Tool wire used in this video is the thinner wire that comes when you buy information technology with the Crafter's Power Supply. Nosotros supply a thicker, more shapeable wire for the Sculpting Tool when you buy it with the Pro Power Station. So you might consider getting the Sculpting Tool instead of the Freehand Router if you desire ane tool with more than versatility.

Q: I am looking for a product that volition let me to cut perfectly measured squares at a measurement of one foot by one pes squares, at a minimum depth of ii inches; information technology looks like that Crafter's Coil Table ready is close, only slightly short of a full human foot clearance from the guard at the back and the wire; can you lot suggest any of your products that might meet these cutting specifications?

A: Even our 3D Curlicue Table falls a fleck curt of the 1′ depth of cutting. The to the lowest degree expensive alternative is to buy the Hot Pocketknife and Sled Guide. You can mount it upside down, with the knife blade sticking upward, on the edge of a work table. Or, you can make a hole in the work table and stick the bract up through the hole. You can easily make your own fence guide. We can sell you lot ABS plastic L stock in any length your need for your contend. Y'all can fifty-fifty tilt your table towards the bract and let gravity push the foam through the blade. If yous are going to exercise a large quantity of cutting and become frustrated with the speed of cutting of the Air conditioning Hot Knife kit and try to force the foam through the blade information technology might pause the blade. The Pro half dozen″ Knife, which needs the Pro Power Station, cuts 1.five times faster and so far has never been cleaved even past people doing very big projects. The blades are replaceable for $20, but it has to be done with special tooling in our factory.

Q: What the difference is between the 3D Scroll Tabular array and the Crafters Scroll Table? I'm thinking about buying one of the 3D Pro Model Kits and wanted to make sure that the 3D Curl Table can cutting accurate directly lines and angles like the Original Scroll Table. Is at that place a departure between the ii tables?

A: The 3D Scroll Table can make nevertheless basic cuts, including accurate directly cuts, as the Original Roll Table, and much more than. The Instructional DVD spends about xxx minutes going through all of the gear up-ups for the 3D, while information technology only takes well-nigh five minutes to breeze through the instructions for the Original Scroll Table. In example y'all were unable to discover this, click here for the department of the 3D'south product clarification that shows many, though non almost all, of its capabilities. If you do need all of these sophisticated functions, I recommend that yous also purchase the Sled Guide and a Hot Knife (any of the hot knives will work – 4″, 6″ or 8″) which attaches to the bottom of the 3D Tabular array for doing plunge cut and the opportunity of using a super rigid vertical blade.

Q: The tips of my tools are getting dirty, so how do you recommend cleaning the tools? I use Blueboard foam mostly.

A: That Blueboard foam does get out a lot of residual. Most people clean their tools as they are working by merely gently wiping them against a cloth or newspaper towel while the foam is in a melted state. If you lot feel the need to clean them even farther, you lot can clean them while they are cold with acetone.

Q: I saw the show on the DIY network and would like to purchase some tools to become started creating things with foam. I am non certain what tools to purchase. Tin you lot make some recommendations for me?

A: First, we need to know what kinds of things you would similar to make. If you are going to make smaller craft projects whatever of the craft kits will be adequate. If you lot need to make accurate cuts, say for signs, the Original Roll Tabular array Set will be best. If you lot are going to exist doing larger projects, so you should be looking at the Pro Kits. Give us some thought of what you would similar to try to make and we volition be better able to help you. You can also talk to one of our friendly staff on our price gratis line, ane-866-735-9255 .

Q: What is the all-time kit for the money?

A: That really depends on the job. K44P6, which retails at $169.95 is my pick. You get the Pro Ability Station and the ii most diverse tools we offer: the Freehand Router and 6″ Pro Knife. The Freehand Router is shapeable and the Pro Knife offers a fine line and a "turn on a dime" cut, but they are sturdy enough to hold under the pressure of a big piece. The combination kits are the best value for the money.

Q: I would like to be able to make letters for signs/logos every bit well every bit creating objects from small to no more than than 3 anxiety tall. What tools would yous recommend?

A: It really depends on your skill every bit a freehand creative person. Some people have the rare talent of existence able to pick up a tool and make perfect freehand cuts with our Pro 3-in-1 Kit. By far the majority of people making signs use the Original Coil Table or the 3D Curl Tabular array. It is much easier to keep the cutting wire perpendicular to the foam using the Table model. Near people, including myself, are not able to brand prissy looking letters with the Hot Knife. Whenever nosotros do demonstrations at conventions, nearly everyone decides on the Pro Kits correct off the bat.

If you practise well at making signs yous will be able to more than pay for you tools with a single chore. 3D signs for businesses cost from $ane,000 to $five,000. If you go to the Sign Making section of our Gallery you will discover several projects that give instructions and tips. EPS cream signs coated with our Cream Coat then painted with loftier quality outdoor latex paint will exist weatherproof and when mounted high enough that people can't touch on them, will last longer than wood signs.

You can start out with our Crafters 3-in-i Kit and Crafters Original Scroll Table Prepare. Notwithstanding, information technology sounds like you have some ambitious projects in mind. In which case you will be very happy that you started out with the top of the line Pro Kits: the 3-in-i Pro Kit or even better, the 4-in-one Pro Kit and Original Whorl Table (this will work with the Pro Power Station from the Pro Kits).

Q: I would be using the Hot Knife and Sculpting Tool for carving various moldings, trims, and big architectural pieces for theatre sets. It seems that most users are working with small pieces, model RR's, etc. Would your products work for large pieces and props for theatrical use? Would the cordless kit with the pocketknife and sculpting tool be a good choice? Information technology doesn't seem that the engraver would be something I would demand. I would be using the products for adequately long periods of fourth dimension. Should I become with the AC adapter also?

A: We have sold tool sets to many theater groups, movie producers, and parade float creators with positive feedback from all. The Hot Knife and the Sculpting Tool would definitely be the adept choices for detail work. Lego Country in Southern California recently bought ane or our Pro Kits to brand foam backdrops for their amusement park. Nosotros have also sold Pro Kits to Disneyland, Disney World, Knotts Berry Farm, Columbia Studios, the FBI, and the list goes on. The Nightmare Before Christmas scenes for the Haunted Mansion, the remodel of the Pirates of the Caribbean area, and Captain Nemo backdrops were made with our tools.

The Pro Power Station is used past most people who are doing serious projects. Information technology has more ability and outlasts the Crafters Ability Supplies. Nosotros also offer an extension cord for the Pro Power Station, which you lot can utilize to get six feet of extra range for your tool.

As far every bit other tool options you may want to consider, we have a Freehand Router tool that has a strong cut blade for more serious etching. The brass arms are shorter than the Sculpting Tool'due south, and the cut wire is ten″ long. You shape the blades any way you want with your fingers or pliers and they will not bend while you are cutting. People who take used the tool say that cutting cream with this bract is the fastest sculpting they have e'er experienced in whatever medium. We also have a Pro 6″ Hot Pocketknife that is much sturdier and cuts faster than the regular four″ Hot Knife, and a new 6″ Industrial Hot Pocketknife that can be used continuously for periods of upward to 45 minutes, and much longer if turned off in betwixt cuts. Our 2-four pes Bow Cutter is also slap-up for knocking those big blocks of foam downwardly to size!

Q: My projection requires a shaped etching that is too big for the Freehand Router. Practise you offer a larger tool with a shapeable blade?

A: Our Industrial 32″ Router has a shapeable 32″ blade. The big shapeable blade draws a lot of electric current, so you'll demand the Industrial 0-120V Variable Power.

Q: I am trying to cutting paper in various shapes and I was wondering if the Hot Coil Table would work?

A: No, our tools will not cut through paper. They will not cutting through newspaper coated foam lath either.

Q: Practice you have a tool to carve the pattern of a gun into the foam that comes in a gun example?

A: Yep, the Freehand Router is used for making cutouts in cream for packaging purposes. The other popular method is to buy i/two″ to iii″ thick slices of foam and progressively terrace the pieces using the Hot Knife Tool. This is how the inside of many camera cases are designed. You tin glue the pieces together after they are all cutout. We offering Armorfoam, which is easy to handle, cut, shape and form. Armorfoam is widely used in protective packing of fine art, artifacts and sensitive instruments, for both transportation and storage. It is a tough, flexible thermoplastic resin which, existence inert and chemically stable, meets all preservation standards. If yous use another kind of cream, e'er check with the foam manufacturer to brand sure that there are no health or safe hazards when cutting their cream with hot wire tools. Click here for a great how-to for cut cream for cases.

Q: My visitor manufactures large scale, blended model shipping kits. The wings & flying components are made of one pcf polystyrene foam using a hot wire mechanism for the airfoil surfaces. What is taking a lot of labor intensive time is what we call 'honeycombing' ie. removing cells of foam from the wing cores. I am interested in your hot knife tool to assist with this task. I'm thinking if I tin can secure it to a base of operations to keep it perpendicular & plunge into the foam & around the prison cell perimeter guided past a single template, similar in action to a router. Presently I am using 2 templates on either side of the wing & feeding a thin wire through a pilot pigsty etc.

A: Our Hot Knives are designed for plunge cutting. Await for the Sled Guide in our Accessories surface area to keep the Hot Knives perpendicular to the foam while cutting.

Q: I would like to know if your products take a thermostat control on them. I make beeswax candles and I am looking for some "tools" to pattern and cut the wax.

A: Nosotros have tried using our Pro Hot Knife on a regular candle, and information technology cuts fairly fast if you saw dorsum and forth as yous cut (though not quite as fast as the Candlecutter), and if you tilt the candle as y'all cutting the wax drips out instead of resealing the cut. The Pro Hot Knife has a round bract so you can hands change the direction of your cutting and also make holes. It looks just similar the Hot Knife on our site, just it's longer and a little thicker. It will simply work with the Pro Power Station. Allow us know if yous have any specific tests you would like us to run.

Q: I purchased a Woodland Scenics foam cutter and discovered your website. Are y'all the manufacturer for their products? If so, if I ordered a table and/or pocketknife from you, will it work with my tools?

A: No. They actually purchased a gear up of our tools and made an imitation. We offered to manufacture them for them, only they said no, and they are having them made and packaged in Mainland china. Our tools require more ability due to our longer cutting, then they are not compatible with their power supply. Our Crafter'southward 4″ Hot Knife, Original Scroll Table, and Sculpting Tool all work with either the Pro Power Station or the Crafter's Ability Supply.

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