82 Norma Road Booragoon Western Australia 6154 www.foamsales.com.au
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Hot Wire Cutting Tools Frequently Asked Questions Q: What kinds of foam can I cut with Hot Wire tools? A: Hot Wire tools work best on rigid polystyrene foams. The two types of rigid polystyrene are: expanded polystyrene (also known as EPS or bead-board foam), and extruded polystyrene foam (also known as XEPS, XPS, or insulation foam). EPS foam is comprised of small beads which vary in size according to the density, weight and strength of the foam. EPS is often used to insulate electrical appliances when they are shipped. XPS foam is smooth and also comes in various strengths. These foams are often found in building supply stores and packaging supply outlets, as they are used for insulating walls in homes and for padding in packages. XPS Blueboards are used for insulation. Hot Wire tools will also cut expanded polypropylene (EPP), flexible foam such as polyethylene (PE), and other foam types. Nevertheless, always check with the foam manufacturer first to make sure there are no health or safety hazards when using hot wire tools. Q: Are the fumes that are given off when cutting polystyrene foams (EPS or XPS foams) with hot wire tools dangerous? A: Ventilation is always strongly suggested, but the smoke that you may encounter while cutting EPS foam is primarily CO2 and water vapor, which are far less harmful than by-products of other common art products like aerosols and paint thinners. The toxic values are far lower than wood-smoke, which contains tars, resins, creosote, and acetic acid. The dust from cutting with saws and sanding EPS foam also more harmful than the fumes encountered while cutting foam with a hot wire tool. Always wear a good quality dust mask when saw cutting or sanding polystyrene foams. Fire is an unlikely hazard: polystyrene foams will combust and burn only when exposed to extremely hot fire, much hotter than the wire temperature on your Hot Wire tool. Always check with the manufacturer of the foam you are using to make sure that there are no health or safety hazards when cutting their foam with hot wire tools. On reading the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), bear in mind that the product information generally includes the safety hazards of manufacturing foam, not cutting it. Styrofoam manufacturer DOW states that the fumes released from cutting their foam with a hot wire are not toxic, but cutting should still be done in a well-ventilated area. See this youtube clip to see what one of our clients is producing with our small cutting table. http://www.johnnosscience.com/walkalong-gliders.html . Great fun for his students!
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