You risk accidentally scratching the table. If you heat the knife beforehand, use safety precautions around the fire. Did you know you can read premium answers for this article? New - More sizes Available in my Other Listings . Mr. CenterFire Foam Blade cleanly slices EPS, XPS, and Poly-Iso and eliminates over 95% of static foam dust. ... Use an abrasive blade such as used to cut stone etc. The dust free foam cutting line of CenterFire blades will keep the snowman (and blue man and pink man) away. There are 16 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. A saw blade normally burns the foam and gunks up. Handyman. Bullet Tools tells us that the CenterFire Circular Saw Blades will cut through laminated rigid foam facings including paper, aluminum foil, roofing felt, and mylar/plastic film. I believe there was a brief discussion in a recent episode as well. I have found with thicker boards you can actually use a circular saw. You can always cut more foam later, if necessary. Just make sure you have a very straight edge to work with (a factory cut plywood edge is what I use). Fit the circular saw with the carbide chunk blade. Like it! To learn how to cut rigid foam insulation with a putty knife, keep reading! Gloves do not offer enough protection from a saw's blade and the fabric can get caught in the machinery. I?m on my second 5x generation cordless circular saw in 3 months. Lui is trained and educated as an industrial engineer and specializes in carpentry, painting, and general handyman work such as mounting TVs, doorknob and deadbolt installation, furniture assembly, tile repair, and grouting. After cutting the insulation, use a vacuum to get rid of any residual foam dust left on the piece. They have a knife edge instead of saw teeth and are designed to make swift, factory-smooth cuts in foam panels and insulating concrete forms while eliminating 95% of the dust. 2. If you need a more precise cut, use an electric saw to cut your rigid foam. in a circular saw. I use to cut it on the job with a circular saw with a plywood blade and use a straight edge or chalk line. This foam cutting saw has a base that rides on tiny wheels to prevent friction, and the large area of the base keeps the blade straight up and down. Mike. Archived. RIDGID Circular Saws feature powerful motors, lightweight frames, a variety of blades and ergonomic handles for user comfort. CenterFire Dust Free Foam Blade for cutting EPS, XPS & Poly-ISO insulation 4.2 out of 5 stars 59 $47.99 $ 47 . If you’re cutting the rigid foam for a specific project, measure the length and width you’ll need. Last Updated: August 24, 2020 Segmented blades are also known as box cutters. It is tested to cut roughly 25,000 feet before sharpening is required. How do you cut a 2-inch rigid foam insulation? If you want to insulate a certain area while reducing moisture and mildewing, rigid insulation foam is the perfect material. Thinner sheets of rigid PVC foam require no power tools to produce a sharp clean cut, but thicker materials require power saws with blades designed for cutting plastic. Lui Colmenares is a handyman and licensed home improvement contractor for Mr. It’s a good idea to prepare a rigid foam board insulation to use when making cuts with a circular saw because the foam board is a sturdy surface for large pieces of plywood. You can purchase segmented blades online or at most hardware stores. As Chuck Miller demonstrates in this video tip, a 2-in. Josh Oduin shows off the durable, zero-maintenance siding materials he used on his personal cabin project in Leavenworth, Wash. No math, no measuring—just a simple jig made from an elastic band is all you need to lay out a good-looking deck railing. We sprayed both sides of a thin-blade of a circular saw with Pam or other cooking spray. "I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. Read your electric saw's instructions before using the saw to make sure you use it safely. Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine. I recommend using a circular saw jig, or a circular saw guide to keep your cuts straight and to prevent the blade from wandering. By using our site, you agree to our. If you don't have a way of making a perfectly straight cut don't worry, we'll only be using the factory edge. Circular blade cutters & saws. Best way to cut pink insulation foam board? Similar to what happens when your battery is low, except mine were fully charged. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Cut it outside, it can make a mess. Lui Colmenares. Handy NYC based in New York City, New York. I cannot imagine a better way to do it, thanks! What is the best way to cut foam board insulation? putty knife with a sharpened blade cuts through the foam like butter. Mr. 8 years ago. Always keep your hands at least 6 inches (15 cm) away from the blade at all times. Melt through an insulation sheet, such as one made from polystyrene using a heated cutting tool or … After watching this vid a little while ago I used the sharpened putty knife to do my basement in November going through a few dozen 2" sheets of extruded foam and the approach works very well. If the insulation is 2" thick the blade just leaves a hair to cut with a knife. Thinner sheets of rigid PVC foam require no power tools to produce a sharp clean cut, but thicker materials require power saws with blades designed for cutting plastic. What is the best way to cut rigid insulation? Check Photos for Details . Depending on the blade installed – a circular saw can cut plywood, lumber, rigid foam board, concrete, or metal. Now I will try it.". A handheld circular saw, one with a 4 to 4.5 inches (10 to 11 cm) blade, can also be used to cut through the insulation. Metal-Cut™ circular blade cutters for metal reinforced profiles. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Expert Interview. References. The battery saw is the way to go. ... or if you only plan to cut foam once and want a simpler set up then use a car battery and adjust the length and/or gage of wire to get the heat right. Start your subscription today and save up to 52%. [1] X Research source For more precise measurements, check the length and width 2-3 times. I'd cut on the concrete floor using a thin piece of plywood as the straight edge. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. This article was co-authored by Lui Colmenares. The sample cuts in chip-prone oak plywood show the difference a good blade can make. Never wear gloves while operating a table saw. The second saw worked Because this will be a messy job and you’ll need your garden hose, you’ll want to work outdoors. Z. The dust free foam cutting line of CenterFire blades will keep the "snowman" (and blueman and pinkman) away. For more information, contact [email protected] or … Foam beneath circular saw. When I need a perfect cut with a circular saw, I use a guide. Set the depth of cut on the circular saw to just over 1/4" (the thickness of the panel) and cut along the line. I cut several sheets with a circular saw before this and the sharp putty knife is cleaner (no dust), quieter, and much faster, not to mention more accurate, too. Unlock premium answers by supporting wikiHow, https://www.styro.net/PDF/Flyers/Install/InstallRigidFoam.pdf, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuFWRTEULD0&feature=youtu.be&t=53, https://www.proremodeler.com/how-install-exterior-rigid-foam-part-1, https://www.greenandgrowing.org/rigid-foam-insulation-101/, http://www.core77.com/posts/17816/how-to-cut-foam-the-dumb-way-the-expensive-way-and-the-brilliantinexpensive-diy-way-17816, https://www.tru.ca/hsafety/workinglearningsafely/work/tablesaw.html, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGcCvd0qnQg&feature=youtu.be&t=125, http://www.finehomebuilding.com/2009/01/29/theres-a-better-way-cutting-rigid-insulation, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ezi7FTcW_vY&feature=youtu.be&t=3, https://hackaday.com/2018/02/08/build-a-tiny-hot-wire-foam-cutter/, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. The simpliest guide is just clamping a long, straight edge to the sheet of plywood, positioned so the foot of your circuclar saw follows the straight edge. ! Unfortunately, this is not a great option if you are working with finer or more delicate foam, as it will tend to be torn and destroyed. Wear a dust mask if cutting EPS and of course its best to do this outside. The angle of the shoe can be adjusted so that body and blade of the saw are tilted to make a bevel cut through material. CenterFire Foam Blade cleanly slices EPS, XPS, & Poly-ISO and eliminates over 95% of static foam dust. You can stack the foam board to the depth your circular saw cuts, but will have to reapply cooking spray fairly often. Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features. DUST-FREE FOAM BLADES PRT-MKT-1500.Rev.F.7.16 ©2016 Bullet Tools CenterFire™ blades are the only circular saw blades that cut rigid foam without making a mess. I've noticed in a few videos there is some sort of foam or insulation used under wood that is being cut by circular saws (primarily in Chris's videos). By doing this, the saw will cut on the waste side, and you won’t do any significant damage to the wanted piece should the saw wander away from the cut line. If you're cutting the rigid foam for a specific project, measure the length and width you will need it to be. A lot less mess than a regular saw blade and the edges are nice and sharp. Z. If you don't currently have a hot wire cutter, you may be able to rent one from a hardware store. As long as you cut the foam carefully and with the right tools, any amateur home repairman can make a precise incision in rigid insulation foam. The blade would get stuck. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." So Chris created something that works beautifully. Also, to avoid ripping the top when cutting across, score a thin trench first, then deeper on each pass. Make a second cut to fully cut through the foam. The methods used to cut rigid PVC foam are similar to cutting standard PVC sheets, and like standard PVC, cutting methods vary depending on the thickness of the material. unlocking this staff-researched answer. I used a cheap harbor freight cutoff wheel tool to grind down one edge into a pretty sharp blade. When Chris Ellis of Brewster, Mass., was looking for the right tool to cut rigid-foam insulation, he tried a utility knife, a kitchen knife, and a saw. The material is similar to a Styrofoam cup not the blue foam sheets. Thanks for the options. % of people told us that this article helped them. We did come up with another idea when we had to cut a LOT of foam board. Close. Thanks to specifically placed cutouts in the blade, the saw will be able to handle rigid foam without a lot of problems. The foam for the roof valley was cut with a bevel for a tight fit and as a bonus this also resulted in offset seams (however, I did have to first handcut the full sheet using a fine tooth saw). This article has been viewed 69,265 times. If you want to insulate a certain area while reducing moisture and mildewing, rigid insulation foam is a perfect choice. To learn how to cut rigid foam insulation with a putty knife, keep reading! Install a 7 ¼" plastic cutting saw blade in the circular saw. 18 August 2020. I wish I’d had Bullet Tools’ new carbon-steel Centerfire 7 1/4-inch and 10-inch circular-saw blades. The base of the circular saw, called the shoe, rests on top of the material being cut. The CenterFire Circular Rigid Foam Blade has razor sharp edges that cleanly cuts through rigid foam board, blue or pink XPS, white EPS, and foil-faced polyiso while eliminating 95% of static foam dust. This article has been viewed 69,265 times. Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox. Handy NYC prides itself on quality work performed with speed, skill, and punctuality. © 2021 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. Do not cut rigid foam insulation on decorative tables unless you lay out a protective barrier, like a knife block. Posted by 3 years ago. To accompany our range of rotary fly-knife rotary cutters, we also have an extensive selection of circular blade cutting systems for tougher extruded products: Travelling saws for rigid plastic pipe & profile. I have a lot of cutting to do in 4' x 8' Styrofoam sheets. Handy NYC based in New York City, New York. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. I was surprised to find such a clear "grain" in the foam; it can be sliced up very easily length-wise but across the foam it's always trickier. Home Depot exchanged the first one because it wasn?t able to finish cuts. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 69,265 times. Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers. The 7.25 in. They are available in corded and cordless versions. For more precise measurements, check the length and width 2-3 times. An electric kitchen knife also works well, especially for curved cuts. dave Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. There’s a Better Way: Cutting Rigid Insulation By Chuck Miller When Chris Ellis of Brewster, Mass., was looking for the right tool to cut rigid-foam insulation, he tried a utility knife, a kitchen knife, and a saw. For a regular straight cut, the shoe and the blade are at a 90-degree angle. It cuts like butter with an extremely clean cut when run through a table saw. Protect your marble slab by placing it on a 2-in. Rigid PVC foam or expanded PVC is a high quality material used for sign construction and craft projects. 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