Thread: Cutting pink styraphome advice

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I'm working on my cemetery columns at the moment and I just purchased my pink styraphome today. I have to cut each sheet into 3 sections. I don't have a table saw, but I do have a jigsaw. Has anyone used a jugsaw on 1.5" thick stryaphome, and how did it turn out? Also what's the best way to get it straight?

I just used a utility knife and a straight edge. never tried a jigsaw

What he said.....utility knife to cut styrofoam. Jig was will probobly make a mess of it.

A hot wire cutter is the best but can be expensive. I use a very long, thin bladed fillet knife, just remember to keep it very sharp.

For straight line cuts, I definitely prefer a Utility knife over a hot wire cutter. With the hot wire, unless you are a brain surgeon, it is hard to go for long distance lines without wiggling a little, then you don't get a perfect straight line without adding another step - sanding. With a utility knife, you score down a yard stick, and depending on thickness - you can either go all the way through the foam and make a straight cut, or score it then snap it free, in a perfectly straight line.

I also like it over serrated knives, which give you little stragglies as well. Sharp utility knife all the way.

Cheap wire cutters that run on batteries can be found at most craft stores but the batteries are short lived. That type in more for shaping then actual cutting. The real nice wire cutter, like Hot Wire, are pretty exspensive but very nice to have. I have never tried a fillet knife but I will now. I imagine it dulls the blade pretty fast.

I've used a jigsaw on our stones and they turn out just fine. Only problem I had was making sure the blade was long enough to cut through the whole thing. Otherwise, like others have said, use a utility knife!

Good luck! And be sure to post pics of your project!
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Definitly a utility knife or hot wire. It's a good thing you don't have a table saw, it can bind and kick back on you, (found that one out the hard way) the best tool I've used for cutting foam is a band saw. If your using a jig saw use a tile cutting blade (looks like sand glued to the edge of the blade) and a strait edge to run the saw down, the cuts come out great.

I use a long utility knife. Electric wire works best, but I'm not keen on breathing the fumes or taking that extra effort. ;-)

Just scoring it and breaking it gives you straight breaks, but also a pretty cool granite-like texture when you are making tombstones.

Don't forget you can sand the stuff, so any rough edges can be smoothed.