Rimas VisGirda on wed 2 nov 11
I've been reading the cutting styrofoam (expanded polystyrene) posts and I'=
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m not sure everyone is on the same page... there's the white stuff that com=
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es in sheets of various thicknesses that looks like a bunch of (soft) white=
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BB's compressed into a sheet; then there's the sheets (of various thicknes=
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ses) that are stiffer, appear tp be solid composition, but you can dent it =
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with your fingernail -and often used for insulating exteriors of buildings.=
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The second type is typically called "blueboard" although in my area it is =
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pink and called "pinkboard." I have also seen it in yellow and grey...=3D0A=
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=3D0AThe white stuff is awful and crumbly and flakes the little BB's when y=
ou=3D
try and cut it; I have used it in the past and found it too soft for my pa=
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cking purposes. Cutting it is a disaster with anything but a bandsaw, and e=
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ven that results in bits that then stick to you electrostatically... I have=
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tried to cut it with a fully extended (slimline) box cutter with limited s=
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uccess. I think an electric knife would result in you coming out of the stu=
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dio looking like someone with really, really, really big bad dandruff...=3D=
0A=3D
=3D0APink board (aka blueboard), I use the 1" thick regularly and keep some=
3=3D
/4" and 1/2" on hand as filler when necessary. Straight cuts I make with a =
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box cutter or matt knife with a straight edge, cutting part way through the=
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n snapping for the break; this does not always result in a perpendicular ed=
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ge. For curved cuts I use a bandsaw. I think an electric knife would also m=
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ake a very ragged cut. The width of (my) electric knife would not be conduc=
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ive to making very tight curves.=3D0A=3D0AMy electric knife cuts through ye=
llow=3D
(soft) foam like butter. I use it to cut foam blocks that won't fit into t=
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he bandsaw or to bevel irregular cavities.=3D0A=3D0AI don't have an electri=
c ho=3D
t-wire cutter, never needed one... Regards, -Rimas=3D0A=3D0A=3D0ADate:=3DA0=
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, 1 Nov 2011 13:35:46 -0400=3D0AFrom:=3DA0 =3DA0 Lili Krakowski i@CITL=3D
INK.NET>=3D0ASubject: Toxic fumes, burning styrofoam=3D0A=3D0ASo I called P=
oison =3D
Control who basically said NO to burning Styrofoam, =3D3D=3D0Afoam rubber a=
nd l=3D
ike that.=3DA0 A little bit--as a foam "peanut" in the burn =3D3D=3D0Abarre=
l-- is=3D
no big deal, BUT do not elect to burn that stuff.=3D0A=3D0AAnyway.=3DA0 An=
elect=3D
ric knife or similar works well.=3D0A=3D0AWhat I would be concerned about i=
s li=3D
ttle bitsies of that=3DA0 nastiness =3D3D=3D0Afalling into the clay, or flo=
ating =3D
about (very very lightweight) and =3D3D=3D0Afalling in later.=3D0A=3D0AI wo=
uld cut =3D
outdoors, or far from the clay studio, I would experiment =3D3D=3D0Awith we=
ttin=3D
g the foam down. =3D3D20=3D0A=3D0AAs to making the edges smooth so they don=
't pro=3D
duce crumbs (that will =3D3D=3D0Afall into the clay)--I would try several c=
oats=3D
of paint, I would try =3D3D=3D0Aduct or adhesive tape, I even would try ga=
uze =3D
bandage and cover that =3D3D=3D0Awith paint or polyurethane.=3D0A=3D0AAnd I=
would r=3D
eport results to ClayArt!
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