Cutting And Sticking Polystyrene

[Fingerlickin_B]

With the weather heating up I've decided to set up a new insulated brewing box.

Any tricks or tips to cutting polystyrene neatly?

I have an extremely sharp knife, but maybe there is more to it than that?

Also, what kind of adhesive would people suggest for sticking it to the inside of a wooden box?

PZ.

 

[Darren]

I think they use a "hot-wire" to cut polystyrene. Band saw would also work well. I don't think it will cut well with a knife

cheers
Darren

With the weather heating up I've decided to set up a new insulated brewing box.

Any tricks or tips to cutting polystyrene neatly?

I have an extremely sharp knife, but maybe there is more to it than that?

Also, what kind of adhesive would people suggest for sticking it to the inside of a wooden box?

PZ.

[post="98801"][/post]​

 

[Fingerlickin_B]

I think they use a "hot-wire" to cut polystyrene.

Cool, I have heaps of nichrome wire, so making one wouldn't be an issue

PZ.

 

[dreamboat]

I find a hand saw to be quite a neat way to cut polystyrene, will make a lot of mess, but you end up with a neat enough edge. If you go the hot wire path, you may have to build a big jig to get enough reach across the sheet.


dreamboat

 

[Borret]

I have a hot wire bow that I use for cutting wing cores for model planes. I can post a photo of it if you want.
Simple to make and use, the length of wire will vary your temp if you have a fixed power supply or you can govariable. I actually find stainless steel trace wire (the same as we use for control line planes) to be better than nichrome as the nochrome stretches far too easy and you get sag marks.
For templates you just use 2 templates on the edge of your foam (held on by a couple of nails pushed into your foam through holes in your template.) The template must be smooth to avoid snagging and is best made from either metal (but casues bad cold spots on the wire due to it's conductivity) or better melamine or laminex ...and the cutter should cut under it's own weight. Gives a good clean cut with no dust etc so the glue stands firm.

As for glue the best here is contact adhesive but be wary of the brand. 3M changes their formula not too long ago and it eats polystyrene. A reliable one I have found in pressure packs is fullers spray bon (bunnings) which when sprayed on in a few light coats doesn't dissolve the foam .. or for a liquid tube solution (and a stronger bond) then UHU POR is the ducks nuts here. You will perhaps have to go for a craft specialty store or art supplier like eckersly's for that.

Build my boxes this way for summer garage fermentation (and winter) and they work like a charm.

Borret

 

[warrenlw63]

POR is the dicks nuts here.

[post="98818"][/post]​

:lol: :lol: Oops.

Warren -

 

[Borret]

POR is the dicks nuts here.

[post="98818"][/post]​

:lol: Oops.

Warren -

[post="98834"][/post]​

Please excuse my kiwi interpretation of expression :lol:

You get the picture

B)

 

[dreamboat]

Is "ducks nuts" not a common term here????


That would explain some of those odd looks which I get



dreamboat

 

[warrenlw63]

I thought it was the "sheep's cheeks" ?? :unsure: h34r: :lol:

Warren -

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

PVA wood glue is excellent for styrene..used to use it as a young bloke when I made box kites out of styrene ceiling tiles and balsa wood..

 

[Fingerlickin_B]

Well, I ended up getting lazy and cutting the foam with my Puma woodsman (beautiful piece of hand crafted knife that one ).

The edges were a little rough on the last sheets as I got impatient and just started hacking at them.

Expanding filler foam finished the job :super:

Temp reading went from 23 before fitting foam to 12 afterwards with frozen bottles...HEAPS better than I was getting before with only the bottles

So yeah, sorry guys, I guess I didn't take a single bit of advice offered here h34r:

I do appreciate all your input though.

PZ.

 

[barfridge]

hehe, done like a new age sensitive caring man: not afraid to ask for advice, but still enough of a man to completely ignore it when it's given.

I salute thee!

 

[Fingerlickin_B]

hehe, done like a new age sensitive caring man: not afraid to ask for advice, but still enough of a man to completely ignore it when it's given.

I salute thee!

hahaha, I just laughed out loud :lol: :beer: :lol: