scroll saw as hot wire cutter.

[preprius]

My 2016 car came with fix a flat instead of spare tire.  

So removed fix a flat stuff and put in spare donut.  I had to fill the space around the tire for false floor.  So I bought pink formular 1.5" boards to have 2 layers for a total 3".   To cut foamular I wanted to try hot wire cutting.  

Below are pics of my scrollsaw methods.

 

The wire was used as a blade. But the bottom blade holder was not used. I wrapped the wire around craft stick.

 

To power the hot wire i used my power tool battery 18v to go to a buck boost controller.  This $30 unit can be set for max current.  I set it at 1.6 amps, after 1 amp did not get hot enough.  

 

Below pic shows bottom of scrollsaw table, wooden stick with hot wire mounted and connected.  I used 2nd electrical clip to the chassis. So 12v 1.6 amps is flowing through to the upper wire clamp.  No wires above the table. 

 

Next pic shows the test cut.

 

Here is short movie of my neighbor Joe learning about hot wire cutting. 

 

Here is my end result fit check. Terrible picture. too many shadow areas.

 

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

Did you try to turn the blade backwards and cut that way? May work. Or but an edge on it to work like a knife.

Edited July 14, 2025 by JTTHECLOCKMAN

[preprius]

7 hours ago, JTTHECLOCKMAN said:

Did you try to turn the blade backwards and cut that way? May work. Or but an edge on it to work like a knife.

My task was to try hot wire. Not to actually use scrollsaw blade to cut foam. 

The hot wire works great, melts foam and operates in all directions similar to spiral blades. 

[Wichman]

Shocking!  

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

1 hour ago, preprius said:

My task was to try hot wire. Not to actually use scrollsaw blade to cut foam. 

The hot wire works great, melts foam and operates in all directions similar to spiral blades. 

Glad it worked for you. 

[Denny Knappen]

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