Safety and Hot Wire Foam Cutting

"W P Dixon" wrote

Just for safety sake, always wear a respirator when doing anything
like
that. Make sure it is a proper respirator, remember a mask to keep wood
dust
out of your lungs will not keep chemicals out! Make sure you have good
ventilation, and a fresh air system would be really nice.

Patrick

Unless you can show evidence to contradict this, I say phooey! Fresh air
system? You gotta be kidding!

OP, work in a well ventilated area. Set up with a fan behind you, blowing
the fumes away from you. If you see smoke rising, don't stick your nose in
it. Nuff said.
--
Jim in NC

Dude wrote:

wrote in message
oups.com...

Welcome to Usenet, Fleemo!

Thanks Dude, I appreciate the welcome.


Minus the 'tude, he is about right. I haven't seen or heard anything

about

using a respirator to cut foam. Of course, they used to not worry

about

asbestos either. If you are worried, use a respirator. You might as

well

own a good one if you are going to be serious about building planes.

I realize polysterene smoke is probably not something you want to
breathe in like the bouquet of a fine wine, but I was looking for input
on specifically how toxic it is and what steps need to be taken when
carving foam with a hot wire. Is working in a well-ventilated room
enough of a safety precaution, or is a respirator required?


Where can I find a hot wire cutting tool?

Jean-Paul, check out http://www.HotWireFoamFactory.com

-Fleemo



Anyone telling you its safe is walking on thin ice. No one really knows, do
they?

I would not worry about it if I was going to build a plane or two. If I
were going to do it for a living, I would wear protection.


Good ventilation helps too.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

Good ventilation helps too.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired


Without a doubt, that is a must.

In case you did not notice I said for safety sake Jim, if you do not wish to
use whatever then by all means don't!
But myself I would rather be safe than sorry. As for proof , GET THE MSDS!
See what it says. I have not read it but I am sure it can not be to good for
ya! Have not seen to many man made chemicals that were.

Patrick

"Morgans" wrote in message
...

"W P Dixon" wrote

Just for safety sake, always wear a respirator when doing anything
like
that. Make sure it is a proper respirator, remember a mask to keep wood
dust
out of your lungs will not keep chemicals out! Make sure you have good
ventilation, and a fresh air system would be really nice.

Patrick

Unless you can show evidence to contradict this, I say phooey! Fresh air
system? You gotta be kidding!

OP, work in a well ventilated area. Set up with a fan behind you, blowing
the fumes away from you. If you see smoke rising, don't stick your nose
in
it. Nuff said.
--
Jim in NC

"W P Dixon" wrote in message
...
In case you did not notice I said for safety sake Jim, if you do not wish
to
use whatever then by all means don't!
But myself I would rather be safe than sorry. As for proof , GET THE MSDS!
See what it says. I have not read it but I am sure it can not be to good
for
ya! Have not seen to many man made chemicals that were.

Patrick

Like others have said, polystyrene, no big deal; polyurethane foam, very
bad.

No need to read the MSDS, I have already done the research, long ago.
--
Jim in NC

No need to read the MSDS, I have already done the research, long ago.
--
Jim in NC

Not trying to be picky with ya Jim, but if it was long ago you may want to
recheck those MSDS sheets. Info has been known to change on them as new
info is gathered.

Patrick

Morgans wrote:
"W P Dixon" wrote in message
...
In case you did not notice I said for safety sake Jim, if you do
not wish
to
use whatever then by all means don't!
But myself I would rather be safe than sorry. As for proof , GET
THE MSDS!
See what it says. I have not read it but I am sure it can not be to
good
for
ya! Have not seen to many man made chemicals that were.

Patrick

Like others have said, polystyrene, no big deal; polyurethane foam,
very
bad.

No need to read the MSDS, I have already done the research, long ago.

Over at Wick's they say their polystyrene foam has a fire-retardant
added. They don't say what and it would be ironic if the retardant
increased the toxicity of the fumes when hot-wiring but I suppose
that is a possibility.

Long ago, said foam did not contain a fire-retardant additive.

--

FF

http://www.techlib.com/hobby/hotwire_foam_cutter.htm

http://www.dansworkshop.com/Hot%20wi...0cutting.shtml

http://hotwirefoamfactory.com/produc...tomer/home.php

http://www.foamcutter.pl/Megaplot.htm

Polystyrene...no problem.

Polyurethane...bad


wrote in message ups.com...
A friend of mine just bought a hot wire foam cutting tool for carving
and shaping polystyrene foam. My question is whether the fumes and
smoke from doing such carving are a safety/health hazard? Any
guidelines for using such a tool safely?

Thanks.

-Fleemo

Thanks Fleemo
wrote in message
oups.com...
Welcome to Usenet, Fleemo!

Thanks Dude, I appreciate the welcome.

Minus the 'tude, he is about right. I haven't seen or heard anything
about
using a respirator to cut foam. Of course, they used to not worry
about
asbestos either. If you are worried, use a respirator. You might as
well
own a good one if you are going to be serious about building planes.

I realize polysterene smoke is probably not something you want to
breathe in like the bouquet of a fine wine, but I was looking for input
on specifically how toxic it is and what steps need to be taken when
carving foam with a hot wire. Is working in a well-ventilated room
enough of a safety precaution, or is a respirator required?

Where can I find a hot wire cutting tool?

Jean-Paul, check out http://www.HotWireFoamFactory.com

-Fleemo

On Wed, 23 Feb 2005 16:02:38 -0500, "Morgans"
wrote:


"W P Dixon" wrote

Just for safety sake, always wear a respirator when doing anything
like
that. Make sure it is a proper respirator, remember a mask to keep wood
dust
out of your lungs will not keep chemicals out! Make sure you have good
ventilation, and a fresh air system would be really nice.

Patrick

Unless you can show evidence to contradict this, I say phooey! Fresh air
system? You gotta be kidding!

OP, work in a well ventilated area. Set up with a fan behind you, blowing
the fumes away from you. If you see smoke rising, don't stick your nose in
it. Nuff said.

I have to agree with you jim. hot wire cutting of white bead
polystyrene is a no brainer. dont stick your nose in the fumes
(methylene chloride) and cease if you have a headache coming on.
no need for respirators, just do it with a fan or a gentle breeze
around.

my 20 year old wire is 0.5mm dia nicrome and 34 inches long. it is
driven by 12 volts from a battery charger (pulsed DC) and draws about
3 amps.
I use a miniature pulley like bobbin at each end of the bow and
tension one end with a spring to allow thermal expansion.
most nicrome wire breaks at any sharp kink in the attachment.
the nicrome is from an old style coiled immersion jug element.

for cutting the fine grained blue foam a 12 volt battery with
continuous DC will stop an annoying 50 hertz hum from scalloping the
surface. (only ever noticed it in blue foam)

it is easy stuff. as an aeromodeller.

Stealth (240 volts, 50 hz local power) Pilot
Australia