How to cut foam evenly at home

Cutting thick foam rubber: what you can and can’t do

How to cut thick foam rubber yourself? The right way with a special tool. For example, there is a saw for polyurethane foam Bosch GSG-300 Professional. It has enough power to accurately and quickly cut thick sheets of material in a store or small production.

Furniture manufacturers use special machines. They can cut any thickness of polyurethane foam, with a perfectly straight seam and accurate dimensions.

Naturally, these options are not quite suitable for the home: especially when you need to cut a couple of sheets to restore furniture and never do it again.

In such cases, it is recommended to use the so-called “loaf knife” (with jagged edges on the blade). Its shape and length allow making an even cut of the thick polyurethane foam. You will have to cut long enough, but as a “one-time action” method is quite suitable.

Please note: under no circumstances follow the advice of “craftsmen” and do not cut foam rubber with a heated wire (tungsten or nichrome). Heating of foam rubber leads to evolution of phosgene, a toxic gas. It is extremely dangerous to inhale indoors.

How to cut foam rubber

Hello all, just recently I faced the problem of how to cut the foam evenly and at home. For all my years of carpentry, I have never once faced with foam rubber, and it is understandable, I usually work with wood.

So how to cut the foam? And what is needed for this. The first thing that came into my head is some expensive machine, which is just not realistic to buy, as I once cut foam rubber, but a long time ago, and I do not get anything good.

At work, in our shop next door are engaged in upholstered furniture, and once at lunchtime I met a guy on the street who does it. I found out that to cut the foam rubber they use a regular knife and don’t have any expensive equipment. We got to talking, and he told me how to cut the foam accurately at home.

To cut the foam rubber you need the following

• A sharp knife, preferably a box cutter or linoleum cutter
• A highlighter or marker with a fine tip
• Cardboard or something else under the base
• A good ruler

So, how to cut the foam rubber, first using a marker, make a scythe line cut on the foam. If it is straight mowing line, it is better to use a ruler, if you have to cut under a radius, it is better to use some mold, template or other device to draw exactly the radius.

Next, to cut the foam rubber, you will need to prepare the base. As a base, many advise using plywood or particle board. I would not advise you to do this because when you cut the foam rubber with the knife the tip of the knife will blunt on the plywood. So for the base I advise to use cardboard. By the way, I forgot to tell why you need the base, the base is not to spoil the floor or other substrate on which you are going to cut the foam rubber, and as you know to protect the tip of the knife.

And the last point how to cut the foam rubber, is the process of cutting. You need a very sharp knife for that. Obviously your kitchen knife will not work here, as its blade is thicker. So I suggest using a box cutter, or a construction knife like the ones used to cut linoleum. It is very important that the blade and the tip were sharp, otherwise you will not be able to cut the foam evenly.

Well then proceed to work, evenly on the mowing line spend a knife, preferably without the use of the stop, as the emphasis will press on foam, thereby creating a load in it, and the knife will not cut well. If in doubt of their abilities, it is better to train a little on another piece of foam rubber, so as not to spoil the workpiece.

And in general, foam rubber is usually cut in order to cover them upholstered furniture. That’s why you can’t do it perfectly straight, and you won’t be able to cut it 100% straight. Above the foam will still be a cloth, which will smooth out all the irregularities and inaccuracies of the cut.

Here I am, this article may be useful to those who have thought about how to cut foam rubber at home with his hands. I will be glad to hear your Комментарии и мнения владельцев, tell me what you think about it, and if you have experience, share it.

It is not uncommon to see advice that foam rubber should be cut with a heated nichrome wire connected to 12 V, as well as a heated soldering iron.

How to cut evenly thick foam rubber at home?

But it is not recommended to do it at home, because foam rubber releases harmful substances into the air, which, even in small doses, are highly toxic and affect the respiratory and nervous systems. We will not risk our health, especially since foam rubber is well cut with a regular knife.

Mark the piece of polyurethane foam with a marker or felt-tip pen, making small marks in the process. Connect the marks with each other on the ruler (you can use a flat bar).

Lay a piece of board, plywood, particle board, or simply heavy cardboard under the cut to be made. This will protect the floor from damage when cutting.

It is advisable to cut the foam rubber without a ruler. With a strong and precise movement, use the knife to move it along the marking you have made. Hold the knife upright.

If the foam is not cut through to the end, use your fingers to extend the cut and with the second cut cut the foam all the way through.

If you get scuff marks when cutting, it means that the blade of the knife is blunt. Break off the tip of the blade, or replace it with a new one.

Curved cuts are made using exactly the same technique. Make a mark on the template, then cut the foam rubber on the mowing line, making sure the knife is vertical and not tilted. The quality of the cut will not be perfect, but it is useful if you need to cut a cushion for upholstered furniture, which will then be covered with fabric.

How to cut foam rubber

Hello all, just recently I faced the problem of how to cut foam evenly, and at home. During all my hobby carpentry, I have never once worked with foam rubber, and understandably, I usually work with wood.

How To Evenly Remove Thickness From A Large Piece Of Cushion Foam

This is how to cut the foam? And what is needed to do it. The first thing that came to my mind was an expensive machine, which is simply not realistic to buy, because I once cut foam rubber, but a long time ago, and it did not work out well.

At work, in the neighboring department deals with upholstered furniture, and then one lunchtime I met a guy on the street who does it. During the conversation I found out that in order to cut the foam rubber, they use a regular knife, and they do not have any expensive equipment for that. We got to talking, and he told me how to cut the foam accurately at home.

To cut the foam rubber you will need the following

• A sharp knife, preferably a box cutter or a linoleum knife
• A highlighter or marker with a fine tip
• Cardboard or something else under the base
• A good ruler

So, how to cut the foam rubber, first using the marker, make a scythe line cut on the foam. If they are straight mowing line, it is better to use a ruler, if you have a cut to be under the radius, it is better to use some mold, template or other device to draw exactly the radius.

Next, in order to cut the foam, you have to prepare the base. As a base, many advise to use plywood or chipboard. I would advise you not to do this because when you cut the foam rubber with the knife, the tip of the knife will blunt the plywood. So for the substrate, I would advise you to use cardboard. By the way, I forgot to tell you why you need the base, the base serves not to spoil the floor or other base on which you are going to cut the foam rubber, and as you know to protect the tip of the knife.

And the last point how to cut foam, is the process of cutting. For this, take a very sharp knife. Here clearly will not work your kitchen knife, as the blade is thicker. So I would use a box cutter or a utility knife like you use for cutting linoleum. It is very important that the blade and the tip were sharp, otherwise you will not be able to cut the foam evenly.

Well then proceed to work, evenly on the mowing line spend a knife, preferably without the use of the stop, as the stop will press on the foam rubber, thereby creating a load in it, and the knife will not cut well. If in doubt of their abilities, it is better to train a little on another piece of foam rubber, so as not to spoil the workpiece.

And in general, foam rubber is usually cut in order to trim upholstered furniture. Therefore it is possible and it is not necessary to do perfectly even, and it is not possible on 100 % to cut all evenly. On top of the foam rubber will still be a cloth, which will smooth out all the irregularities and errors of the cut.

Here I am, this article may be useful to those who have thought about how to cut foam rubber at home with his hands. I’ll be glad to hear your Комментарии и мнения владельцев, tell me what you think about it, and if you have experience, share it.

It is often possible to meet advice, that foam rubber should be cut by the heated up nichrome wire connected to pressure 12 V, and also the heated up soldering iron.

How to cut foam evenly at home

Foam is an accessible material with small cells, resilient and soft. Its most popular use is in furniture production for stuffing products, mattresses, as well as soft toys, hand-made. Sometimes a deformed sofa or chair can be quickly reanimated by replacing a layer of polyurethane foam with a new one, resistant to wear and tear. It is better to entrust this kind of work to professionals, but in the home it will be a bit problematic, but still realistic.