So, in making my big steps on my step deck, I have need to take out a near 90 degree rectangular piece about 2" x3"x1.5’. My planer only fits for a little while as the belt housing/exhaust system get in the way. It’s a lot to surform, careful saw cut, etc… Thus I thought a hot wire tool like those I’ve seen pictures of (I’m using eps) but I have only fairly light gauge wire - say about a standard G string… any way…
I made a set up with thin coat hanger, about a foot long, bent 90 degrees on a curve w/a radius of about 1.5" - only to blow a couple 10amp fuses in my variac. I went with the thicker stainless steel I had ( Hey John M. - Do you remember what size you sent me.) I’d say about a “D” strings worth, but not wound… anyway, seemed stiff enough, didn’t blow the fuse… Heck, why should it, almost the same as the wire I use on my straight blank cutter. So, I cut through a 2" thick sheet of trim… worked great… But, when I went to the blank the wire began to “drag” back… So, it wasn’t as deep… Helped, but not a nice clean deep cut.
Thus my question is: What gauge wire wouldn’t blow my fuse and stay in shape?
Sensi amcIII - I did the aforementioned technique, but in the end, to get the depth and nearness to 90 degrees I wanted the belt/exhaust housing were in the way. In case I don’t solve the wire issue, I’ve ordered a curved, side to side, surform blade… Along w/micro blades… Stoke!
Ps - due to current economic state of affairs in my state/job… I may have to postpone my summer test pilgrimage… But those alaia things are sounding challenging…
Sorry, I don’t remember the gauge of wire. I just went by feel.
I wouldn’t hesitate to take some thick coat hanger wire, heat it up with a torch and go to town. For a quick cut, it might do the trick? Maybe take a serrated bread knife or one of those open end hack saw blade handles and cut the rectangle outline before chiseling the block out?
Maybe one of those super long router bits?
Not sure I’m visualizing the concept but there are several ways to skin the cat usually.
Thanks John - Funny thing is, I was thinking, isn’t there a “hot knife” kind of deal for stuff? (Like those technical terms? Ha!) But, seriously, in art school we use to heat up hacksaw blades with a torch to cut/mold hard wax for sculpture-lost wax bronze casting…
any way, taking the torch to the heavy coat hanger wire would probably work, as I’ve only been cutting a couple feet, and if I had to do it in a couple strokes it wouldn’t make much difference at all.
I’m into radical step deck/skate rails right now, so on the deck, from the edge it goes almost flat for @ 3" - about a 1.75 in thick rail in the middle couple feet of the board - then it steps up to a 4" thick “belly”, which is concaved… gives me a little chest hold and foot leverage…
I’ll write it again, as motivation to myself… I found the software the other day to get my funky dig. cam. going again… so… one of these moons… pictures!!!
