Hot Knife Foam Cutter, Innovative Pro Styrofoam Cutting Tool Kit with Foldable Safety Stand, Electric 200W Hot Knife with 4 Blades for PP, EPS, XPS, EVA, EPE, PU, KT Board, Sponge (KD-5)

I tried multiple methods for cutting 2" thick polystyrene insulation. Reviews of hot knife products suggested poor results for cut quality as a typical complaint.I think the cut quality with this product is completely fine. The instructions for this product are quite good. I really like the length of the cord, trigger, and the kickstand. The scraper is used to scrap off any excess melted polystyrene while the knife portion is still warm.You can control the cut quality with the speed of your cut, the variable temperature setting on the device, and the intermittent use of the trigger.I strongly recommend making cuts outside to avoid inhaling fumes. A dust mask is not a chemical respirator. If you insist on making the cuts inside, use a chemical respirator.Even with the fumes, I would much rather use this method for cutting polystyrene than using a saw or cold knife.I have had very good success using this product on a scissor lift at full height. Most scissor lifts have an electrical outlet on them allowing for the use of an electric tool while the lift is extended.I use a marker and a t-square to make cut line markings in prep for the cut.You need to support the cut portion of the polystyrene while cutting and ensure that it is supported throughout the entire cut.Overall, I find this model much better than others. It is easy to use with good instructions and good features. The included scraper makes it easy to clean.

Works great, heats up fast. I would suggest some heavy duty work gloves if you use for a long period of time, it gets warm. Cuts through foam and pink insulation great.

I'm using this to sculpt scenery on a model railroad layout, but it would work well for any foam-cutting need. Well balanced, easy to manipulate, simple controls. It comes with 2-8" blades, 2-6" blades, and a scraper to clean the blade. You have to experiment to find the best temperature setting for the kind of foam you're using, but once that's done, just pull the trigger, wait a couple of seconds for the knife to heat up, and go to work. The cord is nice and long so it doesn't get in the way. The blades are sharpened on one side, so a sawing motion works best for straight and accurate cuts. All of these style cutters have thin blades that are easily bent if you drop the gun or whack the blade on a hard surface, but they aren't fragile if you take a modicum of care. I let the blade cool between cuts, then use the included scraper with the blade flat on a hard surface to clean off melted foam residue. Seems to be a well-made product and a good value.

One issue- the temp setting selector doesn't seem to work. Even at the lowest setting, I had to keep toggling the switch on and off to keep the cutter from getting too hot and smoking too much. Otherwise cuts the foam like butter. Cut 6+, 8 ft panels length-wise and many other misc cuts. Still working well with the first blade afterword.

THIS WORK GREAT!!!

I used it to cut syrafoam insulation - 1 inch think solid stuff. just needs 10 seconds to heat up once the button is pushed. I was worth having, because cutting syrafoam with a knife makes such a mess.

Bought this to cut 1 inch thick panels for insulating block walls. I dialed it to low heat setting and it works great. Absolutely no mess and it reseals the edge of the foam. They even include a copper scraper to clean it and extra blades. I love it!

I purchased this to use as my daughter is entering the world of cosplay and I thought this seemed like it would be a good investment to get started! That means that I am no expert in using one of these tools and my experience is based solely on my use of this particular tool and I cannot compare to any others.The first thing I noticed straight out of the box is that this does NOT come with any type of storage box or case. I think that even if it was just a small zippered bag, SOMETHING to use to store it when not being used would be a valuable upgrade.The cutter itself came with one blade already installed and also 2 additional blades. These are all the same length and I do think it would have been nicer if it had included a couple different length blades rather than just the one length.Testing the different heat levels, I found that even using at the higher heat settings that cutting through some foam I had from another project was a slower process than I anticipated. I will say that the cut was clean and I DID NOT have any jagged edges or melting occuring that might diminish the cut, I did expect it would be easier and faster to make the cuts.As with any type of tool that produces heat I recommend wearing a leather glove (not a fabric glove) to protect your hands when using.For entry level, I think this is a decent tool, although I have now found there are other brands available that include more accessories including different length cutters at about the same price point and I would recommend spending the money on them first unless the seller decides to drop the price for this by about $15-$20, I do not think this is a bargain at it's current price ($80).