On my layout I have 2" pink NGX extruded foam board on top of the Go Board (lightweight Go Board used in lieu of plywood base)
To make a small lake for my campground scene, I need to relieve about 1/4" depth of 60 sq. inches of it.
What tool do you suggest?
Cutting the NGX with a fine blade in my jig saw was a breeze… but “scooping out” some of it is proving difficult.
I can’t seem to think the right tool. Thinking about taking an old spoon and sharpening on side… but I’m open to suggestions.
The definitive tool is a ‘hot wire’ shaper. Craft stores and Amazon should have them.
Definitely. I did once try using my soldering gun for shaping foam in a non-railroad application… bad idea.
Thank you. I knew that was the tool for working with “expanded” foam (styrofoam)… just wasn’t sure it would work for “extruded” dense foamboard
Plus… didn’t really want to buy one for a single use… oh well… buy once, cry once
I just looked at them… while they (hot wire tools) look useful for cutting… can’t see how they could be used to ‘scoop out’ a layer of foam to make a pond/lake
I may try my son’s router
One of my scenery mentors said he uses an oscillating saw to carve out smaller depressions in foam board. I haven’t tried it for that yet, but it does a pretty good job of cutting down high spots without making TOO much of a mess!
From what i have seen of them on you tube the hot wire tool would be the quickest. You can form a loop and scoop out stuff like an ice cream scoop. But the fumes are toxic many people who have used them say there nasty to work around.
An oscillating tool would work too.
You can get a bit for a cordless drill that has teeth like a coarse rasp they would be fairly inexpensive.
There is a tool that is made out of the same kind of blade that a drywall rasp is made of though smaller and curved in shape it kind of has a handle like a paint brush. If i could find mine i would post a picture
This is what I use – a surfoam. It makes a mess, so you will need a shop vac when you’re done. It’s also cheap!
What I do is take an Xacto knife and a straight edge and cut into the foam making little 1/4" squares. It is fast and easy to do. I mark the depth on the blade with a marker so I roughly know how deep I am cutting and you can adjust the depth towards the shallower parts just by eyeballing with the line. Once all the little squares are scribed in the little squares just break right out. I found the bottom is more than smooth enough, however, if you get an arrant gouge you can smooth things out with Dap or if you really want things level on the bottom I use caulk as a leveller as it self levels.
I have also taken the blade out of a large hack saw and while bending it cut the depression out. The little squares worked way better.
York thats exactly what im talking about. It dose a great job and smooth transitions.
Thank you all so much for responses… that’s what I was looking for… options!
Options based upon your experiences!
I appreciate it.
This type of hot wire cutter has different shapes for different applications. You could use the large roundish one to create your lake, The smaller round one can be used to create ditches. And if it is like the kit I got (many years ago), they include a few extra which you can bend to your own shape. I use foam board base for my scenery and have used it many, many times over the years.
Thank you… that’s what i need… one with different shape wires
