Simple (Deluxe!) Sonotube Food Dehydrator

Step 3 How to use a zip knife

When cutting cardboard (thick or thin) with a zip knife or an exacto knife, it will cut like butter if you tilt the blade in relation to the object being cut. In other words, don't stick the blade straight in and push, tilt the entire knife and saw in short strokes. In thin cardboard you can cut fantastic curves and shapes like this, but the tube I used is about 3/8 inches thick, so it was a more difficult job. Still, I cut 5 slices off the tube in about 15 minutes. Draw a guideline around the tube to follow when you cut. (You don't really need detailed instructions for that, do you?) The baskets don't need to be exactly straight, since the knife doesn't make any kerf, they will stack without any gaps between them.