Introduction: Hot Knife for Plastic Cutting!
Probably, the EASIEST Instructable you'll ever see to make the most useful tool a DIYer could ever wish for! Sometimes "simple" is the answer....
Step 1: Get a New Soldering Tip!
Then take a hammer to the end of it until it's nice and flat.
Step 2: Screw It!
Back on your soldering iron!
Step 3: Cut Stuff!
Works amazingly well on any kind and thickness of plastic. Makes custom modding and DIYs a breeze. The best part is, you can switch back to your soldering tip when you're done cutting! 8D
Wasn't that easy? If you want to, feel free to check out the video that shows how much crap I went through to get to this solution...lol! Watching this helps me keep coming up with these ideas... a blatant attempt to promote a video I admit ;)
But it's a pretty amusing example of how hard it can be to come up with a simple solution...
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23 Comments
4 years ago
I don't Usually comment on these posts which i think is mean but i had to comment on this Just to say thank you. After fighting hard with a hot knife and spending hours cuting simple plastics, now i have a better solution.
8 years ago on Introduction
You could also just heat an old paring knife with a torch.
Reply 6 years ago
Have you tried that? I tried with a utility knife, and it didn't cut very far. I think the blade cools down too quickly, which is why you need a soldering iron.
12 years ago on Introduction
This is just about the greatest thing in Instructables, but I had trouble making it - hitting the tip with a hammer just caused it to shatter, not flatten. I would use a grinder to harrow the tip down instead of hammering, especially with a cheap iron.
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
If a tip has seen some use, it will be progressively contaminated on the surface with solder and other material. This will cause the outside to become harder or softer than the inside. During the thermal stress of heating up and cooling down, the tip fills with micro fissures. More material migrates down the micro fissures until the tip is just a giant brittle puzzle box waiting to happen.
And that's about all the metallurgy I remember from college.
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Well, you could try to hammer the tip with it installed and heated by the soldering iron.
It should be pretty soft...
12 years ago on Step 3
is this safe? i need to cut thru a sheet of plastic thats pretty thick and think this might be a solution!
Reply 12 years ago on Step 3
You should wear a respirator, safety googles, do it outside, and keep a bucket of water near by should the plastic catch fire. The reason for this, is the plastic my let of fumes or smoke that will be toxic.
This is ideal for places that a Dermel can't reach or can't cut precisely otherwise you should be using a Dremel.
12 years ago on Step 3
would this be an appropriote tool to cut a design on the side of my wii? (after i remove the case of course)
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
use a dremel instead it will be much cleaner
12 years ago on Introduction
hey thanks for the idea i'll include your idea and give you credit in my next instructable! :)
13 years ago on Introduction
good idea i have done this on an old soldering iron so i could cut and seal nylon type rope all in one go. it was a pain when cutting rope for use on the boat so i made a blade like yours, now i have plastic cutter in my tool box without doing anything...he he .
it does stink a bit tho..
15 years ago on Introduction
Nice Hammer. I am doing blacksmithing, and a hammer like that would be nice. I am currently using your standard run-of-the-mill claw hammer, which is too round and gives me an uneven bevel when I forge blades. I've been thinking of making my own hammer, but i never got around too it.
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
bro if ur gonna forge metals do yourself a favor and go buy a 3 lb sledge i paid $10 you can get them for $10-$20 and its really worth it. Large flat head (yes less dents and rounded areas) and also the weight flattens metal alot quicker!
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
When I started blacksmithing, I just used a cheap cross peen hammer like the one shown here. I removed the machined finish from the face with an angle grinder and a flap sanding wheel. I also blunted the peen somewhat with the grinder, then polished it with the flap sander. It cost about $3, but I already had the grinder.
15 years ago on Introduction
:-\ when i cut plastic, i just blow torch a crappy pocket knifes blade, then cut the stuff. or take a razor blade and make the tip red hot, then cut.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Same here,
15 years ago on Introduction
This is a good idea. You are right sometimes simple is the answer.
Check out my circle ible The circle
Hopefully it will give you even more ideas.
I will keep this one in mind.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
I checked that out... Very Cool idea Mr. Rig It!=D
15 years ago on Introduction
did you try using a chisel tip ? would have been easier to hammer that down than a point tip. and if you can find a thin one, no hammering needed.