ttkayaker Posted July 25, 2014 Report Share Posted July 25, 2014 What type of economical hot knives are people using to cut and sear polyester fabric? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kudzu Posted July 25, 2014 Report Share Posted July 25, 2014 It's not economical but it very well made, commerical quality. I have two of these and not one complaint. http://www.hsgmusa.com/Products/hsg-0-heat-cutter.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekapi Posted July 25, 2014 Report Share Posted July 25, 2014 I have used an inexpensive soldering iron with a chisel shaped tip to cut nylon for skin boats. I don't know if it would work differently with polyester but it worked perfectly on the nylon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Mellema Posted July 26, 2014 Report Share Posted July 26, 2014 I use an old heavy duty soldering gun with a flat plastic cutting tip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NY_Rocking_Chairs Posted July 26, 2014 Report Share Posted July 26, 2014 I just cut with scissors and used a butane torch to fuse the edges (the kind used for soldering copper pipe fittings). That was on a Curlew, on the Stonefly I will be using the soldering iron tip to avoid scorching the gunwales. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kayak278 Posted July 26, 2014 Report Share Posted July 26, 2014 I used a regular soldering/woodburning iron with a very fine woodburning tip on it that I bent into a hook. All I had to do then was put the hook tip through the fabric and pull towards me....worked great. The soldering iron was one of the cheap hobby versions sold at the big box hobby stores. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kudzu Posted July 27, 2014 Report Share Posted July 27, 2014 I used a regular soldering/woodburning iron with a very fine woodburning tip on it that I bent into a hook. All I had to do then was put the hook tip through the fabric and pull towards me....worked great. That sounds like a great idea! I guess I should have added I started out with a Weller Soldering Gun with the cutting tip on it. It was slow to warm up and slow cutting compared to what I am using now, but it worked. Just not at the ligthening speeds this one does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CapecodJohn Posted July 27, 2014 Report Share Posted July 27, 2014 I did the slow Weller thing too I attached a flat cutting tip it was slow but it workrd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archipushka Posted August 11, 2014 Report Share Posted August 11, 2014 Some time ago since this was tried and I can't remember its success but couldn't a 'path' be seared down the cloth and THEN cut with heavy duty scissors? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P Doug (WA) Posted August 11, 2014 Report Share Posted August 11, 2014 Made a tip for my soldering gun out of copper wire. Worked very well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nopoe Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 I filed down a soldering iron tip into a knife-ish shape. Works well enough, but it needs a lot of time to heat up. It barely worked at all before I modified the tip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NY_Rocking_Chairs Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 The thinner the tip the faster it will heat up (less material and more electrical current passing through a smaller surface area). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bcone1381 Posted August 14, 2014 Report Share Posted August 14, 2014 I used a propane torch to heat up an old dull kitchen knife. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Action Tiger Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 Here's mine... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soitios Posted January 29, 2015 Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 Has anyone tried or heard of anyone trying one of these inexpensive hot knives from harbor freight? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bcone1381 Posted January 29, 2015 Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 It says the temp range is up 975 deg. I have not tried it, but I would go for it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Action Tiger Posted January 29, 2015 Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 Most of their stuff is junk, so don't be disappointed, but it is cheap... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.