In article , Steve Firth
writes
Peter Parry wrote:

He needs to make a polystyrene cutter
(http://www.techlib.com/hobby/hotwire_foam_cutter.htm) for which he
will need Nichrome wire.

Errm, you don't need nichrome, unwinding one strand from a steel bicycle
brake cable works perfectly. If it is clamped into a fretsaw frame
(suitably insulated) and fed with current from a 12V source via a
rheostat it works very, very well.

Constantan wire from Maplins also works well.

For straight cuts I suspend a piece from a batten fixed near the garage
ceiling tensioned with a weight. Croc clips supply the power (6V or
12V), and you slide them closer or further apart to get the required
temp. 18" is about right for 6V, IIRC.

I guess for troughs you could make a "U" shape, but it wouldn't be very
rigid.


Regards,

Simonm.

--
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