Hot knife for ultralight fabrics: your recommendation?

[Moab Randy]

Hi all,

Do you have any specific recommendations for a hot knife to cut ultralight fabrics?

I have used a gun-type soldering iron, but it’s too awkward for careful work and too hot–it has even caught fabric on fire.

Online I have seen two basic types: One is essentially an angled continuous circuit electrode, like that used to cut sail fabric. I’m sure this would work, but these are expensive (around $75 plus) and maybe wouldn’t have as much control as I want.

The other type is cheaper, essentially a heated XActo knife. Mixed reviews on these as to whether they get and stay hot enough at the tip, and the ones I was tempted by don’t allow returns on Amazon.

Any great solutions out there?

Thanks.

[Ken Thompson]

I use a roller cutter.

[Michael B]

I used a standard pencil-style soldering iron with a round point, and that worked fine for me as long as I pulled it along the straight edge at the right speed. Too slow, and it does indeed start to melt in ways that are unwanted, too fast, and it doesn’t melt cleanly through. Mine is a Weller, but any low-wattage iron should work. It even cuts through 420 Robic just fine. I’ve seen people rig up an exacto blade to them, but I found it unnecessary.

 

 

[Moab Randy]

Thank you, Michael. I’ve gotten hold of a pencil-styled soldering iron and it seems to work fairly well.

 

 

[Roger Caffin]

I use a Weller with a custom ‘knife blade’ at the tip. It works fine on silnylon, even quite heavy stuff.

Cheers

[Moab Randy]

Thanks, Roger. Sounds like that’s the consensus.

[Joe G]

I have one of these and it works quite well.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N0KF6SR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Roger Caffin]

I should add: I have a large sheet of old cheap thin 3-ply which I cut onto. It has many burn lines. Better that than the floor!

Cheers

[Daryl and Daryl]

When I was making tents in the 1970s I also used a pencil tip soldering iron.  Worked well.

I used it on a large aluminun sheet (4’x8′?)  Big sheets of this were commonly available at surplus yards in Seattle in the 1970s.  Might have been a result of the airplane industry at the time.

[Ken Larson]

WINONS Hot Knife

[Chris L]

I have the same one Joe G linked to above. It’s worked great on anything from silnylon to DCF to X-Pac to 1000D cordura and webbing. Seems nearly identical to the more expensive one that Sailrite sells. I’ve used them both and couldn’t tell the difference.

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