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Hot knife for ultralight fabrics: your recommendation?


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Home Forums Gear Forums Make Your Own Gear Hot knife for ultralight fabrics: your recommendation?

Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
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  • #3717905
    Moab Randy
    BPL Member

    @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.

    #3717913
    Ken Thompson
    BPL Member

    @here

    Locale: Right there

    I use a roller cutter.

    #3717943
    Michael B
    BPL Member

    @mikebergy

    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.

     

     

    #3718138
    Moab Randy
    BPL Member

    @moab-randy

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

     

     

    #3718473
    Roger Caffin
    BPL Member

    @rcaffin

    Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

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

    Cheers

    #3718693
    Moab Randy
    BPL Member

    @moab-randy

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

    #3718726
    Joe G
    BPL Member

    @jgreenewv

    #3718796
    Roger Caffin
    BPL Member

    @rcaffin

    Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

    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

    #3720173
    Daryl and Daryl
    BPL Member

    @lyrad1

    Locale: Pacific Northwest, USA, Earth

    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.

    #3720182
    Ken Larson
    BPL Member

    @kenlarson

    Locale: Western Michigan

    WINONS Hot Knife

    #3720431
    Chris L
    BPL Member

    @thechrislundy

    Locale: Idaho

    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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