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Progcraft · Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2003 4:26 pm Post subject: Hot cutting tips

I've actually never used a conical tip for hot cutting. But, I have read a few articles that suggest using conical over angled blade style.

stevef · Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2003 4:35 pm Post subject:

I think you'll get a cleaner cut with the angled. I use the conical tip for burning holes.

Now you might ask...... what kind of angle tip Question

There are many different kinds and it really depends on the type of knife or unit you are using. Some builders use the one that is shaped lilke a rounded spatula, others use a chisle tip. The Engel holt knife has two angled tips that are very popular. One looks like an ice skate:

and another come to a 1/4" point:

Some builders use the big soldering guns and pound and shape the tip flat...

I would stay away from the tips that are a combination exacto knife/hot tip. They usually do more cutting and less heat sealing.

-S.
_________________
Go Build a Kite!
A very big, public applause to kitenerd and his Della Porta project. Great Job Arnold!

kitepoor · Joined: 05 Sep 2003 Posts: 127

Steve sell a WONDERFUL hotcutter thing. I got to play with it while cutting bridle lines for the big Jeff. Someday....
_________________
Randy
How come the nicest kite weather comes
when I have the most work to do

Mountain Man · Joined: 04 Sep 2003 Posts: 460 Location: NB Canada

Hi All,
as a woodcarver, I have found that I could easly use my Nibsburner tool as it addapted very nicely to do hot cut ! Here is a few pics of it!

here is the tip I use with it

Notice how the pen is very delicate ...very easy to use just like a pen! Wink

_________________
Bernie
the Mountain Man

"Line Art is beautiful and fun to make"
"Fly a Kite!"

wdrwilson · Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2003 8:58 pm Post subject:

I use a Weller pistol grip soldering iron (100/140 watt) with the cutting tip provided. It is similar to the 1/4" tip in Steve's picture.

I use a cheap-o pencil soldering iron with a filed point to hot tacking and cutting holes.

Cheers,
Bill

Kitesquid · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2003 8:28 am Post subject:

MM,

I found some plans to build my own wood burner, and I was going to modify it to make a hot cutter!!!!

Great minds think alike!!!!!! Shocked

_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

Kitesquid · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2003 8:30 am Post subject:

Steve,

I want to vote for both points as I use em both equaly....

All I have about 4 hot cutters

Engle Hot Knife from Kite Studio with both blades. I like the ice skate blade for straight cuts and the pointey one for more curvy cuts. The Hot Knife heats up quickly and is easy to use (I just wish it did not way so much)

Two chinese made 30 Watt 5-in-1 hobby hot knifes
one with a chissle point for all around cutting
one with a pencil point for cutting small cutouts in the Leading Edge material in most kites. I use a negative template so if I mess up it is on the waste side....

and one hot tacker that does not get much use.

I keep an empty glass quart jar to put the hot cutter in when not in use but hot. The first time you move your kite and drop the sail on a HOT cutter it will be your last, after you stop crying Crying or Very sad

I am loking for a jar that will not roll. I guess I need to find a BIG jar of nutella Razz

I keep mine in a empty loaf pan to keep it from rollong nad to catch the glass if I am dumb enough to break it....
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

stevef · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2003 8:42 am Post subject:

Kitesquid · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2003 8:43 am Post subject:

I'm looking for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

Kitesquid · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2003 8:46 am Post subject:

Found it!!!

http://www.fishcarver.com/images/burning%20instructions.PDF

but go here:

http://www.fishcarver.com/making_fish_scale_tips.htm

to see tips on how to make tips... Laughing

Neat stuff for wood carvers and wood burners!!!!!

Look over his entire site!!!!!!!!

http://www.fishcarver.com/

NOT a hobby for me, but us kiters like to borrow things from other hobbies to make ours that much more fun!!!!! Like thread wrapping!!!

I was thinking of ways to modify the Engle Hot Knife to make it lighter and easyer to use!!!!!

Something like a cross between the Engle Hot Knife nad the kite carteraurser I bought out of your extreme discount table at MKS last year (Do you have more?)

Enogh power to heat the Engle "Skate" tip and a switch in the handle to turn it on and off. Light like a soldering iron, with a long cord.

Gotta build my own, but there are a lot of irons in the fire before this project.
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

stevef · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2003 9:01 am Post subject:

Kitesquid · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2003 9:41 am Post subject:

Great, Now I have to bring even MORE $$$$$$$$ to MKS, to get stuff out of Steve's Bargan Basement...

You are welcome but just dont start

KITE CARVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Laughing

I can just picture carved hardwood spars in some celular kite...
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

Mountain Man · Joined: 04 Sep 2003 Posts: 460 Location: NB Canada

Thanks for the Carver site !

I like the site since im a woodcarver Wink

just one of my hobbies ! *grin*
_________________
Bernie
the Mountain Man

"Line Art is beautiful and fun to make"
"Fly a Kite!"

Nightflyer · Joined: 17 Sep 2003 Posts: 21 Location: perrysburg oh

I have been using kind of stuff to do hot cutting until a buddy gave me a christmas gift a few years back and i thought it was a joke.

Take all the tips and pitch them they don't get hot enough, just use the stock pen and let it heat for 4 min before you start as long as you keep the tip clean it will cut 3 layers of 1.5 oz Ripstop nylon cleanly on the first try.
I never went back to my more expensive cutters after I got this. It's great for making very delicate detail cuts or just chopping off large sections of fabic. The kicker is that price and we found it half off...

One note of caution there are many others out there that look like this but DON"T work well. Look for the two heat sink fins if they are there you got the right one.

Enjoy. Razz

_________________
William Salisbury
Kitebuilder
kitecircus.com

Kitesquid · Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 8:14 pm Post subject:

For hot cutting the double heat reflectors work GREAT as they are normaly 40 watts or better...

The 30 Watt and under irons work better for hot tacking...
They usualy only have one heat reflector.
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.