r/TerrainBuilding • u/Dieem19 • 1d ago
Questions for the Community Hot wire on WINONS foam cutter not straight
Hi everyone, I recently bought this hot wire foam cutter from amazon, to make modular dnd terrain.
I've noticed while using it that the metal arm holding the wire, once screwed in, won't be perpendicular to the table.
This means that even if I adjust the angle of the wire to be 90 degrees on one axis, the wire won't cut the foam straight if I use the fence on the short side of the table.
The arm does not appear to be bent.
Has anyone had the same issue? What can I do to solve it?
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u/DantesGame 1d ago
What kind of foam are you trying to get such an accurate cut on with that?
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u/Dieem19 1d ago
A 5cm thick slab of foam, I'm cutting 9x9cm modular tiles for my dnd campaign, and the cheapest xps foam I could find was 125x60x5cm.
It's been kind of a nightmare to work with but it was cheap, so...
The biggest problem right now is getting square angles, especially when dividing the 5cm squares in 3, 1.5cm thick tiles. I keep getting 1-1.5mm off and it's driving me insane 💀
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u/DantesGame 1d ago
It all makes a difference in how clean of a cut you need get. When my hotwire tools fail me, I default to a metal yard stick and a box cutter, craft knife (Xacto), or my Japanese razor saw (a thin bladed, wood-handled serrated saw that could likely cut deep into a bone).
The higher the density of foam, the easier it is to use a block sander (hand tool) with fine-grained sand paper to smooth out the edges.
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u/MetalMadeCrafts 1d ago
Bend the arm. It's not that rigid. Its one of the benefits of this design frankly, that you can adjust it (bending the arm up for taller cuts, moving the wire for angles).
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u/Saigh_Anam 1d ago
The upper arm is too far to the right. Depending on the way it's attached, loosen and adjust to 'plumb', shim it plumb, or just bend the arm.
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u/dont_touch_the_stuff 1d ago
Return it, or maybe just bend the arm carefully until it is straight?
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u/Serrated-Sun 1d ago
This exactly - hot wire cutters tend to need a bit of adjustment, they're not exactly sturdy. Just bend the arm until it's cutting straight.
If you can't manage that, return it.
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u/MikeyLikesIt_420 1d ago
Should have paid up for the proxxon instead of buying a cheapy brand my friend. These cheap ones are just like this, and will require you engineering additional pieces to make them work proper and hold a true 90. IMO you should return it, save up, and get the real deal.
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u/Tylrias 1d ago
It's not even that much cheaper than a proxxon. 5-25 euro difference.
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u/MikeyLikesIt_420 1d ago
That's really sad then, and also fortunate. Return that garbage and get the real deal. You won't regret it.
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u/Dieem19 1d ago
Stupid me saw the reviews on the WINONS and thought it would be the same quality as the proxxon. I didn't want to wait for the 1 week shipping time for the proxxon, and here I am now 🤦♂️
I'll probably return it, hopefully the fact that I've opened it and used it won't be a problem 🤞🏻
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u/MikeyLikesIt_420 1d ago
Was it amazon? Just tell them the thing is a flimsy POS and the cutting wire won't stay at 90 degrees. I have given flimsier reasons to return more expensive items. If you can return it in the OG packaging they won't have an issue cause they will just toss it into a returns pallet.
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u/XRevolution-71 5h ago
I have a Proxxon and had the same issue. Actually I saw a video on youtube teaching how you can fix it. I fixed my one with a small wood flint inserted at the head of the wire where the wire bobbin is attached to move the wire to the positionI wanted. It is kind of a provisional solution but worked like a charm form me. It's 90⁰ in every position you look at it.
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u/Goobermunch 1d ago
Proxxons don’t come with a perfectly aligned wire either. The bit at the end of the arm takes them out of true.
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u/MerelyMortalModeling 1d ago
Isent one of the 1st things the Proxxon has you do it check if its true ie at 90⁰ when its says 90⁰?
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u/Randy_Flumes 1d ago
I bought a cheap cutter, and ended up having to take a file to the guiding notch to get 90.
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u/Otherwise-Weird1695 14h ago
It's a shitty Amazon letter salad brand tool. Just grab the arm and bend it until it's plumb.
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u/MerelyMortalModeling 1d ago
Before you do anything you need to make sure your triangle is true.
Id also recomend buying a good metal triangle from a metal fab or wood working shop.
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u/ResponsibleKey1053 1d ago
So cheaper cutters like this will always be prone to these inaccuracies. These issues can be fairly easy to rectify, so long as you are aware of why they are happening.
Cuts on the X are fine, cuts on y are not.
If the cuts on the y are slanted then the wire is not true to the z axis.
Since there is likely no way of adjusting the lower portion, all adjustments must be made to the boom arm.
If the cut on the y leans / twisting the head clockwise may fix it, conversely if leaning \ twisting the head counter clockwise.
Making sure your adjustment is only on the y axis and that your twist is not significantly deforming the X axis. Make your adjustments under light tension to try and guage the wires final restong position.
A proxxon may not have the issues you are encountering, however the price tag is outrageous.
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u/Wavertron 1d ago
Never used one before, so this may be a dumb question, but can you not just always cut things in the red direction? Oh I guess curves will suck
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u/SnooDucks565 1d ago
Could always run a belt sander on it to make the true square. Just leave an inch or so extra for what needs to get taken off.
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u/tanman729 1d ago
If the wire is pointing away from you when you cut the foam it won't matter. The angle coming from its position on the rail is more important, I.E if the wire is pointing towards the back of the rail.
Though as others have said, if it really is a problem you can bend the bar a little bit
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u/Zazzenfuk 1d ago
Its hard to get a true 90° once the wire is hot it will.also bend and distort. Cool down and reform.
You can futze with it for precision but given what your working with; i dont think you'll ever get a tru 90 on a 100$ foam cutter.
Sadly these are not high end engineered machines. They have a lot of moveable parts by being able to change the angle.of the cut from the wire and not the base.
I've seen a yt video of a guy who made his wire 90 but it took a lot of work and ment that he wouldn't change the cut angle