Can a wood router also be used on foam board like foam insulation board?

Jan 27

I would like to know if a wood router could be used to cut Foam Insulation board. I need to make a indent that a router does on wood on foam
the Styrofoam i am using is pink without the balls like a Styrofoam cup. Just solid foam. I am also looking to carve out the middle of the object i am working on about a inch deep. From what i am seeing this is possible.
the whole project is 3 inches thick and like i said before i need to cut into that about an inch

i don’t see why not. i would guess that the higher the density the better result.

Filed under: Foam Insulation

4 Responses to “Can a wood router also be used on foam board like foam insulation board?”

Elbato, on January 28th, 2010 at 1:43 am Said:

i don’t see why not. i would guess that the higher the density the better result.
References :
gr8music at qtrtilldawn, on January 28th, 2010 at 2:06 am Said:

Blue insulation foam, yes, but it will burn really fast, you need to work fast.

White styrofoam with a course little beads in them, or like a coffee cup, no. It will shred and fly apart if it doesn’t melt first.

I use the blue foam all the time, never a router but a jig saw and it worked fine. But it is so soft, you can use a pocket knife and some course sand paper to do most work.
References :
chris g, on January 28th, 2010 at 2:14 am Said:

It certainly can, but have a srier anti-static cloth ("Downy" fabric cloth- type stuff) with you to help clean up afterwards: the foam will develop a static charge and stick to everything.

I’ve used a Stanley Sure-form,serrated kitchen breadknifes, and so-on to shape foam for film sets.
References :
cheezy, on January 28th, 2010 at 2:23 am Said:

the speed of it may melt the foam, depending on the foam.
References :

Foam Insulation 2.0