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A hot wire knife is a great way to get the rough shape without making a mess.  The flip side is that edges cut that way are very smooth, not like something found in the natural world.  Once you are close you can rough up the surface many ways. I have recently used a combination of 60 grit sandpaper and dragging a pumice stone across the surface and really liked the final effect. 

If you search for a thread called Halloween 2017 you will see what I did.

Have fun. FYI hot knives are readily available at craft stores like Joanne Fabrics or Michael’s.

If you don't like the fumes when using a hot knife, but still want a tool that cuts foam like butter, oscillating multi tools works great and are very inexpensive. $14.99 with coupon.

https://www.harborfreight.com/...E1NDgifQ%3D%3D%0D%0A

They also sell an inexpensive hot knife if your cutting outside or in a well ventilated area.

https://www.harborfreight.com/...hot-knife-61423.html

 

Couple ideas...

Hot knife by Micro-Mark...et al.

Old set of electric oscillating/serrated carving knives.  Or, an old, dedicated long serrated blade 'bread' knife.

I say "old" on these, because mama won't be happy if you use her best cutlery from the kitchen.  Cutting foam accelerates dulling of the blades.  Sure, you can sharpen them again, if need be.  But home diplomacy will be enhanced if you get your own....garage sale, discarded (with spouse/parent blessing) kitchen tool, dollar store, etc....

And serrated knives will not create the fumes that a hot wire/knife will...requiring good ventilation!!!....but they will make some dust that an appropriate shop vacuum/filter will help control as the carving goes along.

I've used both types of the above knives on pink, blue, and beaded white Styrofoam.  They work well.

FWIW....

KD

If you don't want to spend a lot of money just to shape a couple of pieces of foam, then a box cutter utility knife with snap-off blade sections is a pretty good choice.  Extend the blade as far out as desired to do your carving.  You can use spackling compound to fill in any voids and smooth the flat ground-to-hill transition if desired.  Coarse sandpaper or foam sanding blocks are good ways to smooth contours and rough up the foam surfaces before painting and applying ground cover.

A shop-vac is your BEST FRIEND when carving and sanding foam.  Don't even think of working foam without one !

Paul

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
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