Adam Savage's Favorite Tools: Hot Wire Cutter!

After making extensive use of this wire cutter in his most recent One Day Build, Adam dives deeper into how to use his favorite Proxxon hot wire cutter for shaping foam. It's a powerful tool for quickly carving foam sheets both thick and thin, and an essential piece for kit for modelmakers and other foamsmiths.

Shot by Adam Savage

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#AdamSavage #favoritetools

[LeviRedrook]

Adding this to my "Tools I Want and Have Zero Reason To Own" list.

[olekaarvaag]

These sort of barebones or grassroots (I don't know what to call them) videos by Adam has by far been one of the best things to come out of the pandemic. The lack of polish in the editing and the shots themselves actually makes them far better than anything that was on Tested before. That is not to say that Tested used to be bad in any way, it's just this style of filmmaking in relation to making things and showcasing tools and answering questions is just that much more real. Or down to earth? I don't know what to call it or how to describe it. It just feels more intimate in a good, enjoyable and comforting way. I absolutely love it.

Thanks Adam, for bringing a great deal of comfort and enjoyment through all these interesting videos. You have surely made a lot of people feel much better in these trying times.

[LittleIAO]

This is one of the rare instances where I actually own what you're talking about as well! Can concur this thing is awesome!

[JohnnyTrash]

Adam, you really need some Shiftinglands tools to use with that Proxxon. They'll make this tool even better!

[merlin]

This is probably the only video he'll ever make where I already have the tool, and I got so excited to hear my favourite maker talk about how cool this thing is

[alpha_ray_burst]

OH MAN that was satisfying to watch. Like ASMR for my eyes.

[stevensrmiller]

I have one of these. It's great. Adam doesn't mention it, but the owner's manual says you can cut good circles by simply taping a thumb-tack to the table, point up, and slap the foam down on that. Just rotate it around the tack, and you get a clean circle.

[saddislocation]

To avoid cutting at an angle the template should be put on the bottom of the piece, so the wire won't bend so much

[calebbenoit]

Ahh, the d&d machine. I have made hundreds of terrain pieces with this beauty

[Jankolli]

What a crazy coincidence, I've just recently become interested in the whole tabletop crafting scene, been watching several youtubers do their thing and the proxxon wirecutter was one of the equipment on my wishlist. And here comes Adam with a favorite tool video.

[kellimshaver]

I've wanted to get this for a while now to make D&D terrain - seems so much simpler and more fun than modeling and then 3D printing everything.

[jlcourtman]

Worked in architectural model shop many, many years ago doing study models. For 1-off guides, manila folders make great templates - put on bottom with a quick spray of low tack adhesive. circles? just like for a band saw - little sheet of plex with a pin through it. Make life easier by putting an inexpensive foot switch on the machine - you'll never have to worry about forgetting to turn it off! One thing the Proxxon lacks is a tiltable upper arm - like the tilting table on scroll or bandsaw - that adds a lot of possibilities.

[davidmelrose]

A thousand years ago when I worked in film we needed to make a boat load of stuff out of foam. We bought the wire and made our own cutter out of electrial conduit wood and a dimmer switch . It was adjustable up to 4'. It worked amazing I have since used it to make props for my kids school plays.

[willshierling]

have been making Warhammer 40k terrain like this forever. the foam cutter is a legendary tool in my opinion that get ignored far too many times...THANKS for giving it the props it deserves

[user]

I've used that same Proxxon cutter for years, but needed Adam to show me it has a handy chart on the front. A helpful feature that wasn't shown is the ability to reposition the upper spool along the yoke in order to create angled cuts. Also, I think the power regulator adjusts the power to maintain a target wire temp as you speed up or slow down the movement of the material. And to echo Adam's comments about precision, one can get some very precise and repeatable cuts from this tool.

[samsunkeithley]

I made one of these for my High School physics project! Super fun to make, super fun to use. Love the smell of melting Styrofoam in the morning.

[rong]

Do not shy away from the word "Craft". "Craftsmanship" is under-rated. Art is an expression of a unique point of view. Craftsmanship is the skillful manipulation of a medium. They each can exist with and without the other.

[QUARTERMASTEREMI]

2:32 Being as I am currently studying Industrial Design, that moment made me both smile and cry tears of sorrow!

[steakatron]

I play Warhammer 40, 000 and my buddy and I bought one of these with the intention of making terrain for our table. absolutely no regrets, plenty of rock formations, crystals, structures, and anything we want to make things look good.

[tvk]

I'm thinking "wow I like that. that's so cool" and then I hear Adam at 9:18 go "right?! right?!". I feel like he's reading my mind