How to cut circles, wreaths and blocks

with the Jigsaw hotwire cutter

Circles:  The bed is perforated to allow you to cut circles or wreaths.  The holes are spaced at 1" intervals starting at the wire and extending to the right hand side of the cutter.

Start with a square piece of foam.  Using a suitably long straightedge mark an "X" in the middle of this square by drawing diagonal lines from the four corners.  This is your center point.  Using an ice pick or other pointed object (even a stiff piece of wire will do) push it through the foam at the center of the "X".  Insert the tip of this "axle" into the desired hole in the bed of the cutter.  (To cut an 8" circle use an 8" square of foam and put the "axle" in the hole 4" from the wire.)  Turn on the cutter and rotate the foam to cut your circle.

Tip:  if you are trying to cut a large circle and the corners of your square bump into the vertical part of the arm, simply "rough cut" the square by slicing off the corners so that your square becomes shaped more like a "STOP" sign.  Be careful not to cut off too much.

Wreaths:  First cut a circle as above.  Poke a 1/4" hole through the circle at the desired distance from the edge.  (typically 2" in from the edge) disconnect the wire from the tip of the arm and fish it up through this hole and then reattach it to the arm.  (using something like a crocheting hook or a piece of wire with the end bent into a small hook, makes this really easy)  Use the same "axle" and centering hole that you used above to cut the circle.  Turn on the cutter and rotate the circle again to cut out the center.  Remove the wire from the arm again to free your wreath from the cutter.

Blocks:  You can cut straight pieces by laying a straightedge on the bed as a guide.  Simply push the foam through the cutter keeping it against the straightedge.          -back-

   Order Entry    -or-    Buy Now