How do you all cut your foamboard?? I decided to try it for a 3 tier grad cake. How do you keep your edges from being sharp and tearing the foil??

The foam core board I use does not have foil, it's foam between 2 cardboards. I use an exacto knife to cut it. I'm not sure if this is the same as the foamboard you mentioned.

Sorry......I meant tearing the foil when you cover the board after cutting! Your knife gets through 1/2 inch ok?????

I use an electrified hot craft/exacto knife by Creative Marks/Walnut Hollow--works like a charm.

http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=cat3266&PRODID=prd53380&source=search

Rae

That hot knife looks great! Just this past weekend I was trying to cut round shapes from foamcore and that was kind of a pain....so I think I need to put the hot knife on my shopping list!

Anyway, what I have done with foam core so far is to just gently score the foamcore on the first cut. You are not trying to go all the way through to the bottom at first. Then, after you've made the first cut, go back over where you cut and finish cutting all the way through. You want to make sure your exacto knife stays at a 90 deg angle so the edges will be straight. Also, you shouldn't have to force it too much. If it's not working well, than you probably need a new blade.

Courtney

Where do you all get foamcore? I always thought that would be easier to cut then cakeboards.... the corrugated cardboard kind....

I usually get mine at Michael's. The nice thing about foamcore is that you can cut it into any shape. Sometimes I need odd shaped pieces for supports inside a 3D cake or something like that.

Courtney

I get mine at Michael's too and stock up when they are on sale.

I get mine at Hobby Lobby and they have it 50% often. Like others say I always stock up when on sale, I usually wipe out their stock of 1/2"!

what exactly is foam core?

You can also ask the framing department at Michaels to cut it for you as well. They have special tools for this that can cut squares, rectangles, circles and ovals...possible others depending on their equipment. I use to work in a frame shop so have cut many...and the cut is nice and clean.

Thanks Rae!!!!!!

The poor little knife I've got is bent.... I noticed the last board I cut was kinda "leaning" in.

I followed another cc'rs advice and bought a Black and Decker electric 6V scissor. It's cordless and rechargeable. Holy cow this thing cuts things like butter!

I no longer struggle with an exacto knife.

I bought it at Lowes for $19.99.

(there's that avatar again )

Thanks for sharing that with me!! I had to go to our local Lowe's tomorrow and I'm going to check on that!

Great ideas!! Thanks all!!!!!!

i have a little tip... if your are looking for cheaper foamcore, the BEST place i have found to get some is the college's bookstore in my area. if you have a college (maybe a university?) near you, take a look! i can get it there for a 1/4 what i would pay at michael's.

Ok...what size is the foamcore board...I guess maybe depth of it. And will it hold cake tiers well? I am doing a 5 tier stacked wedding cake and I have the stress free supports to use between the layers. I hate to have to cut the boards and never know if they will stand up to the weight...

Foamcore board is 20"x30" in 2 thicknesses: 1/4" and 1/2".

so...the thicker the better?? and you can dowel it too???

I use different thicknesses depending on the size of the cake, (for smaller cakes, I use the 1/4"). And yes, you can dowel. It is foam sandwiched between sturdy cardboard. If you're looking to do a long center dowel thru all cake tiers, I would sharpen one end to drive it thru easier.

Thanks for the info miriel.

If I use wood on the bottom tier and the stress free support system plus the foam board would that be sturdy enough?

Colette told us in her class that all she uses is foam boards. I think the way you have it layed out will work great!

Question about the Black & Decker tool:

Does it cut the 1/2" foam board pretty easy?