Hello everyone! I was just wondering...does anyone have as much trouble cutting the foam board for cake bases as I do??? I use an exacto knife but it's really hard to get my circles completely round. Straight lines are no problem. I can't afford to buy the already formed and covered cake drums for my cakes, I'd have to add on too much to the price of my cakes and the people around the area where I live would just not order any more. So I buy the 3/16 inch white foamboard and cut and cover it myself. (with much difficulty).
Also, anyone know a place on-line or otherwise where the foam board can be purchased relatively inexpensively?
Thanks in advance for any advice!!
Cakelady45
You can also use a knife (see attached link) http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/hca/hcahcar0770.htm
This may be more of an investment than you want to make, but I promise, it's worth it. I bought a small scroll saw from Home Depot for $99 just for cutting foamcore circles. I also use to cut dowels (I tape them all together and cut them at the same time, insuring that they'll be the same size).
Another alternative is Tuff Board, www.tuffboard.com. They make cake circles from Coraplast, the corrogated plastic that you see signs made from. I use them between tiers. They can be washed and reused. Con: the edges are scalloped which makes covering them with foil paper challenging.
HTH
I had the same trouble. Turns out, there is a foam board cutter - well blade actually. It's a funky-looking little thing with two blades - kind of like a mini version of a box cutter. I found it by chance at Walmart - should be in the craft section; if not try the school supply area. It says "foam board cutter" on the package. It cuts the board like butter.
And I buy my foam boards at Office Depot. I get a large sheet for about $3.00+ or so. It's enough to probably use for one entire cake with several tiers depending on the size of your tiers. You might also find the foam boad cutter at Office Depot, too, or whatever office supply store is in your area.
If I can find what I did with my cutter, I'll take a pic of it and upload it.
Hope that helps. 
I also just have sooo much trouble making the cuts look good...mine cuts are not usually not perpendicular and while they will do, they aren't what I want them to be..
I did read on this forum or one other that you can buy precut foamcore circles, squares in certain sizes....I was hoping that someone would answer here...I check also on the other board to see if anyone remembers. If anyone knows where we can buy premade ones, please respond.. 
That would be ideal for me..
I did find that a larger knife is better than a smaller x-acto blade for me at least...
I buy my foamboard from here
http://www.foamboardsource.com/
I buy my foamboard from here
http://www.foamboardsource.com/
I found a picture of the foam board cutter. Hope this helps.
Beware of the hot knife! I'm the EC at my Michaels and have been cutting a ton of pumpkins lately. Well, I accidentally dropped the hot knife on my Treo (hello...$500 phone) and it melted it like butter in a frying pan. Ugh.
The package says it gets to 750 degrees F.
Yes, that's 750 degrees. Seven hundred and fifty degrees Farenheit.
But it works!
LOL
Sherri
I bought a hot knife from acmoore and the thing was smoking just when heating up. i used it on the foamboard and it smelled awful like i had burnt the most aweful thing in the oven. I returned it and they put it in the defect pile. I am not sure if that was normal but it did cut nicely.
I have not tried it, but could you use an electric knife? I used to cut cushion foam with one when doing upholstry....
I bought a hot knife from acmoore and the thing was smoking just when heating up. i used it on the foamboard and it smelled awful like i had burnt the most aweful thing in the oven. I returned it and they put it in the defect pile. I am not sure if that was normal but it did cut nicely.
I wouldn't think it would be normal for it to smoke (mine doesn't). It doesn't smell all that great when I'm using it, but I'll deal with the smell for a short bit to achieve a perfect circle. The first one I bought was from Lowe's. It was about $15 & it was pretty worthless. I returned that one & bought one @ JoAnn's in the wood burning section. It was more expensive, but so much better that the other one.
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