Replies

1. 
   jonblakemore | Oct 01, 2004 01:19am | #1

   Or take a 1x6x24" and make a 1" wide kerf down the middle, about 16" long. This allows you to compress the batt and slice easily.

    

   Jon Blakemore

1. 
   AndyEngel | Oct 01, 2004 04:38am | #2

   Chef's knife. Chicago Cutlery, Henkls, either works.

   Andy, with the tolerant wife.Arguing with a Breaktimer is like mud-wrestling a pig -- Sooner or later you find out the pig loves it.

   Other people can talk about how to expand the destiny of mankind. I just want to talk about how to fix a motorcycle. I think that what I have to say has more lasting value. --Robert M. Pirsig

1. 
   MisterT | Oct 01, 2004 01:32pm | #3

   I got a pair of old "bankers" shears at an antique shop (The Tool Barn on MDI, ME)

   They work great! 

   Mr T

   I can't afford to be affordable anymore

2. 
   seeyou | Oct 02, 2004 01:40am | #9

   I built an insulation cutter with the engine and 5 sp transmission from a Toyota p/u, two 55 gallon drums, 400' of garden hose, and a guillotine I bought as French army surplus on Ebay. Works great, but you don't want to daydream when you're using it.

   I invented eye/hand co-ordination. 

1. 
   robteed | Oct 02, 2004 02:21am | #10

   I have always used just a utility knife and a board, but the problem was that the tar on the paper balls up on the end of the blade. I have been thinking about the problem for a few years, thinking that the paper

   cutter was a good idea. We used it and there doesnt seem to be any

   noticable wear on the blade. There also is no noticable tar from the paper. Im going to purchase one for the next insulation job I do...the one I used was borrowed.

   That "thinking for years part, sad thing is I dont get paid for that time! "

   Rob

1. 
   Darin | Oct 06, 2004 04:26pm | #11

   I was thinking about some type of insulation knife to spped up the process.  I know the piece of plywood and utility knife works great for small jobs, but it seems to me that I saw some kind of insulation knife at the JLC show in Providence or possibly the show in Worcester, but I can't remember the name of the knife or the company.  Figures, I could use something like that now but my memory is failing me! I remember that it looked sort of like a small machete with an orange plastic handle, but that is all I remember.  Maybe some else has a better memory!

2. 
   DanH | Oct 01, 2004 04:55pm | #4

   Just placing a board across the batt to compress it flat, then cutting along the edge of the board with a utility knife seems to work fine, at least for small jobs. I would agree, though, that something along the lines of a paper cutter should work well in "production mode". Probably it will dull quickly, though.

1. 
   BossHog | Oct 01, 2004 06:01pm | #5

   At an auction, I bought a box of stuff that had an insulation cutter in it.

   It's a typical utility knife with a wire frame attached. When you press down on the knife, the wire frame compresses the insulation much the same as laying a board across it.

   It works O.K., but not great. Beats trying to find a board every time, I guess.

   I tried a google search, but couldn't come up with a picture of one...If only women measured charm by the amount of methane produced.......

1. 
   IMERC | Oct 01, 2004 07:38pm | #6

   A Olfa disk knief... Looks like a pizza cutter...

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

   WOW!!!   What a Ride!

1. 
   DanH | Oct 01, 2004 10:03pm | #7

   Yeah, an Olfa might work. The blades are pretty expensive, though.

1. 
   IMERC | Oct 01, 2004 10:47pm | #8

   Get the sharpener.... about the same as blade...

   Fish fillet knief works too....

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

   WOW!!!   What a Ride!