Hercules Hot Wire Foam Cutter Table with Foot Control Pedal – Tabletop Hotwire Cutter for Cutting, Forming and Sculpting Styrofoam and Other Foam Materials (Corded 110V AC)

I should've bought it so much sooner. So much better than cutting bricks by hand.

I have been using this for around a month. I cut basic squares out of insulation sheets. This machine works great for the past month.

We all know about the Proxxon hot wire cutter, and why most people buy them. Crafting/hobby work! This cutter is more or less identical in it's dimensions, functionality, pros and cons. The main difference however is that this one comes with a foot pedal, which makes an indescribable difference to the process. It seems like a gimmick or a minor difference, but once you've used the foot pedal, you wont go back.Now Proxxon does make a foot pedal for their own unit, but it doesn't come stock like this one does, but the Proxxon also costs a bit less. I'd still go for this one every time just for the included foot pedal.Otherwise it so far is more or less identical, for better or worse. The wire is easy to set up, adjust, replace, etc. The guide rail - much like the proxxon isn't a 100% perfectly rigid fit at the far end of the bar even when tightened so you can only put so much pressure on it without misaligning it slightly, but it's the same on the Proxxon, and only is something to keep in mind during very long cuts.Should work just fine with 3rd party accessories made for the Proxxon without modification, and I like the blue color, for what it's worth.If you're considering a Proxxon, and you *wont* be getting the foot pedal for it? I'd go with this instead. It's just as good if not better.

TL;DR - if you own a pelican case you can't afford not to buy it. I suppose it's probably good for other stuff too.The Good:- stomp switch is the best!- Cuts quick and easy- no complicated bits, just plug it in and get to cuttin'The Meh:- The wire breaks kind of easily, until you develop a sense for the temp and the pressure it'll take.- Threading the wire through thick material for center cuts is a painThe Bad:- There isn't anyThe Story: I have a lot of pelican cases. The pick n pluck foam that comes with them is really expensive; like a hundred dollars for some, and it falls apart really easily.6 cases of Pelican 1510 pick n pluck ($50) = $3002 rolls of 6" x 72" x 24" foam (enough for ~3.3 cases ea. @ $90) = $180So it's significantly cheaper to DIY and it lasts WAY longer, and you can pack stuff in tighter, and you get the actual shapes you want rather than a bunch of squares.ANYWAY. This machine makes working with foam a real breeze. I had ten cases cut out after about 4 hours of work. The stomp switch is amazing, and the guides work effectively and easily.

+ I'm using this as a table saw for EPS, cutting 2" construction insulation scraps into 1-1/2" x 1/2" x 5" long pieces for walls for tabletop tactics games. I've also been using it to cut shallow grid lines into the surface of 3/16" foam sheets, for floor grids for same.+ It'll fit a 5"x5" square under the arm for grid lining, and the foot switch is KEY for this - get it aligned, then trigger it on for just a couple of seconds, move to the next.+ The table is gridded in metric only, so if you're doing work in inches, you'll have to mark those yourself.+ No trouble cutting through 3" of EPS at a time, even with power set at 5/10. Not industrial fast, maybe, but not back-ache slow, and it DOES go higher...+ the fence is minimum viable product, but it works. It may be out of square a couple of degrees DEPENDING ON HOW YOU'RE PUSHING IT, but that only matters if you're cross-cutting with the fence as a sliding tray, and the discrepancy off square is pretty unnoticeable over 1-1/2". Remember that if you're using it as a table saw fence, a line moving past a point is never "out of square" because it's a line and a point. BUT you DO have to keep the arm square to the table along the other 2 axies...+ What is noticeable is that the long top arm gets bent out of square very easily - and it's the first thing you reach for to pick the thing up, if you're not keeping it set up permanently. It seems to hold square once you get it set, but the only adjustment available for one axis is to bend the arm, check it with your square, bend it again. There is a shuttle for adjusting the wire angle along the other axis, but the screw-set to clamp it in place doesn't have a pad on the inside, so the rotary tightening of the screw tries to drag the shuttle out of position - you have to start off of your target angle and let it "fall" into the desired position. But consider again the price... this arm being perfect and stable would increase the cost x5. And it stays put pretty well if you don't stress it. But check it again later, if it's important.+ Finally, and importantly: The transformer becomes hot REGARDLESS OF USE, IF IT IS PLUGGED IN. In use or not, it doesn't become too hot to touch, but if you plug it in and never turn it on, the transformer will still become hot. If I'd paid more I would return it, but.... well, I didn't. For my use - I'm making stuff for my own use and for Etsy selling but not trying to make a living at it - I don't see any reason I'll need to upgrade. And I'm a carpenter who believes that your tools should be better than you are. ...but the best of the best tools are still not going to make you more skilled than you are.

I recently got into hobby crafting making terrain boards and models out of foam and 3d printing. This is a stellar tool and works identical to the Proxxon and is compatible with all accessories from third parties. I will say the one flaw is the gate, it isn't very sturdy so look into building your own out of foam or purchase a jig from shifting lands. The real big benefit to this is the price, Proxxon is a name stay but this one works identical and includes the foot pedal which after using it is almost crucial, the foot pedal adds so much more convenience to flipping it on and off and allows you to be safe about coming back and walking away.