In preparation for thermal insulation work, you must first select the appropriate tool. A high-quality knife for cutting insulation can significantly accelerate the process and carry out cutting of the material as smoothly and quickly as possible. The choice depends on the characteristics and properties of insulation, in addition, it is worthwhile to familiarize yourself with the safety rules in advance and study the available types of equipment.
Characteristics and properties of heaters
A large number of different options for insulation materials are presented on the market, which are divided into two main types. Reflective insulation reduces heat consumption by reducing infrared radiation, and is a heater with a low coefficient of thermal conductivity. Insulators of the second type can be organic, inorganic or mixed.
Organic materials are made from arbolite, PPVH, chipboard, DVIP, polyurethane foam, expanded polystyrene, ecowool or penoizol. The list of inorganic heat insulators includes mineral, ceramic and glass wool. The most famous reflective heaters are made of polished aluminum and foamed polyethylene, as examples are Armofol, Penofol, Porileks and Ecofol.
Material cutting tools
A knife for cutting thermal insulation can be one of several types. The list of the most commonly used tools includes hacksaws for metal or wood, as well as special knives, for example, thermal knives for standard polystyrene foam.
Mounting knife
An assembly knife for cutting polystyrene foam and other materials is considered one of the most complex tools. With it, you can cut polystyrene, mineral wool, polystyrene and any other heaters. It should be borne in mind that when working with polystyrene foam it can leave cracks, chips and other defects.
Wood or metal hacksaw
Cutting polystyrene or polystyrene can also be a simple hacksaw, which should have small teeth and sharpening. Only such a tool will be able to easily separate the material without damage.
Kitchen bread knife
If it is not possible to purchase a professional knife for cutting insulation, you can use the standard kitchen option, which cut the bread. It must be borne in mind that it must be sharpened well.
Specialized knives
Professional category tools, such as electric ones, can cut any material. During their operation, it is worth observing the instructions and safety rules, as well as taking into account the type of insulation.
Knife for cutting insulation
The knife for standard glass wool and other materials should be selected according to the type of blade. The most popular are tools with carbon steel or stainless steel blades.
A knife with a stainless steel blade is used to work with mineral wool at any level. Its blade is equipped with large and small teeth, due to the convenient blade it fits well inside the plate and makes it possible to make even curly cuts thanks to the sharp tip.
The tool with a carbon steel blade is of the highest quality and is sharpened without much effort. Such a knife must be carefully looked after, as it can become rusty - it is good to wipe it and smear it with a special product after use.
Safe working environment
When choosing a hacksaw according to standard polystyrene foam or a knife for mineral wool insulation, you need to remember the safety rules so that cutting work is carried out in a short time and at a fairly high level.
- the insulation is cut in mild weather, since for such work you need a special protective suit made of dense material that prevents skin from contacting with mineral wool;
- hands should be protected by durable gloves coated with rubber or silicone;
- eyes protect with specialized glasses, respiratory organs with a durable respirator;
- When working with any type of material, they must take breaks and periodically ventilate the room.
Protection is necessary when working with mineral wool and other types of insulation, which consist of multilayer materials. During the operation of the thermal knife for polystyrene foam or polystyrene foam, insulation particles can get into the eyes or respiratory tract.
Cuttings and residues of insulation after cutting
During insulation during work with mineral wool and other materials, scraps often remain, which are advisable to use for insulation of sheds and garages. This is a fairly budgetary way of thermal insulation. Waste is also recycled to be used again. In this case, the remnants of the insulation must be crushed using a special technique. They can be used to insulate the ceiling and walls or sell at a low cost to those who are looking for an inexpensive version of insulation.
Popular knife manufacturers
To avoid problems during operation, you should purchase a knife for mineral wool and other materials only from trusted manufacturers. Their list includes the MORA brand, which produces tools for glass and stone mineral wool. Their blades are made of cold rolled stainless steel and feature good serrated grinding.
No less popular options from the ISOVER brand, including the Specialist and Professional models, suitable for cutting heat and sound insulating materials. They are lightweight and equipped with specially adapted handles. The extended blades of these models up to 297-350 mm help to cut even bulky materials of any type.
Warming rooms with high quality is possible only with the help of professional tools. The cutter for any polystyrene foam or mineral wool knife should be made of the most durable and comfortable materials and meet quality standards.
