How to Cut Upholstery Foam? (In Just 3 Simple Steps!)

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11 Min Read

If you’re like most people, you probably know How to Cut Upholstery Foam.

But how do you know which way to cut the foam so that it won’t tear or damage the fabric? And what if you want to cut foam in a hurry?

How do you make the process easier and faster? In this post, we’ll show you how to cut upholstery foam using a few simple steps.

To cut upholstery foam, start by researching the best tools for the job. A sharp utility knife or electric carving knife is ideal for cutting foam. Make sure to use a straight edge to ensure a clean cut. When cutting, use slow, steady strokes and press down firmly. If the foam is thick, make multiple passes with the knife. When finished, use sandpaper to smooth out any rough edges. Be sure to wear protective gear, such as gloves and safety glasses, when cutting foam.

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What Tools Are Required To Cut Upholstery Foam?

The first step is to find out which tools you need. In this tutorial, we’ll only cover tools that are necessary to accomplish the task at hand.

We’ve provided a list of our favorite cutting tools in the video and on our website, but if you don’t have any of those tools handy, you can use scissors or your hands to complete the steps in this tutorial.

More: How To Choose Upholstery Foam?

1: Upholstery foam cutting knife

The first step in this tutorial is to select a pair of scissors. You can use any type of scissors that you prefer, but we recommend that you use double-edged scissors.

They’re more powerful and will be easier to hold as well as more precise.

Next, you need to have some foam in your toolbox. In this case, we’re using upholstery foam for the project. So, if you don’t already have it, go buy some foam right now!

You’ll need to cut the upholstery foam so that the two sides are exactly equal lengthwise (at least 1/8″).

If they’re not equal, it’s likely that one side will be longer than the other and will cause a bulge on the wrong side when cutting.

Also, check out Eric’s video tutorial on how to cut upstand pillow stuffing with double-edged scissors.

More: How To Reshape Foam?

2: Measuring Tape

If you’re cutting foam with a regular measuring tape, you’ll have to stop and re-measure every time you want to cut a different size foam sheet.

This can be time-consuming and frustrating.

To save time, you might consider buying a second measuring tape, which is easier to use and more convenient.

A second measuring tape would allow you to cut your foam sheets much faster than the first one.

In this post, we’ll show you how to use a second measuring tape when cutting foam sheets.

More: How To Shape Upholstery Foam?

3: A Marker

The first step is to make sure you have everything ready. A marker will ensure that the foam doesn’t tear or damage the fabric.

It should be made in a very dark color so that it doesn’t show up on your day-to-day work, but it will still be visible while you’re cutting the foam.

More: How To Cut Polyurethane Foam?

Follow The Step Mentions Below For Cutting A Upholstery Foam

First, you’ll need to cut up the foam. You can use a standard foam cutting machine that has a blade that is 4-6 inches in length and has an insert to cut foam sheets.

This machine will make quick work of cutting up your foam and speed up the process.

Or, you can use a route saw to cut your foam into proper pieces. And again, this will make the process faster and easier for you.

Step 1: Measure Your Upholstery Foam

Don’t assume that you already know how to measure your upholstery foam. If you’re like most people, the first thing you probably do is ask “how much is this?” or “how many pieces does it take?”

An easy way to measure your upholstery foam is with a tape measure. You can purchase a 6 by 9-inch tape measure in any department store and use it for measuring upholstery foam. It’s simple, accurate, and inexpensive.

Step 2: Marking Your Upholstery Foam

In the first step of this process, you need to mark your foam. If you don’t do so, it will be more difficult to cut out the pieces later.

To mark the foam, you can use a marker pen or make a small hole in the center of the foam itself. Either way is fine. Once you’ve marked your foam, follow these steps to cut it:  

1) Using scissors and an appropriate edge tool (cutting shears are ideal), carefully cut off an equal amount of each side of your foam.

2) With the scissors still in hand, slowly lift them on one side of your foam until your scissors release it from its holding place.

3) Carefully use scissors again to cut away what remains.

4) When cutting through both sides of your foam using scissors, try not to remove too much material at once; if you do, your finished garment will have less seam structure than desired—we recommend cutting just enough material for a good fit without removing too much overall fabric.

Step 3: Cut Your foam in the correct way

One of the most basic steps in cutting can be difficult for some people, but it makes correctly cutting foam so much easier.

There are many ways to cut foam, but there are certain guidelines that you should always follow when cutting your foam. You should start by marking each piece of foam with a pencil or marker.

Then place the paper in between two pieces of foam and trace it using a ruler or scissors.

The best way to cut foam is to first break off a small amount of excess material from each side and then trim the excess material off using scissors.

Cutting upholstery foam with hot wire:

Beware! Using a hot wire can be dangerous. Remember that flammable fabric is always a risk, especially if you use a hot wire to cut foam.

The foam is still quite soft and will tear up easily. Use caution when cutting upholstery foam by using a hot wire.

How to cut upholstery foam horizontally?

How do you know how to cut upholstery foam horizontally? Here are a few easy steps:

Fortunately, cutting upholstery foam horizontally is a relatively simple process that can be done with a few basic tools.

  • First, you’ll need to measure the area you want to cut and mark it with a pencil.
  • Then, you’ll need to use a sharp utility knife to cut along the marked line.
  • Make sure to use a straight edge to ensure a clean, even cut. If you’re cutting a large piece of foam, you may want to use a saw or electric knife to make the job easier.
  • Once you’ve cut the foam, you can use sandpaper to smooth out any rough edges.
  • Finally, you can use a vacuum to remove any excess foam particles. With a few simple steps, you can easily cut upholstery foam horizontally and create the perfect shape for your furniture.

FAQs:

What tools do I need to cut upholstery foam?

You will need a sharp utility knife, a straight edge, and a cutting board or other flat surface.

How do I measure the foam for cutting?

Measure the foam with a tape measure and mark the desired size with a pencil.

How do I cut the foam?

Place the foam on the cutting board and use the straight edge to guide the utility knife. Make sure to cut slowly and evenly.

What should I do if the foam is too thick to cut?

If the foam is too thick to cut with a utility knife, you can use a foam saw or electric carving knife.How to cut upholstery foam horizontally?

Conclusion

Here at Foam Factory, we are often asked how to cut the foam for upholstery projects.

We hope the information in this article has been helpful to you. We have tried to include as much information as possible to ensure that you are able to get the results you need.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

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