Best / Fastest way to cut 1.5” double foil faced foam insulation board?

NorthernJoe

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Unfortunately I don’t have any of that and the closest thing to a dust collector I have is a gas powered leaf blower that has a suction intake lol.

If I had a table saw that I’d try this type of blade..
Bullet Tools - CC52-1507 7.25 in. CenterFire Dust Free Foam Blade for cutting EPS, XPS & Poly-ISO insulation
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KM0RLUU?tag=sxsweb24-20

they don’t make a 10” that I can see otherwise I’d use it in my radial arm saw.
With the money you saved on the insulation you could buy a “dust deputy” and use a shop vac. The foam will grab on a course blade. I would use a 60 tooth blade at minimum, 80 would be my first choice
 
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eolesen

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I'd think a band saw would be less of a mess than a table saw.

Why not just score the foil side and snap them on a straight surface like sheetrock or pink foam board?

Sent from my SM-S911U using Tapatalk
 
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Vikes79

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I might give this a try with my cordless jigsaw, especially notching around boxes etc.

BOSCH T313AW3 3-Piece 6 In. Knife Edge Special for Soft Materials T-Shank Jig Saw Blades
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001J0U1HC?tag=sxsweb24-20
Holy smokes these blades are awesome in a cordless variable speed jig saw.

I grabbed some scraps and the cut is clean and sharp. Even on the lowest setting you really can push the saw.

3” stacked cut no problem.
IMG 7062
IMG 7063


The blades are sharp! There is dust but nothing like a table saw would generate.
 
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JenElio

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Holy smokes these blades are awesome in a cordless variable speed jig saw.

I grabbed some scraps and the cut is clean and sharp. Even on the lowest setting you really can push the saw.

3” stacked cut no problem. View attachment 447794View attachment 447795
Make a quick jig to mount the the jig-saw upside down and use it as a makeshift table saw instead..... 👍
 
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JenElio

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That, or...... I've ripped that stuff before with old used OSB blades mounted backwards on the table saw. Wheeeey less dust and you can just hook up a shop vac to the end of the saw. Helps tremendously
 
NTCPrezJB

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I'm probably going to be doing this tomorrow. I plan to snap lines and cut it with the circular saw with blade put in backward. Any other way is going to be too slow for me. I'll let you know how bad it sucked. 🤦‍♂️
🤞🏻it works quickly and isn’t too bad on the insulation dust side of things.
 
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Didn't get a whole lot of the insulation in today. It's stuff I have on hand stored under the lean to with a bunch of crap in front of it so I spent some time just getting to it. The stuff I have is 2" Poly Iso foiled on both sides. It's not as grainy as the blue or pink ridged and hardly made any mess cutting it with the blade backward in the saw. Just clamp a straight edge and go. No burn either, it's pretty soft material. I'm cutting it outside on the horses so I don't need the vacuum and mask and all that. No pics yet but I'll get some.
 
Vikes79

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Didn't get a whole lot of the insulation in today. It's stuff I have on hand stored under the lean to with a bunch of crap in front of it so I spent some time just getting to it. The stuff I have is 2" Poly Iso foiled on both sides. It's not as grainy as the blue or pink ridged and hardly made any mess cutting it with the blade backward in the saw. Just clamp a straight edge and go. No burn either, it's pretty soft material. I'm cutting it outside on the horses so I don't need the vacuum and mask and all that. No pics yet but I'll get some.
I almost got the last trailer unloaded this afternoon after work.

I was looking at my radial arm saw and thinking the same thing…it’s worth trying out the blade backwards as I have a ton to cut. I’ll do it outside too .
 
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Spent all day cutting this sh!t yesterday and still have more to do. I severely over built the floor on this shed/barn on purpose, it's the most vulnerable part IMO, which makes for many cuts to infill. It cuts easy and all that but the dust from this stuff sticks to everything, BAD! The saw, straight edge, me and especially glasses. Then you use your shirt to try to clean them and it doesn't work very well. Not sure how much of it I've inhaled either, maybe I should wear a mask... 🤦‍♂️
 
Vikes79

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I picked up a 180t 10” paneling blade and reversed it. Not as clean as the jig saw blade but pretty darn close. Set the radial arm saw out side and was able to blast thru the sheets. Works best on big rips. I started in filling one wall yesterday after I foamed all the end joints on the walls.




IMG 7095
IMG 7096


I’ll tape the joints, then add another layer that is also taped, and put some 8’ Osb over it.

Hopefully I’ll be able to finish the ceiling by end of the month
 
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