Rope Hot Knife & Fabric Finisher

[robgrant1]

Any favorites for rope burners/fabric edge finishing tools in the under-$150 price range?

[skipmac]

Rope cutter get a Weller 200W soldering gun and a rope cutting tip Probably $60-$70. I assume it would also work with fabric.

[exMaggieDrum]

I have a Sailrite model. Works great and has a good case. Came with a both a regular arc-shaped cutter and a "raised" on for cutting fabric without burning the surface underneath. Haven't tried that part yet.

You could also try: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from...knife&_sacat=0

I buy a lot of stuff on ebay and have had excellent experiences.

[Cthoops]

I also have the Sailrite model and love it. They have 10% off sales periodically.

[skipmac]

With two recommendations I had to look at the Sailrite Edge. Other than a different shaped handle how is this different from a plain old soldering gun? The cutting tip looks almost identical to the tip on the Weller soldering gun, with perhaps a slightly different curve to it.

Specs say it's only 60 Watts. For half the price you can buy the Weller dual power, 200 Watt soldering gun kit that comes with a rope/fabric cutting tip. If you like the Sailrite cutting tip better it looks like it would fit the Weller and is available from Sailrite for $19.

[exMaggieDrum]

Originally Posted by skipmac

With two recommendations I had to look at the Sailrite Edge. Other than a different shaped handle how is this different from a plain old soldering gun? The cutting tip looks almost identical to the tip on the Weller soldering gun, with perhaps a slightly different curve to it.

Specs say it's only 60 Watts. For half the price you can buy the Weller dual power, 200 Watt soldering gun kit that comes with a rope/fabric cutting tip. If you like the Sailrite cutting tip better it looks like it would fit the Weller and is available from Sailrite for $19.

The soldering gun may be the better deal IDK. My experience with the Sailrite is that it heats up very fast and cuts through rope like butter in just a few seconds. It comes with a case and the fabric cutter attachment. I almost never solder, and have a small soldering pencil for when I do for something small and a small butane torch for anything heavier duty. The Weller is obviously a lot less money.

[Cheechako]

A Weller trigger type soldering iron with the hot knife blade is great. Here's the cheaper version: http://www.handsontools.com/Weller-T...pwKhoCKvnw_wcB

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by exMaggieDrum

The soldering gun may be the better deal IDK. My experience with the Sailrite is that it heats up very fast and cuts through rope like butter in just a few seconds.

I have the Weller for bigger jobs that take a lot of hear. To be honest, I haven't even tried the rope cutter tip but the heavy soldering tip will heat up a PL259 and melt solder in 4-5 seconds. Based on those results I'll bet it would cut rope just as fast. Based on the specs, the Sailrite is rated at 60 Watts vs the Weller at 100/200 (two power settings), the Weller gun should be at least as fast.

The Weller is fairly large and not light so if you do a lot of rope or fabric work a lighter tool might be nice.

Originally Posted by exMaggieDrum

It comes with a case and the fabric cutter attachment. I almost never solder, and have a small soldering pencil for when I do for something small and a small butane torch for anything heavier duty. The Weller is obviously a lot less money.

The Weller comes in a case and includes spare tips.

I do have a couple of small pencil irons for small jobs like electronics, circuit boards and such and a butane for portability. The big Weller gun is mainly for PL 259 connectors that need a lot of heat fast so you get a good joint but don't get the connector so hot that it melts the insulation on the coax. I have kind of forgotten about the rope cutter tip and need to give that a try. I guess it would work for copper pipe if anyone still solders plumbing stuff.

[robgrant1]

Originally Posted by skipmac

With two recommendations I had to look at the Sailrite Edge. Other than a different shaped handle how is this different from a plain old soldering gun? The cutting tip looks almost identical to the tip on the Weller soldering gun, with perhaps a slightly different curve to it.

Specs say it's only 60 Watts. For half the price you can buy the Weller dual power, 200 Watt soldering gun kit that comes with a rope/fabric cutting tip. If you like the Sailrite cutting tip better it looks like it would fit the Weller and is available from Sailrite for $19.

The Weller may be the route to go, as it certainly looks like it will work for rope, but I'm not sure it will work as smoothly for finishing fabric edges. I'm tempted by the Pearson because it's a table-top model, leaving (I think) two hands for handling the fabric (maybe).

[AD28]

Heißschneider!

Hot Knife and Blade, Cutting and Sewing ToolsÂ*| Sailmaker's Supply

a little higher than your price, but well worth it

[robgrant1]

Originally Posted by AD28

Heißschneider!

Hot Knife and Blade, Cutting and Sewing ToolsÂ*| Sailmaker's Supply

a little higher than your price, but well worth it

This does make it complicated!

[VirginiaBoy]

Ditto on the Sailrite. It is sold by other folks for same price. Glows bright red in 4 seconds. Worth the money. I wonder if the Weller heats up red? kev