best way to cut 240 ft of batting - 1 1/8" wide please help!
12-22-2017, 08:06 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Boston
Posts: 370
I would set 2 posts 2 feet apart, or dining room chairs so that you can wrap around and around to get loops that are 4 feet total. Then you can grab in one spot and cut through to get the 4 foot lengths. Think about making a really, really big tassel!
12-22-2017, 08:21 AM
#12
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Lake Elsinore, CA
Posts: 15,163
A lot depends on how accurate you need these strips to be. Since you stated 1 1/8", rather than just 1", I'm guessing that accuracy is important. You won't get an accurate cut with scissors or rotary cutter cutting through a large number of layers. Even the largest rotary cutter isn't designed for that. And unless your batting is very dense, it will not keep its shape very well. If accuracy is important then I would just continue with cutting roughly 4' lengths, and slice them up with a rotary cutter and ruler, cutting no more than one or two thicknesses at a time. 240' divided by 4' per slice is only 60 slices - will be done before you know it, if this is all you need. If you mean that you need to do this multiple times, then I feel for you. 
12-22-2017, 10:03 PM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 806
Is it in a roll? I'd try marking the 1 1/8" and cutting it with an electric carving knife. Then you'd have strips the length of the goods. I've used one for cutting foam rubber, and styrofoam. Good luck, and believe me when I say, we are all dying to know what you are doing! When curiosity kills the cat, one of us will be right there next to it, lol.
12-23-2017, 06:22 AM
#16
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Keller, TX
Posts: 1,927
You did not answer the question on the use of these strips for potential alternatives from this group.
My suggestion is get a commercial electric fabric cutter. They are designed to cut layers of fabric, unlike ban saws and electric knives. Check your yellow pages for batting manufacturers in your area and ask them to cut it for you.
My suggestion is get a commercial electric fabric cutter. They are designed to cut layers of fabric, unlike ban saws and electric knives. Check your yellow pages for batting manufacturers in your area and ask them to cut it for you.
12-23-2017, 06:51 AM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Grass Lake, MI and Bradenton, FL
Posts: 785
Do you have a serger? Or could you borrow one? Remove the needle and thread, but leave the cutting blade in place. Depending on how accurate the strips need to be, you might not even need to mark the batting. You might be able to place a piece of carpenter's tape on the bed of the serger and mark a line on the tape 1-1/8" to the right of the cutting blade. I don't have my serger out, or I would take a closer look. Come to think of it, the tape might need to go on the face of the serger. I think I have actually done that in the past when I had to trim yards of draperies to fit some windows.
Upon thinking a little more about the electric scissors, I think the easiest way to use one would be to fasten it somehow to the edge of a table so that the cutting blades are 1-1/8" from the table edge. By keeping the scissors stationary, you could feed the batting to the scissors using the table's edge as your guide.
Neither an electric scissors nor a serger will be quite as accurate as rotary cutting, but both would be a lot faster and both would save your hands from a lot of stress.
Upon thinking a little more about the electric scissors, I think the easiest way to use one would be to fasten it somehow to the edge of a table so that the cutting blades are 1-1/8" from the table edge. By keeping the scissors stationary, you could feed the batting to the scissors using the table's edge as your guide.
Neither an electric scissors nor a serger will be quite as accurate as rotary cutting, but both would be a lot faster and both would save your hands from a lot of stress.
12-23-2017, 07:34 AM
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1,664
Try calling a foam factory or upholstery place and ask if they would be able to cut it for you or give any suggestions on cutting. The more people you ask the more help you will receive. Good luck and keep us posted. You really have our curious minds working over time as to what you need this for. Good Luck
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