How Do You Cut Cork?
April 19, 2022 4:44 PM Subscribe
How do you cut cork? I have watched many videos, looked at many pictures, and read many articles about cutting cork, but I can't seem to get it right.
I have a big roll of cork and want to cut it into a cool shape to have a custom corkboard in my office. However, whenever I try to cut it, it becomes crumbly and the edges look terrible. Everything I have seen online shows people just cutting it so cleanly, what am I doing wrong?
I have a big roll of cork and want to cut it into a cool shape to have a custom corkboard in my office. However, whenever I try to cut it, it becomes crumbly and the edges look terrible. Everything I have seen online shows people just cutting it so cleanly, what am I doing wrong?
Response by poster: I tried the utility knife, but still crumbled. I'll slap a new blade in there and hope that it works.
posted by Literaryhero at 4:58 PM on April 19, 2022
posted by Literaryhero at 4:58 PM on April 19, 2022
Best answer: I missed the part where you said you were cutting cool shapes. My advice was for cutting straight lines, drawing the knife through the cork along a straight edge against a solid surface or ideally a cutting mat. For curves and detailed shapes I might use an X-Acto knife with a brand new #11 blade.
posted by bondcliff at 5:24 PM on April 19, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by bondcliff at 5:24 PM on April 19, 2022 [3 favorites]
Have you tried soaking or steaming the cork material before attempting to cut into it?
posted by fancyoats at 5:51 PM on April 19, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by fancyoats at 5:51 PM on April 19, 2022 [2 favorites]
Do you have a maker space nearby? Glowforge laser cutters will cut cork. Here are some settings to start with:
https://community.glowforge.com/t/my-cork-engraving-and-cutting-settings/32199
posted by lownote at 6:00 PM on April 19, 2022 [1 favorite]
https://community.glowforge.com/t/my-cork-engraving-and-cutting-settings/32199
posted by lownote at 6:00 PM on April 19, 2022 [1 favorite]
I have had better results by lightly steaming the cork (I just misted it with a water bottle and then went over it with my steam iron) and then cutting it while it was still warm and damp. How thick is the cork?
posted by xedrik at 8:42 PM on April 19, 2022
posted by xedrik at 8:42 PM on April 19, 2022
It would be slow, but what about a coping saw?
posted by Gilgamesh's Chauffeur at 9:07 PM on April 19, 2022
posted by Gilgamesh's Chauffeur at 9:07 PM on April 19, 2022
Best answer: I had good success with a utility knife/box cutter thing, but also don't saw back and forth — one firm, pushed down all the way line all the way through, cut with determination. I only did it against straight edge, and if you're doing that remember to use something your knife can't slice through. (I used a metal ruler.) There was still some flaking in some spots, though, so perhaps lower expectations a notch, too?
posted by Charity Garfein at 10:32 PM on April 19, 2022
posted by Charity Garfein at 10:32 PM on April 19, 2022
#1 tip when cutting things, fresh / sharp blade (from many a teacher, maker, etc.)
#2 tip, don't try to cut all the way through on the first pass. Cut only as deep as is easy, and as far as the blade goes. (from Adam Savage and I think he learned from his father or another maker?)
The second tip was life changing. There is no rush, make a second, or third, or fourth pass. There are rarely things that HAVE to be done in one deep slice.
posted by Crystalinne at 10:54 PM on April 19, 2022
#2 tip, don't try to cut all the way through on the first pass. Cut only as deep as is easy, and as far as the blade goes. (from Adam Savage and I think he learned from his father or another maker?)
The second tip was life changing. There is no rush, make a second, or third, or fourth pass. There are rarely things that HAVE to be done in one deep slice.
posted by Crystalinne at 10:54 PM on April 19, 2022
Maybe try making several shallow cuts going deeper each time. If you are cutting shapes that a thin exact-o knife should be the choice of tools.
posted by tman99 at 7:24 AM on April 20, 2022
posted by tman99 at 7:24 AM on April 20, 2022
Response by poster: Ok, so from my personal experience, here is my follow up:
I was cutting 8mm cork that had adhesive on the back, and learned as I went. :)
1) Definitely using a sharp, fresh blade on the cutter made a difference
2) Cutting multiple shallow cuts didn't make an appreciable difference in how much the cut flaked
3) Definitely a firm cut with no sawing reduced the flaking
4) Specific to my instance, if I cut the adhesive covered side first, for some reason the cut was cleaner
5) The steaming the cork didn't seem to make an appreciable difference to me
6) Didn't try a coping saw or a laser cutter. I did see online that someone else tried a laser cutter but it burned the cork
Anyway, basically what worked for me was a box cutter with a brand new blade, cutting from the back side of the cork, and using one single, firm cut without sawing. Not sure if that will work for everyone, but it worked for me. :)
posted by Literaryhero at 1:51 AM on May 23, 2022 [1 favorite]
I was cutting 8mm cork that had adhesive on the back, and learned as I went. :)
1) Definitely using a sharp, fresh blade on the cutter made a difference
2) Cutting multiple shallow cuts didn't make an appreciable difference in how much the cut flaked
3) Definitely a firm cut with no sawing reduced the flaking
4) Specific to my instance, if I cut the adhesive covered side first, for some reason the cut was cleaner
5) The steaming the cork didn't seem to make an appreciable difference to me
6) Didn't try a coping saw or a laser cutter. I did see online that someone else tried a laser cutter but it burned the cork
Anyway, basically what worked for me was a box cutter with a brand new blade, cutting from the back side of the cork, and using one single, firm cut without sawing. Not sure if that will work for everyone, but it worked for me. :)
posted by Literaryhero at 1:51 AM on May 23, 2022 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by charmedimsure at 4:54 PM on April 19, 2022