hot wire to cut plastic bottles

besides being CHEAP,I like to recycle. we reuse bottles for plant pots,funnels and a multitude of other things. Rather than using a knife I'f like
to rig up a HOTWIRE to plug in and cut large numbers. other than a stainless wire what kind of transformer can I use? how about a 110v off-on
switch? Open to ideas.
 
Word of caution.....whatever hot wire you use to cut plastic, use proper ventilation. My mother wrapped items at the supermarket in those trays with the clear plastic film....the machine used a hot wire to cut the film and it caused lung problems.
 
Searched some DIY ideas that used a guitar string, didn't say what size, assume a smaller one.

For a power supply they used a battery charger or a power supply from a computer. Then power the charger or power supply with a dimmer switch, just slowly turn it up until it's hot enough to cut.
 
I used a hot wire cutter in the eighties to shape polystyrene . It used Nichrome wire , presumably nickel / chrome . It was available in small rolls from art supply warehouses .
The cutter was based on a soldering iron transformer running on our 240 volt supply . It was rated at 3.3 volts and 30 amps , the wire was approximately 10 inches long and was held under tension by an alloy bracket akin to a large G clamp .
 
A friend gave me the hotwire cutter he built for building model airplane wings from Styrofoam billets. He used nichrome wire, a plywood frame, some small pulleys and a screen door spring to maintain tension (since the wire expands when it heats up). For a temperature control he used a rotary dimmer like you would use for ceiling lights. Keep it simple. It works great, just be very careful you don't electrocute yourself.
 
yup, an old toaster or floor heater usually has enough nc wire and a heat control for you to use them on 120v straight. add in a triac or rheostat for variable control.
 
I saw a man who used an electric train transformer to vary a small voltage. He used about one inch of nichchrome wire attached to a pencil. He adjusted the voltage so wire was red. Then he would us the hot wire to nuter rosters.
 

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