how to cut vinyl records using a hotknife

How to Cut Vinyl Records Using a Hotknife

If you have an old vinyl record that's unplayable or scratched, upcycle it instead of throwing it away. You can make art, designs, jewelry, and much more by cutting the record. By heating the record or by using a hotknife, you can easily cut your vinyl into whatever shape you need!





Buy a hot knife from an arts and crafts store. Hot knives are heated cutting tools used in crafts and woodworking to precisely cut delicate materials like vinyl or foam. Visit your local crafts store and look for a hot knife with a sharp blade attachment.

Check a home improvement store if an arts and crafts store doesn’t carry hot knives.





Plug the hot knife in and let it heat up. Turn on the knife and set it so the blade is off of your work surface. Wait 2-3 minutes for the blade to heat up or else your knife won’t make smooth cuts. Do not touch the blade of the knife once it’s heated.

Work on a wooden or heat-resistant surface so your knife doesn’t burn through it when you make your cuts.

Keep the knife out of children’s reach.

Many hot knives will have a built-in stand to hold the blade off the table.





Poke the knife through the record and pull it along your design. Slowly stab the tip of the hot knife through the vinyl record. Once you’re through the vinyl, pull the knife at a steady speed along the line you want to cut. Follow all of your lines until you’ve completely cut out your design. Turn off the knife and let it cool down once you finish.

Vinyl contains chlorine gas that could escape when it’s heated. Wear a facemask while cutting the vinyl with a hotknife.

Don’t hold the knife in one spot for too long or else the vinyl will melt and bubble.

Keep the knife stationary and move the record with your other hand if that’s more comfortable.





Punch the vinyl pieces when you finish cutting them. Hold the cutout portion of vinyl against the table with your non-dominant hand. Start gently pulling the rest of the record off your work surface with your dominant hand to separate the pieces.

For more intricate pieces, hold the cutouts as close to the edge as possible so they don’t break off when you try to separate the pieces.





Warnings.

Vinyl releases chlorine gas when heated. Wear a facemask so you don’t inhale any of the fumes.







Things You’ll Need.

Using a Hotknife.

Hotknife.

Wooden work surface.

Facemask.