A heated wire through polystyrene, and the table decides the shapes · review
A benchtop hot wire cutter with an Alu-Cobond surface for sliding the workpiece, suited to template work and limited to polystyrene and thermoplastic materials, described in five short lines without a single figure.
The bottom line A benchtop table from a known model-making brand, described almost entirely by what it is for. Not one dimension, temperature or power figure is published, so comparison with the other cutters here is impossible from the page.
Five short bullets: for separating polystyrene and rigid foam; also suited to template work; easy sliding of the workpiece on an Alu-Cobond surface; original PROXXON quality; and a restriction to polystyrene and thermoplastic materials.
A fixed wire over a flat surface cuts straight and repeats. Templates guided against the wire reproduce shapes, which is why the second bullet mentions them. Curves and freehand shaping belong to handheld tools.
Throat depth, wire temperature, power and tension are absent, and so is any fence. A reader comparing it with the STREND PRO’s 143 cm length or the knives’ temperatures has nothing on this page to set against them.
The fifth bullet is the one hard rule on the page: polystyrene and thermoplastics only. It is reported as written, and the manual decides anything beyond it.
At the last look-up, the German, French, Italian and Spanish Amazon stores were asking 88 € to 134 €.
It is sold in the American and British Amazon stores as well, in their own currency, which the euro figures above leave out on purpose.
Every figure here is Keepa’s reading on the date this page was last updated. Stock and prices can change at any time.
Prices quoted in this text were read on 15 September 2026. The live price is at the top of the page.
| Format | Benchtop hot wire cutter, title and third bullet |
|---|---|
| Cutting depth | Absent from the listing |
| Heat control | Absent from the listing |
| Wire tension | Absent from the listing |
| Table | Alu-Cobond surface for easy sliding of the workpiece, third bullet |
| Fence | Absent from the listing — suitability for template work is stated, second bullet |
| Power supply | Absent from the listing |
| Listed foams | Polystyrene and rigid foam; only polystyrene and thermoplastic materials, first and fifth bullets |
| Amazon reference | B0012BEKHU (same reference on 6 Amazon marketplaces) |
| EAN | 3765770737521 |
The fifth bullet says it can be used only for polystyrene and thermoplastic materials; the first names polystyrene and rigid foam.
The second bullet says it is also suitable for working with a template.
Hot knife, nickel-chromium blade · 200 W · up to 550 °C in 5–7 s · adjustable dial · spring safety switch · air cooling
A 200 W handheld hot knife with a nickel-chromium blade the listing says reaches 550 °C in 5 to 7 seconds, an adjustable heat dial, a spring safety switch and built-in air cooling.
Best for: Shaping EPS and XPS insulation or craft foam freehand, where a blade suits better than a wire.
≈ 80 €
Hot knife · four nickel-chromium blades, 2 × 20 cm and 2 × 15 cm · 0–600 °C in 5–8 s · air cooling · rest after 6 minutes · 220–240 V
A 200 W hot knife with four nickel-chromium blades of 15 and 20 cm, reaching 600 °C in 5 to 8 seconds, with air cooling and a maker’s recommendation to pause after six minutes of use.
Best for: Occasional freehand cuts in EPS, XPS and craft foam, in short sessions.
≈ 106 €
Hot wire on a frame · cutting length up to 143 cm, height 30 cm · angles up to 90° vertical and 75° diagonal · 200 W · socket adapter included
A 200 W hot wire cutter on a frame with a cutting length of up to 143 cm and a height of 30 cm, adjustable to 90° vertically and 75° diagonally, for EPS insulation boards, XPS and similar foams.
Best for: An insulation installer or model maker cutting long EPS and XPS boards straight and at angles.
≈ 226 €
