Recommended tools

We all know that saws, drills and screwdrivers are needed to make a wooden baseboard, but what about foam baseboards? Happily, you don’t need anything very complicated!

A foam knife is an essential tool and will cut through foam up to 2in thick. They make light work of the foam and leave minimal mess to clear up. Plus, you can buy replacement packs of blades (ST1434).

Product code: WST1433 Price: £9.75

Foam Nails are another essential. These 2in long ‘T’ pins pierce the foam easily and will hold pieces together as the glue cures. You can also use them on a multitude of materials other than foam. Product code:

WST1432

Price: £6.75 for a pack of 75

Foam Tack Glue is a highly tacky white glue that works as well as a contact cement. It comes ready-mixed and is useful for working with all foam pieces and as a modelling filler. Product code:

WST1444 Price: £12.75

For joints that require a bit of extra strength, such as fixing the foam sheets together, this Low Temperature Glue Gun in the Bachmann Model Maker range is ideal. It’s designed to use Woodland Scenics Glue Sticks (WST1446, rrp £13.25). The glue bonds instantly and I found that it halved the construction time to build this baseboard because I didn’t have to wait for more than a few seconds for the glue to dry. Insert a glue stick into the gun’s barrel, pre-heat the tool for approximately five minutes and then pull the trigger to start the flow of glue. Don’t be misled by the name – the operating temperature is 230°F (110ºc), so take care!

If you have some thick sheets of foam to cut through, the Woodland Scenics Hot Wire Foam Cutter (WST14402) is ideal. This tool is also useful for cutting more complex curved shapes into the profile. You don’t need to worry about harmful fumes – the foam is safe to be cut in this way.