I have built 9 or 10 SOFs in the last couple of years and have always cut the nylon with an old kitchen table knife and a propane torch. wear a glove, heat the knife blade with the torch, cut fabric until it won't cut anymore, reheat blade, keep cutting. Not as elegant as a hot knife but a lot cheaper. The only dangerous part was when my wife found I was using a knife from the kitchen.
Have fun.

Dave

: My Tom Yost designed SOF is ready for skinning with nylon fabric from George
: Dyson, but I cannot find a hot knife except in the $125 range. I tried
: cutting a piece of the nylon with scissors to see if it would fray, and it
: sure does!
: I would wish to not buy a hot knife at this time and cannot find one to rent.
: Anyone out there have any suggestions how to best cut this material without
: fraying? I am using the Skinboat School's technique that Dave Gentry
: advised to skin this kayak.
: Thanks for any advice,
: Kyle H.