Nichrome wire has a resistance of about 1 – 2 ohms per foot for a 0.6 – 0.4mm wire, so that piece there may easily draw 10 amps out of the battery and not all cells are designed for that.

But [HowToMechatronics] knew that the polystyrene foam blocks he’d be using would easily yield to a hot nichrome wire, minimizing the cutting forces and the need for a stout frame.