I followed the link in that Plastruct thread and started wandering, found a section on polystyren and urethane foams and styrene foam board. I think that one of these is what I want, but there are no photographs to show me which term refers to what kind of foam, just line drawings.
I've seen many examples over the years of foam used for scenery in layout pics here, but I can never keep straight what is what. I hear terms like extruded foam, but when you go online to look for that, you find both EPS and XPS. I think one of those might be the kind of "styrofoam" that keeps your new TV from sloshing around when you bring it home -- the white stuff with the beads. I don't want that. I've seen pink stuff that looks sculptable, and a rich blue colored foam, both about 2" thick. One of these may be carvable with hot wire tools, the other not. Can someone post some photos and tell me exactly what kind of foam we're looking at and what the characteristics are of each?
I could go up to Home Depot I guess; even though I don't want or need (nor can I afford) 4x8 sheets, I could at least see and feel the items they have before buying smaller sizes from Plastruct.
For a small area around the Perkins, I bought a couple small bricks of craft foam. You can shape it by rubbing your thumb on it, it's so crumbly. It's like smoke. It falls apart at the touch and its fine particulates cling statically to everything. It was perfect for the spot but I don't want to use more of it.
Any help appreciated.
Thanks,
-Matt
Returning to model railroading after 40 years and taking unconscionable liberties with the SP&S, Northern Pacific and Great Northern roads in the '40s and '50s.
What you want is extruded foam. The pink stuff is from Dow, and the blue stuff is Owens Corning. Otherwise, they're the same. Don't quote me on chemical company names , I'm retired.
The green stuff, as well-informed tradesmen say, is called green board. I think it's for bathrooms. Unless that's drywall for bathrooms.
You don’t want the white stuff that crumbles. That's packing material.
I use the pink stuff, 2 inches thick, from Home Depot.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
MisterBeasley What you want is extruded foam. The pink stuff is from Dow, and the blue stuff is Owens Corning. Otherwise, they're the same. Don't quote me on chemical company names , I'm retired.
You've reversed the colors: Owens Corning has used the pink panther logo for a very long time.
Matt, what you want is foam insulation board without any liner or covering.
We don't sell it down here in South Florida in 4 by 8 sheets, because it does not meet code with our common building materials and methods. We do sell it in 2 by 2 sheets 3/4" thick for hobbiests.
I buy it in Indiana when I am there on Vacation and smuggle it back home, along with other assorted contriband items (like Homasote) from Home Depot, Menards, and Lowes from out of state.
-Photograph by Kevin Parson
-Kevin
Living the dream.
If you live in an area that allows the pink or blue extruded foam to be used in construction, sometimes you can go by the construction site and check with the contractor to see if they have any usable scrap pieces
Gentlemen, my thanks for these responses.
@Beas, thanks for jumping in. I had a feeling that the pink Owens Corning stuff (thanks for the correction @Lost in A2) was what I was after, but it mostly comes in expensive giant sheets. I don't at all mind paying for things, but I don't need 32 square feet of the stuff, so I've been looking at online suppliers that might sell smaller pieces. The problem is that I am uncertain of the terminology.
@dbduck, this was exactly my thought. I wasn't sure where to start, but I figured some place that custom cuts the big sheets for people might have some sizeable but unsaleable scraps lying around. But I wanted to make sure I knew what i was after first.
@Kevin, I forgot you worked at Home Depot. So to clarify, in your picture the tan/brown/beige is foam insulation board and the pink layers are the Owens Corning extruded foam insulation? And that's XPS (X for extruded) not EPS? Is that the stuff you can cut with a hot wire tool?
I got more than enough blue foam about 2 years ago
Apparently somebody lost about five sheets of the 2 inch driving along the interstate. I happen to be driving by and saw all of the sheets on the side other side of the road.
On my way home. They were still there so I took my car home. Got my van and went back and got them.
crossthedog For a small area around the Perkins, I bought a couple small bricks of craft foam. You can shape it by rubbing your thumb on it, it's so crumbly. It's like smoke. It falls apart at the touch and its fine particulates cling statically to everything. It was perfect for the spot but I don't want to use more of it.
Late to the party here but from what you're describing it almost sounds like you have the type of foam that florists and crafters use for mounting fake flowers. (I work in a place that sells the stuff so I'm familar with it.)
FRRYKid —it almost sounds like you have the type of foam that florists and crafters use for mounting fake flowers.
AKA Oasis floral foam:
https://a.co/d/aQHhzQj
Not something you would ever use around a layout. It decomposes rather rapidly.
Regards, Ed
crossthedogKevin, I forgot you worked at Home Depot. So to clarify, in your picture the tan/brown/beige is foam insulation board and the pink layers are the Owens Corning extruded foam insulation?
The tan sheets are 1/2" Homasote, which is rarely used in Florida.
The pink is 2" thick Owens/Corning foam insulation. I do not use it on the layout much, but it is the best stuff for making CosPlay props.
After Hurricane Ian when we could not get Sika Plus-3 radiant foam insulation we got 4 by 8 sheets of reflective board and 1/2" Owens/Corning pink board. The prices were very high, but everything was priced high back then.
FRRYKidfrom what you're describing it almost sounds like you have the type of foam that florists and crafters use for mounting fake flowers.
gmpullmanNot something you would ever use around a layout. It decomposes rather rapidly.
@Kevin, thank you for clarifying -- and for providing a nice photo in the first place. That always makes things so much easier.
Blue was Dow..now DuPont has bought Dow and changed the color of Styrofoam to gray (more "environmentally friendly"). And the pink/blue/gray foams are extruded polystyrene. Expanded polystyrene is the "bead board".
gmpullman FRRYKid —it almost sounds like you have the type of foam that florists and crafters use for mounting fake flowers. AKA Oasis floral foam: https://a.co/d/aQHhzQj Not something you would ever use around a layout. It decomposes rather rapidly. Regards, Ed
As a side note: That's the wet foam for cut flower displays. There is also the dry foam which is what I was thinking of.