Foam?

[Anonymous]

Hello all,

 I just started my first layout and went to find some styrofoam to build it on, however, all i could find was the white beaded stuff from home depot, its 2'x4'x.5". I used this stuff anyway, glued two peices together seems to ok so far except that the little beads are pretty annoying. Does anyone know, for future reference, where i can get the pink or blue stuff in/around/near los angeles?

 

Thanks,

Jon Philpott 

[tstage]

Hey, Jon!

to the forum!  Good to have you aboard!

Here's a link to a thread a couple of months ago about the another forum member in the similar predicament:

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1215020/ShowPost.aspx

If Pacific Supply can't help you, they may be able to direct you to someone who's nearer to the LA area who can.

Hope that helps...

Tom

[loathar]

Don't use the white stuff. It makes a real mess. You may have to contact a local contractor and ask them where to get it. Many folks from Ca here state they have a hard time finding the stuff on the left coast.

[ratled]

Hello all,

 I just started my first layout and went to find some styrofoam to build it on, however, all i could find was the white beaded stuff from home depot, its 2'x4'x.5". I used this stuff anyway, glued two peices together seems to ok so far except that the little beads are pretty annoying. Does anyone know, for future reference, where i can get the pink or blue stuff in/around/near los angeles?

 

Thanks,

Jon Philpott 

 

John -

 I too had a real hard time finding in CA.   I had a post that got great responses with links

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1255870/ShowPost.aspx 

 LOWES didn't know what I meant and I even had a sample.

Home Depot - after an hour explaining, a sample in hand and a computer printout from Owen Corning's website listing that store as a preferred rep.  They were able to call but OC stated that the minimum store order was 96 sheets.

 I was a able to get the blue board - Dow - from Pacific Supply from a link that was in response to my post. 

 

It was $20 a sheet  for 2"x2'x8' and I needed 10 sheets.  Because of specific design elements for my layout I had to use foam board.  If had more traditional bench work and track work I would go with something like the cardboard weave.  Even if you buy the expensive hydrocal it would come out cheaper and easier to use.  Remember that when this first started, those that started it had builders using locally.  They started by getting the scraps and making it work. 

Hope this helps

 

ratled

[mearrin69]

I'm not in LA so this probably isn't going to be *much* help to you - though I would figure Home Depot stocking would be more or less the same around the country (maybe there's not much call for insulation in LA?)

Last night I picked up a piece of 1"x2'x8' pink foam for about $8 at a Home Depot in Portland, OR. The guys I asked had no clue either and directed me to the white beadboard stuff but I found it just stacked up in the same area. They had 2'x8' and 4'x8' IIRC in multiple thicknesses.

Might pay to scour the shelves in the building materials aisles. Seems the workers there didn't really know what they had - even though they called together a little conference to discuss it for me. When I got it to the register it took them about 10 mins to look it up (no UPC on the board) so maybe they don't sell much or something. You'd think up here in the PNW people would be using the stuff. Maybe they're all using that blow-in insulation (that's what we've got I think).

So. Maybe take a look yourself if you haven't already. HTH!

M

[ARTHILL]

I'm from Minnesota so it may not apply, but I pick up scraps from construction sites. Here it is all over the place during foundation construction. I have picked up the equivalent of 20 sheets or more many as large as 1/2 sheets.

I am a fan of low temp hot glue for putting pieces together.

Welcome to the forum. Keep us posted, we are all learning together.

[stilson4283]

I have found this place that offers foam in the Burbank area. 

 http://www.foamsalesmarketing.com/

I live in Lancaster and it is the closes place I could find to get foam.

 

Chris 

[jxtrrx]

I still think that building with foam is highly over-rated.  GIve me a good strong plywood base anyday.  I like it.  My Tortoise machines like to hang from it.  My nails stay put in it.

[ds137]

Check out contractor's supply  companies that cater to masonry supplies, specifically those that sell supplies for stucco.  That's what I had to resort to in the Houston area as HD and Lowe's here did not carry foam insulating board without foil facing.  Yellow pages should help, watch for new construction / remodelling at strip/shopping malls where stucco is being used in your area for dumpster "diamonds"  - your new free source....