DOW 2 inch blue foam!

[DONFLA]

I am about to glue the blue 2 inch foam to some 1/4 inch plywood   2foot X 8 Foot for a self layout.  Some one said to peal off the plastic on one side where the writing etc is.  It dosen't seem to be a sheet of clear plastic.  Are you sure this is not painted on the DOW blue foam?

 Thanks for your help,  DON

[Phoebe Vet]

It's there.  Bonded very tight.  You dont HAVE to peel it off.  You can just paint the foam, and the edges will peel up by themselves.  (Don't ask me how I know that.)

 

[Bill54]

I have several sheets of 1/2" blue foam all of them had the film.  The film should be a bit shiny compared to the rest of the foam. It is usually about an inch or less inside the edge. 

Bill

[concretelackey]

We use several trucks loads of DOW each week at work (1" and 2 1/2" thicknesses) and none of it has a plastic film. The thinner sheets (typically 3/4" or less) will have a plastic film on one or both sides to add strength and durability. Also, DOW foam that is sold as a roof insulation underlayment (on top of the roof deck but under the rubber sheeting) will have a plastic film as a vapor barrier type application.

[Seamonster]

The 2" foam doesn't have plastic on it.  Only the foam less than 1" thick has plastic.

 

[CascadeBob]

I agree with Bob.  I have a piece of the 2" blue foam in my basement now and neither side has a plastic film on it.  My understanding is that the plastic film is added to the thinner (less than 1" thick) sheets of foam to protect it and must be removed for proper adhesion to occur when using adhesives or paint in model RR applications.  I'd check for the plastic film on 1" thick sheets as well before using them.  I think I've seen 1" thick sheets at Lowe's with what appeared to be plastic film on their surfaces.

Bob

[Dan M]

The thin film of plastic is used to help with the foam board from cracking during installation and helps prevent it from breaking into two pieces. Some other foam boards have fiberglass, Tyvek, or aluminum film on them to do the same and add vapor / insulation barriers. The aluminum film foamboard can give you a nasty shock from static electricity when pulling it off a pile at a job site. This foam has no use in Model RRing. Blue and pink are the best.

 

Dan

[bigpoppa]

Now here is a quick question.  Where would I get 2" dow blue foam.  I live in Stockton Ca and cannot find it anywhere.

 

[Anonymous]

Neither I. Home depot around here dont have em in Little Rock. The best I can hope for is those one inch pinks.

[ham99]

I have used both 1" and 2" blue foam and have never encountered a film covering.  The off-white foam that is covered with the aluminum film is not the right kind for layouts.  It is brittle and produces a lot of dust.  I get my blue foam from the local lumber yard, but all the Home Depots and Lowes stores around here carry it, too.  Pink foam is the same stuff; just a different manufacturer.