Type of foam for layout

[Blind Bruce]

I went to the local lumber store with the intention of buying the foam for my new layout. I was looking for something blue or green and 2" thick. All they had was white and 11/2" thick. How do I tell which is right? I know that "bead board" is white and not desireable.
BB

[selector]

I have not seen any white extruded foam. I know that other companies make extruded foam, but I have used what is sold up here in BC, and that is Dow Chem's 'styrospan'. It is blue, and comes in 1", 1.5", and 2" thickness, smooth-edged and step-edged for interlocking.

[Seamonster]

As far as I know, beadboard comes only in white, extruded foam doesn't come in white, usually blue or pink. If you can see the little beads, it's beadboard, and you don't want that. The texture should be like that of a dense cake, like pound cake. The texture reminds me of a candy that was popular years ago (and maybe still is) that was sold in little square cakes and called "sponge-" something or the other. It was sweet enough to give a sugar ru***o a marble statue. [dinner]

[selector]

Good analogy, Bob, and it is one I have often used to describe extruded foam. It is good old sponge toffee.

The bead-board stuff is what cheap picnic coolers and instrument packaging is made of. it is pressed together under heat, and falls apart when yu want to cut it or shape it. I am not sure, but I would guess that the extruded foam is a molten thin monolithid pour that expands somewhat as it cools, and is then cut into sheets.

[Bikerdad]

I've only ever seen sheets of beadboard, aka EXPANDED polystyrene foam, in white. I've seen many different colors of Expanded in packing materials, coolers, etc over the years. Tan, dark and light blue, green, red.

With you being in the "cold north", you should be able to find the Extruded without too much trouble.

[nfmisso]

Bruce;

Try Menard's or Home Depot. See page five on Menards' latest flyer available at www.menards.com .

[Medina1128]

I happened to be driving by a construction where a major rejuvenation was in progress. They were throwing 4' x 8' x 4" sheets in the dumpster. They said I could help myself. Check out construction sites, where they may have sheets of scrap that they'll give you if you ask nice (pretty please with glaze on top)... It cuts with a razor knife. I found that I can put a very sharp edge on an old kitchen knife (longer blade and stiffer). I can now scenic an 8ft length of scenery in about an hour.

[Medina1128]

PS The best glue for this foam is Liquid Nails for Projects. It costs about $1.49 per tube at Ace Hardware, and dries faster than white glue.