Builder's Foam??

I have heard the foam folks use on top of their layout described as builders foam and is usually blue or pink. Went to Home Depot tonight and they looked at me like I had 3 heads. All they had was white polystyrene foam like they make coolers out of that crumbles when you try and cut it. Where do you find the foam you all mention or am I missing something? Thanks

Russ

 

It might help if you refer to it as "extruded styrofoam insulation." I think Home Depot carries it; if they do, then they should recognize it by the longer name. If not, try another lumber yard near you.

Pat

 

I haven't been able to find it at any Home Depot or Lowes here in the LA area, so I think you might have problems in San Diego too.

Good luck
Jesper

 

Home Depot has it here in Utah in several thicknesses. It's an insulating foam, fairly stiff, with no messy "pills" to scatter around the track. It comes in 4X8 sheets anywhere from 1/2" thick (I believe) to as thick as 2". Look in the insulation area of the store.

Mark in Utah

 

They don't have it in Las Vegas either. I wonder if our warm weather climates don't require it. I ended up just using the white stuff, and have't had any problems yet.

 

It is true - the farther South you are the less likely you will be able to find extruded foam insulation! If homeowners / builders don't need it, the large improvement stores are not going to stock it!

Try opening up the Yellow Pages and looking under "Insulation". You will have to call a few places but soon one will tell you that they have it or can order it for you.

This was the case here in the Dallas area but I called a few insulation businesses and found it in the 2" thickness that I was after.

 

Question - Is the white polystyrene foam bad? I can see where it could be a little more messy. The cost of the blue/pink stuff, which I did find at Home Depot, was more than twice the cost of the polystyrene. I purchased 2-4x8x2 sheets and 1-4x8x1 sheet for just a little more than they wanted for the 1 sheet of 1" stuff.


I cut the polystyrene fairly easily, again the cut probably wasn't as clean as it would have been with the foam, but it's all gonna be covered anyway.....right?

 

You're right, I just wondered about the edges crumbling and how smooth it would cut compared to the other type of foam. What did you cut it with, one of those special foam cutters or just a sharp hobby knife?

Russ

 

I have been using white foam boxes, that i got for free from a friend, the beads of foam are very tiny and it dosent crumble much when i cut it, i use a sharp cheapo knife that i get for $1 for 3 of them, they do a good job.
i havent encountered any problems so far.

my foam is covered with plaster anyway, so i dont see why there would be any problems with crumbling foam if you were covering it with plaster or any other material.

 

If you guy's start cutting that white foam with a hot wire cutter, BE CAREFULL, GET A LOT OF FANS GOING, OPEN ALL THE WINDOWS, AND DON'T BREATH!!! The white foam gives off a toxic gas when cut hot. I never heard of it killing anyone but you will get one big headache and queezy stomach. The extruded foam has a slight oder but it never made me sick. Then again maybe it's just me!

 

Well, this may sound kind of funny but I cut it with an old butcher knife. It didn't cut as fast or as smooth as hot butter, but then hot butter wouldn't hold plaster very well either. benchwork

In this picture you can see where my seam is, I didn't think it was bad at all.


Thanks for the info about cutting it with a hot wire, although I don't think I would anyway, knowing the effects will definitely prevent it's happening.

 

What about that green stuff you get at the hobby stores that they stick flowers and stuff in?? Anyone used that?? I've noticed it comes in blocks of all different sizes and thicknesses.

 

I've see that greet stuff around here and they want both arms and legs for it.

 

I got all of my foamboard at Lowes. Menards had it as well, but it was more expensive. It came in many thicknesses as people suggest (2", 1", .5", ...). The second time I picked up foam I had the car (not a pickup truck), so I had to figure out how to put a 4' x 8' sheet in my car. I realised quickly how easily this was- just break the stuff in half! I was going to break it down anyway once I got home.

I would recommend the extruded foamboard over white styrofoam only if you want to leave part of it showing for scenery, or if you use it in a way that requires it to be strong, like supporting most of your layout. Some people like to carve the blue & pink foam to shapes that resemble natural cutaways or rocks, and just some acrylic paint makes them convincing (plus weathering and details). But I use Sculptamold anyway, which covers most of the foam. I do think extruded foamboard is much stronger than the white stuff though.

I love foam discussions! Foam is great. Geez, you'd think I sold this stuff door to door! That wouldn't be hard to do because it's lightweight, strong...

oh boy

 

The green foam used for flowers is too easily crushed for our modeling purposes. The white, pink and blue foams are more resilient.

 

Good to know. Thanks.