Every week at the hospital I work at we get boxes of refrigerated meds lined in 1" white foam sheets ranging from 17" x 17" (10 Pieces), 17" x 11" (10 Pieces), 13" x 11" (8 Pieces). All told it is about 3.6 cubic feet of medium-cell foam. Every week we are throw this foam out in the trash. Back when my own layout was a going concern it was great for terrain building. That is until we had to move and the whole thing had to come down. I'm gauging interest to see if anyone thinks it's worth offering on eBay for a reasonable price. If so what do you think? How much are you paying now for construction foam for your layouts?
A timely thread for me. I have just finished benchwork for a roughly 3x6 foot layout. I'd like to try the foam base (over 1/2" OSB) for the first time. Was at Lowes today, and they had 2 options for 4x8 sheets. Blue, 2" foam, @$33 or same in white extruded foam,@$22. Wish it was available in smaller pieces. But what would shipping cost from you? Joe D
Not sure Joe. I'm still at work. But I'm taking the two boxes home tonight and will weigh them filled with the foam boards inside. They can't weigh too much. It's just the size of the boxes that will be the cost factor.
Very timely. I just used my last piece of 2' x 8' Dow blue foam in the 2" variety for the base of my layout of FreeMoN modules. I need more for the above grade scenery along with some more for new modules. It's been a few years (4?) when I bought my first batch and it was $15 per 2'x8' then. I just called a local contractor supply (since Lowes doesn't carry it, just the white beady stuff) and the cost is $25 a sheet! I guess that's what happens when oil prices are up. So I searched around and bought a lot of foam from a guy, much more than I can use. Not sure what to do with it all so it'll go up in the attic until someone needs it...or I build a giant dream layout!
I'm not sure being most modelers have moved away from the white bead foam boards that you have to the blue or pink extruded foam boards. The white beads don't carve as nicely as the blue/pink, being as it is carved, the little beads don't cut, but pop out, leaving little holes and divots behind that then need to be covered up with spackle. Personally I'd prefer this as a module base, as its still light weight and cheaper than the blue/pink boards
Maybe not. I was "weighing and measuring" shipping methods for my first and so far only sale on eBay. (http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/548/Rockhous.JPG) I found that USPS Priority Mail has "flat rate boxes" that ship in US at a fixed rate for anything that will fit in the box, different rates for different size boxes, regardless of shipper and receiver address or weight, up to a very large weight. Foam would be expensive to ship that way since postage based on volume. On the other hand, USPS Priority Mail NOT at flat rate can go for under $5 depending of weight, and weight of styro would be negligle for small package. Size up to so far not much of a factor. And for very small items under 8 ounces, First Class might be least expensive. Gotta check EVERYTHING.
Most folks I know, who use the white beaded style, do so as filler. Such as inside of a mountain. I can get pieces the same size as described above via a neighbor and her employment, just by saying please. There is a small pile somewhere in the basement.
I used to work at a Hospital that would throw out tons of this stuff daily and I collected plenty of it and most recently had to just throw a bunch out. It was like a foam junk yard on my Garage.:teeth:
I don't know the exact dimensions at which this occurrs- the Post Office website is the best place to check this-- but there is now a concept called "dimensional weight" which is used to modify the postage charge for packages. In other words, large items are going to cost more to send regardless of how much they weigh-- sometimes a lot more. I would consider this, and whether that puts the total "to your door" price out of reach, before listing anything. I've found the Flat Rate Boxes to be just a little too small for most things I want to ship. And I think it's been discussed here that the Post Office won't take "bulged" boxes.
Personally, I don't think that this is going to be worth the effort to sell on eBay. It is a low value, high volume product, and most people can find a local free source of similar materials. I use foam, but eBay is the last place I would go looking for it. Just my opinion Best wishes, Dave
Thanks everyone for your input. I do see sellers selling foam sheets on eBay so I wonder how they are making an money?
I'm not sure about selling it on Ebay, but I'd be more interested in hearing how you actually used this foam successfully to sculpt as scenery. This type of foam seems a bit challenging due to all the little beads in it.
I need to sell some of this Dow blue foam! Posted on the TrainStore, PM me if you could use some. http://www.trainboard.com/trainstor...1-dow-blue-foam-insulation-sacramento-ca.html
