Foam sheets (1 Viewer)

[marco55]

Does anybody know where to get foam sheets?Alot of people use them for there bases among other uses.I tried Home Depot but didn't see anything there.Thanks in advance.
Mark

 

[mikemiller1955]

Does anybody know where to get foam sheets?Alot of people use them for there bases among other uses.I tried Home Depot but didn't see anything there.Thanks in advance.
Mark

Home Depot qand Lowes have "styroprene sheets"...pink or blue...4x8...

Hobby Lobby...Michaels...Pottery Barn...have styrofoam sheets...1x3...

also floral foam

 

[marco55]

Thanks Mike.The people at HD didn't know what I was talking about and I didn't have time to look myself.
Mark

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

It's in the isle with insulation since that's what it's really made for. Some smaller building supply stores have in two inch thick sheets as well.

 

[mikemiller1955]

Styrofoam is such a generic name that people get confused...

this is what I call styrofoam...it comes in green or white usually...it's very expensive but great for shaping with a rasp...but messy...it takes forever to dry with white glue...several days sometimes...but a low temp glue gun dries within a minute...a high temp glue gun can melt it easily...it's usually around $12-$14 for a 1x3 sheet that is 2"'s thick...

There is also a similar styrofoam product called "floral" foam...a little denser...usually green and much less porous but more "crumblier"...about the same price...I don't use it and don't have a photo of it to show you...both of these green foams can be found at Hobbly Lobby or Michaels stores...

this picture below is also a styrofaom product...it's printed on the front (look at picture)...very different than the above styrofoam in texture...

for home insulating...we use rolled insulation in the South...but I think this product is used for wall insulation up North...

It's most commonly called...Blue foam board, Pink foam board, Dense Styrofoam, rigid foam, styrodur, pink foam or styroprene, etc...

by asking for styrofoam most people don't associate the connection...ask for "pink board" or "blue board" for wall insulation...even though it's called styrofoam...your salesman was probably thinking you were asking for the above "green" product...

Home Depot sells it...I know it comes in both pink or blue...not a different material...just a different color...I use it for a diorama base...then acrylic or latex paint...some other paints will melt it (literally)...test a sample if you are not sure...it comes in a 4x8 foot sheet...cuts easily with a razor but is harder to sculpt than the above styrofoam...but still easily done especially if layered to make a thicker piece...

it's about $14-$17 a sheet and in all lumber yards and building supply stores...white glue takes forever to bond...several days...a glue gun on low temp will bond in minutes but can melt if glue is too hot...

both are good products and will produce similar results...it's just a preference...the green is really the easiest for sculpting...

 

[mikemiller1955]

Mark...

they are both good products...just a matter of choice...

the green styrofoam is very expensive for a base...and very thick (2"s)...

I use the pink/blue board for my bases...

you might buy a cheap sheet (4x8) of 1/4" mahogony or birch...

I always cut a base for the blue/pink board out of the mohagany and glue the foam to it so it won't break or chip and will also be stable...

you can glue the foam board to the mahogony with white glue...but it dries so slow...

again I recommend a glue gun from Wal Mart...

$10 for the gun...$5 for the glue sticks...

be sure and get a gun with a "high" and "low" temp setting...

the "high" temp setting will melt both the foams...and give you some serious blisters on your fingers if you are not careful...

look at these pics...

all I used was blue/fink foam...the height in the cannon embankment is just several layers of the blue/pink/ board glued together and sculpted...

the embankment with the pointed logs is just several sheets of the blue/pink glued together and sculpted...rasped down with a "bastard" file...

 

[mikemiller1955]

better still...here is a link with photos and descriptions...

http://www.barrule.com/Workshop/images/info/foams/index.htm

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

White glue never completely dries in the middle of two foam boards because white glue needs air to dry completely. I pulled apart some old model railroad scenery that had been glued with white glue. It was still wet after three years. Just like it had been in the bottle. The best glue I have found for foam board is "Liquid Nails For Projects" it is safe for foam because it is water based. Regular liquid nails will dissolve the foam like acid.

 

[marco55]

Thanks for everybody's help.
Mark

 

[mikemiller1955]

White glue never completely dries in the middle of two foam boards because white glue needs air to dry completely. I pulled apart some old model railroad scenery that had been glued with white glue. It was still wet after three years. Just like it had been in the bottle. The best glue I have found for foam board is "Liquid Nails For Projects" it is safe for foam because it is water based. Regular liquid nails will dissolve the foam like acid.

How long does this "Liquid Nails for Projects" take to set up?

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

Fully cured over night.