I'm starting to build the benchwork for my layout, and stopped by HomeDepot on the way home tonight... They have 3 types of the high density foams - Pink (OwensCorning), Blue (Dow), and an Offwhite (Dow Super TuffR)... (no the offwhite - wasn't like std. Expanded PS) Is there a difference? Anyone here use which kind? Trying to find the best stiffness/shapeability combination... Any experiences?
Pink or Blue is the general consensus (personal preference there), and depending how you're using it will determine how think you need to get. I used 2 layers of 2" blue for my layout for self supporting (no wood or other bracking required). Would need to know more about your layout to recommend anything.
In theory any of them would work. IIRC the off-white is the densest of them. However, it has a sort of aluminum foil coating you have to peel off. I'd go with the blue, because 1: There's nothing to peel off, and 2: It'll take a while to get to painting the scenery, and a bright pink layout is sort of an eyesore
Either Pink or Blue. localy I could can only get blue and the 2" is only available 2'x8'. I really wanted at least 3' but it will do.
And bright blue scenery is any better? Bluegrass, I know... I used the blue as a motivation to paint everything with an undercoat at least. N_S_L: one 2" sheet wasn't self supporting? How far apart are your supports / did you experiment? I ask because I'm considering a 2" sheet of blue on metal brackets every 18-24", and would like to find out now if it will / won't work.
No supporting brackets/posts! I used 2 layers in perpindicular as a self-supporting 4.5' x 6' layout. You can see the lines going in both directions if you look...
Blue or pink is the same product by different manufacturers. Is the white the kind that if scraped a bit looks like tiny pellets? If so, I don't think it is recommended for doing much for our purposes.
The off-white is the densest, and has a foil coating. Only reason I'm considering it, is the color is neutral, and would be easy to paint... (It is not the white, pellet type EPS foam)
I went to Home Depot to get the blue or pink foam and they didn't have either one. But they did have the white (and in a 2'x4' section). I grabbed that. It doesn't have a foil coating, it's a type of plastic coating. Hot glue sticks to it SUPER!
Thanks, heading out tonight to buy the foam... Any suggestions on "glue"? Assuming contact cement would work great...
Contact cement works but only use the water based ones. The others may melt the foam. Try on a spare piece first. I use latex caulk with great effectiveness. Cheap too at Home Depot. You can choose from two kinds, one dries white, the other dries clear. I use it to glue cork road bed to foam (white) and then the tracks to the cork road bed (clear).
"Liquid Nails For Projects". That's what everyone else in .us recommends for use with foam. Normal "Liquid Nails" will melt the foam; so testing it on an offcut is a good idea. White glue does work, but it has issues curing because foam-foam tends to be air-tight. White glue for cardboard / wood / cork to foam is probably okay, but foam-foam stick with Liquid Nails For Projects or similar.
Good rule of thumb that someone told me (here on trainboard) is if it will disolve in water....it is good to go. If you have to use thinner or mineral spirits....stay away....it bad....it no be good
Use the liquid nails project glue or silicone 100%.The Caulk tends to dry out over time and cracks in temp changes as well
The Extruded foam comes in three different colors, Blue,Pink,or Grey any of these work well for scenery. Any water based adhesive will work. Liquid nails,Carpenters wood glue,Elmer's,Silicone sealer works also. I have also seen the expanded foam used(white,beaded), If you work it right it looks good also.
