I've been looking around to see where I can get extruded foam as it seems to be the best choice for building rocky landscapes. But, since no hobby or crafts store seems to carry it I'm left with the big-box home improvement stores. From what I can tell, there are (at least) three brands available. 1. Owens-Corning Formular 2. Dow Super Tuff-R 3. Insulfoam Does anybody have a preference of one or the other? The Owens-Corning seems to be popular, but is that the only one that will work? Insulfoam seems to be available in 2X4 sheets, which would be far more feasible to deal with than the 4X8 sheets the others come in. But, that's a moot point if it doesn't look right.
I don't know much about Insulfoam. I looked at the product website and it looks like it may be more of the beaded white stuff. If so, I would run away from it. That stuff makes a terrible mess. The size of sheets is really not a big deal. Take an old steak knife or something with you and leave it in your vehicle, and when you get out to your car you can quickly make 2x4 sheets or whatever you want.
Foam I use the Pink 1" foam. Buy it at Home Depot. The big box stores is the only place I have found it.
From a model railroad standpoint, the Pink (Owens-Corning, typically sold at Home Depot) and the Blue (Dow, typically sold at Lowes) sheets are identical. So whatever is easy/close/cheap for you it won't make a difference. Again, not familiar with insulfoam but if it is expanded foam forget it. Extruded only. Both the pink and blue are available in 2x8 sheets (1" thick). They are very easy to cut - could probably have the store cut them in half for you for a nominal fee.
I have used my hot foam cutter on both the white and blue foams and I can tell you that the blue foam is the easier cutting foam of the two. I have not tried the pink foam, but I suspect it will work out as well.
The Best Type of Foam Board? FREE TYPE Never had to buy foam board. I get it FREE from builders everywhere. Watch around your local building sites and if you see one using foam board........BINGO!!!! When the workers are using 4 X 8 sheets of foam board to insulate a building, they will cut off what they need and throw the excess away. It either goes on the ground or (rarely) in the dumpster. If you see the foam board laying around, go find the Building Site Foreman and ask them if you can have the excess pieces. Be nice about it, and if the Foreman says NO... Thank him for his time and LEAVE. I usually offer a trade off for the excess foam: I offer to pick up the building site, lumber scraps, paper etc get put in the dumpster. Lots of times I will be able to pick excess lumber scraps too! Tell Foreman you will do the pick up ON THE WEEKEND, so as not to be on the jobsite when the crews are working. Make sure you get the Foreman's name and phone number. [COP: "Hey buddy, what are you doing here?" ME: "Cleaning up the jobsite Officer. I've got permission from the Foreman. Joe Smith, phone number XXX-XXX-XXXX"] Never had any more problems after that. I also find that it helps to offer an invitation to the Foreman--Cop to come see the layout. You will be surprised how many visitors will come! As for the different types of foam board, I find little, if any difference between the pink, blue green and yellow (a new brand[I think]). The main difference is the extruded type and the expanded type (white usually). I use the white type anyplace that I need a space filler and I don't plan on doing much carving. I use the pink, blue, green or yellow where I need to cut/carve out details, but with a hot-wire foam cutter you can carve any type of foam you have handy. Expanded or extruded, it don't matter. If you are going to very much carving of foam board, I recommend a TIPPI Hot-Wire Foam Cutter. NO MORE CUTTING.......Now you are CARVING. I used one of these Cutters for years and won't go back to using a knife for cutting foam. Go to: Big City Hobbies - Tippi Hot Wire Foam Cutter for more information.
Insulfoam is wrong and Super Tuff-R appears to be wrong as well (has a foil backing) The Dow product is simply called Styrofoam. Styrofoam is a trademarked brandname of Dow for extruded polystyrene which is what you want. Dow's Styrofoam insulation is blue and comes in many many thicknesses and styles. You did correctly identify Owens Corning's Pink Foamular which is the same thing. The other stuff is beadboard and is not what you want. It's messy and requires a top coat of plaster or similar to even look right. And make sure to avoid anything with a backing, foil or paper.
Also, if you can't find it at your local big box store (SoCal) this product is used in small airplane manufacture, so you can find it from those types of suppliers. The cost is inflated, but the sizing is also of greater variety.
Thanks for the idea. I'll be nice to see that construction site down the road be good for something other than blocking the sidewalk.
The blue Dow foam may come with a thin film laminated on one or both sides. I believe this is a vapor barrier. Anyway, you'll want to remove the film before gluing, painting, or applying plaster. I've generally been able to peel it off in one big piece. It comes off easily. - Jeff
I bought mine at Home Depot, depending on the manufacture it will come in blue, pink and green. Just remember use a water based adhesive.
I Use Both I used blue foam for years. Thanks to someone here who went to Home Depot and picked it up for me I now have blue and pink foam. They have the same overall properties for our purposes. This includes but is not limited to: Cutting with saws, rasp, butter knives and box cutters etc Sticking with T-pins, tooth pics and such Gluing with "Liquid Nails for Projects" Painting with latex Weight and dimensions Sturdiness I have seen the "thin film" only on the 1/2" thick 4x8 foot sheets. I believe it is for use in bathroom walks to keep the water off wood.
Yes, that is Styrofoam, but a specific sub product. If you look at dow's website for Styrofoam insulation, there's a wide variety of product. What we're discussing typically comes in 1" or 2" thick sheet of 2x8 or 4x8. It is exactly the same as the pink stuff...formula is probably slightly different, but they're both the same extruded polystyrene chemical. I've never seen green stuff.
