Expanded foam... Where do I buy it??
Discussion
As part of my university project, I am designing and building an inlet manifold and plenum for the unversity racing car. I am looking to have the plenum made from carbon fibre in an autoclave, but I must first make the mould. To test the shape in situ, my plan was to first construct the plenum shape using expanded foam (the kind you can easily shape, sand and cut such as flower arrangers foam I imagine). I don't have a clue where I can buy any though as I'll need a couple of blocks at least 40x30cm I think. Has anyone ever worked with the stuff? Where might I be able to purchase some in the Birmingham area ideally?
450Nick said:
As part of my university project, I am designing and building an inlet manifold and plenum for the unversity racing car. I am looking to have the plenum made from carbon fibre in an autoclave, but I must first make the mould. To test the shape in situ, my plan was to first construct the plenum shape using expanded foam (the kind you can easily shape, sand and cut such as flower arrangers foam I imagine). I don't have a clue where I can buy any though as I'll need a couple of blocks at least 40x30cm I think. Has anyone ever worked with the stuff? Where might I be able to purchase some in the Birmingham area ideally?
Flower arrangers foam is called Green oasis. You can buy it in florists or in florist supply shops. You can buy canisters of expanding foam in B+Q. Used it for a similar project to strengthen the crash cell on our formula student car about 10 years ago.TonyHetherington said:
No nails expanding (not expanded 
) foam is great for this sort of stuff.
I think you're confusing what the OP is asking for Tony. Expanding foam is no good for making a model or a mould, that job requires expanded foam in blocks that can be shaped as appropriate. ) foam is great for this sort of stuff.prand said:
Make you own? It comes in cans from B&Q for filling awKward spaces.Make sure you weare gloves when handling when wet because it never comes off....
True.Numpty mate of mine got this stuff on his hands and then had the bright idea of "rubbing it off with sand".
Big mistake.
Ever heard of Edward Sandpaper Hands?
Edited by ultegra on Tuesday 13th January 12:18
Flower aranging Oasis is stupidly expensive....
Go to your local building supplies centre and get some foam insulating sheets...
Used for insulating walls and foundations etc.... Comes in 4 or 6 inch... Usually pink..
HOWEVER... PU resin will melt it!
If you wanted to get a bit more creative you could partially make the shape out of carboard etc and pour in expanding 2 part foam available from cfsnet
Go to your local building supplies centre and get some foam insulating sheets...
Used for insulating walls and foundations etc.... Comes in 4 or 6 inch... Usually pink..
HOWEVER... PU resin will melt it!
If you wanted to get a bit more creative you could partially make the shape out of carboard etc and pour in expanding 2 part foam available from cfsnet
http://www.twfoam.co.uk/packingfoam.php
I'm presuming its all the same stuff, and can be dissolved just as easily.
I'm presuming its all the same stuff, and can be dissolved just as easily.
bramley said:
TonyHetherington said:
No nails expanding (not expanded ) foam is great for this sort of stuff.
I think you're confusing what the OP is asking for Tony. Expanding foam is no good for making a model or a mould, that job requires expanded foam in blocks that can be shaped as appropriate. ) foam is great for this sort of stuff.
However, we've used the no nails expanding stuff for making dashboards on kit cars and similar - put it roughly where you want it then you can sand/shape to fit, exactly like the flower Oasis type stuff, so it could be good stuff (and significantly cheaper?). Just a thought.
TonyHetherington said:
bramley said:
TonyHetherington said:
No nails expanding (not expanded ) foam is great for this sort of stuff.
I think you're confusing what the OP is asking for Tony. Expanding foam is no good for making a model or a mould, that job requires expanded foam in blocks that can be shaped as appropriate. ) foam is great for this sort of stuff.However, we've used the no nails expanding stuff for making dashboards on kit cars and similar - put it roughly where you want it then you can sand/shape to fit, exactly like the flower Oasis type stuff, so it could be good stuff (and significantly cheaper?). Just a thought.
pimpin gimp said:
yeah, just fill a box of approximately the right shape with expanding foam and leave the top of the box opne, once it's dried you have a box of expanded foam. perfect.
don;t think that would be much use for sculpting, it would be dense on the outside and hollow on the inside (well not hollow but much larger bubbles)tom g said:
pimpin gimp said:
yeah, just fill a box of approximately the right shape with expanding foam and leave the top of the box opne, once it's dried you have a box of expanded foam. perfect.
don;t think that would be much use for sculpting, it would be dense on the outside and hollow on the inside (well not hollow but much larger bubbles)tegwin said:
Flower aranging Oasis is stupidly expensive....
Go to your local building supplies centre and get some foam insulating sheets...
Used for insulating walls and foundations etc.... Comes in 4 or 6 inch... Usually pink..
HOWEVER... PU resin will melt it!
If you wanted to get a bit more creative you could partially make the shape out of carboard etc and pour in expanding 2 part foam available from cfsnet
Pink stuff is what we used at unit for modeling - styrofoam is the trademark. No idea where to get it from, google it. IIRC we used to use sheets of it stuck together with thin double sided tape (the sellotape thin stuff) to make bigger blocks rather than solvent based adhesives (which eat into it) or water based (which don't stick it). Go to your local building supplies centre and get some foam insulating sheets...
Used for insulating walls and foundations etc.... Comes in 4 or 6 inch... Usually pink..
HOWEVER... PU resin will melt it!
If you wanted to get a bit more creative you could partially make the shape out of carboard etc and pour in expanding 2 part foam available from cfsnet
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