Foam parts storage

Hi All.

can anyone point me in the direction of a cheap source of the sort of high density foam used in camera cases, airline transport cases etc . I want to create some small ( 1/2" X1"x 1 " up to about 3 x 3 x6 inch cut outs to safely store some wooden patterns for the long term . I would like to get the foam first and then make the boxes from plywood at a size to suit each batch of patterns.

Also what is the generic or trade name of this stuff. I have managed to successfully cut a few storage cutouts in Kingspan type expanded polystyrene stuff but the surface finish is poor because the composition is such that it doesn't come away cleanly.

Thanks

BK.

Hello BK,

I suggest this company, I've done a lot of research into foam over the last couple of months (don't ask!) and they have fair prices a custom cutting service and a huge range (although they don't stock one specialist foam I need!)

The pick and pluck looks expensive, until you realise that you get five cases worth...

www.easyfoam.co.uk/pick-n-pluck-foam.php

Neil

Plastazote is the name you want, BK

MichaelG.

.

http://www.zotefoams.com/product/azote/plastazote/

... available from Neil's suggested supplier, amongst others.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 03/01/2017 16:45:29

Very interesting process for 'putting the bubbles' into Plastazote and its relatives, Lots of Engineering involved!

You could check local upholsterers and cushion makers for offcuts perhaps. They don't just do the yellow inflammable stuff anymore.

That's where I started... but not where I ended up!

Neil

.

Plastazote is perfect for this ^^^ sort of job ... it cuts cleanly and easily, and layers can be glued together with contact-adhesive ... it doesn't degrade to sticky mush like some other foams, and it's closed-cell [so doesn't take-in water].

If the patterns are worth keeping, they are worth the modest investment involved in using good material. ... It's used in a lot of military packages [and I've tested a fair few of those].

MichaelG.

There is Kaizen foam as well.

**LINK**

Have you considered using expanding polyurethane foam? Donkey's years ago the toolroom I worked in used this for storing broaches. Finished off with a few coats of PVA glue. Roy M.

Just for reference this is cheaper cell polyethylene foam like Plastazote.

www.easyfoam.co.uk/closed-cell-polyethylene-foam.php

They also do Plastazote:

www.easyfoam.co.uk/zotefoam-plastazote.php

Usual disclaimer, I'm just a satisfied customer

Neil

David, one of the Green Ink brigade near my previous residence once claimed to have invented a rigid foam containing 'bubbles of vacuum', which would be lighter than air and so revolutionise transport. Word is that he sent a sample to the Patent Office, but it floated up to the top of the post box and the postman never found it!

Geoff

Isn't that what Amazon are using to make the flying warehouses for their delivery drones

N.

As always a great response from great people. . Thank you all very much - I can now plug on with this years project leaving behind all the others in their usual stages of incompleteness and disarray !!

Kind regards and have a successful 2017

You might find closed cell foam at a boat yard, it's used in boat hulls, inbetween two layers of fiberglass or carbon fiber.

Ian S C

Why not try Celotex Insulation Board? Several of the DIY sheds stock it and it's reasonably priced.

I recall seeing a youtube vid a while back where soemone wanted a quick way of making up some tool boxes and just sprayed expanding foam ito the raw box, put a layer of old t shirt on top. addd the tools and a board & weight over the lot while it foamed up and set. It looked suprisingly efficient and neat. Filed away in memory but never tried it myself

Thanks Everyone for your advice, the pick and pluck has done the job wonderfully and there is an added bonus for a tightwad like me, - if you take all the bits you have " plucked " out and stick them to the bottom of your box, or a baseboard; with spray-mount adhesive you get to use all those pieces as an extra new section of pick & pluck.

Thanks once again.