GliderIreland - Ireland RC Forum - Flying Model forum in Ireland
Techniques => How to... => Topic started by: stephen.shannon on September 11, 2013, 15:42:32 PM
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Hi All,
Does anyone have a source for foam sheets for model building?
Stephen
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What type of foam Stephen?
White foam, Blue foam, EPP, Depron?
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Hi bill im sure its Epp he is looking for but it will have to be thick
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Hi Bill,
It's EPP I'm after, but if there is a suitable substitute I'm open to suggestions thanks
Stephen
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Only place I know at the moment for thicker sheets of EPP is Flying Dog. Used to be a crowd called Linpac in South Wales but haven't heard much from them in years. Fred may know of a French supplier
http://www.flying-dog.co.uk/shop/epp-foam-c-1.html
Depends what you're planning to build as to what alternatives there are
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Howdy,
There is one in France alright:
http://www.polymodel.fr/products/fiche-8/epp-noir-et-blanc-20grl/
They also have 30g ones and prices are decent.
Never tried them, I only used one in Germany, but I cannot remember the name! :!: I'll put the link as soon as I remember!
Also, there is a bigger one for EPP in France (EPP Supplier) called GT if I remember, but you need to order something like 100Kgs of the stuff, but works very cheap (good for group buy)
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This may sound stupid but....
I called B&Q today, they have 8' x 4' sheets of foam board, 50mm or 75mm thick, can tat be used?
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If it's white foam Stephen make sure it's virgin foam and not recycled. Recycled has little lumps and imperfections which make hot wire cutting a nightmare.
Blue, pink or Knauf and it'll be fine
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I bought a small sheet to try. It looks fine on the outside, clean and uniform. It was only €6 for a 50mm x 1.2m sheet. We'll see
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Should be a uniform colour and bead size throughout. Any lumps and colour flecks and it's probably recycled
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Bloody hell, when one thinks about foam one would expect it to be straigth forward, but oh know.... I seemto have an amazing ability to get into things that are impossible to source..... :!:
Anyway it appears what I bought yesterday was a polystyrene board not expanded polypropylene like I needed. Just in case you're interested Polystyrene is much more ridgid but is brittle with it....
It appears there is a place in the UK that sells it but its 39euro for 1m x 1m x 30mm, I've sourced a Polyethelene board in Dublin but I'm not sure it will do the job.... off to do more research..... :? :? step in here any time lads if you've any input thanks.....
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You sure you're not looking for Expanded Polypropylene (EPP)?
polyethylene is the sort of greasy stuff that comes as packaging with high end electronics.
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HI Bill,
Yea its EPP i'm looking for the only stuff I could find readily available in sheets in Dublin was polythelene "which is the geasey stuff"
I think I settle for the sheets I can import from the UK, the price is reasonable and its on line for ordering.
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So I cut my first wing section last night with my hand made bow. its a tad rough but its all learning....
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/v/vGBH7uMOS0w[/youtube]
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You need to increase the wire tension in your bow, that's why the ridges form a semi circle towards the TE. Always cut bottom first, top second. Only move the bow as fast as the foam melts. If you're serious about foam cutting, build a "drop arm cutter". Simple & effective and works hands off!
http://www.charlesriverrc.org/articles/tools/brengmancutter.htm
http://www.charlesriverrc.org/articles/foam_vac/mrcss_foamcutter.htm
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Thanks Bill, the wire I used was a braided wire which had a low resistance, I've got some stainless steel wire with a thinner gauge and hire resistance. Also I've acquired a variable power supply which will allow me to adjust the current and therefore the heat.