What are some inexpensive options for foam? Brands…or “use the peanuts and melt them” - just looking for other options to the hobby-shop stuff.
If you are that desparate (not a commentary, just being factual) to control spending, maybe you should just use the expanded foam…the type in packaging and in the unclad picnic coolers. It will be messy and frustrating to work with, but… Otherwise, use some 1X2 and 1/2" plywood for a bench and use crumpled paper covered with plaster of paris-soaked paper towels for topography.
I haven’t start my layout yet but when I think of using foam for a layout I think of the pink foam insulation that Home Depot or Lowe’s would sell. (typically used of the outside of a house under your siding.) It comes in various thicknesses like 1/2", 1", 2". It would be easy to dig out guiles and valleys or stack up. It might be a bit messy but nothing a vacuum could clean up.
I just got a 4x8 sheet of the 2" pink stuff from my local cinder block plant for $32.00. I’ve got a plywood table, and I’m going to cut up the foam and make some landscaping. FYI, the Home Depot here only keeps 3/4" foam for $8-10 a sheet.
I have done well at construction sites with scraps, some large, and along side high ways where it has blown off trucks. I now have enogh to last a while. Keep your eyes open, you may surprise yourself, how much is in dumpsters.
If I misinterpreted your question, I am sorry. If you wi***o know which foam is the best to use, then it is what is called “extruded foam”, and is pink or blue, depending on the manufacturer.
A little of both - best, and options for “good enough”
very helpful - thanks. Particularly like the dumpster diving!
That may be true in your area, but as a person moves north they can find thicker sheets at Home Depot. In my part of Missouri they stock up to 1 1/2. A friend in Michigan says they stock up to 4 inch. As it gets thicker the price goes up.
You can’t melt foam peanuts into anything useful. They are mostly air, and when you melt them they turn to plastic as the gas escapes. So you would end up with a puddle of plastic as if you melted a model car. Fred
I the 2" stuff at Home Depot a serveral years ago and know the still carry it. Then again I live in the Chicago area where it gets COLD. I dont remember paying anything near $30 for it but that was a while back. (probably wouldn’t have bought it in that case)
I’ve found the 2" pink board at home depot for $14.98 a sheet.
Wow! I paid $22.50 for it here in Cincinnati just last winter…
I got three sheets of 1 inch for $10.00 a piece. My wife works for an insulation company and asked their warehouse manager if he had any damaged pieces that can’t be sold. Each sheet had at least one corner broke off and some surface gouging, but since I cut them into 2 1/2 by 6 foot pieces, this was not a problem. Try checking out insulation suppliers in the phone book. I’m sure they would rather sell you a broken a piece at a discount than having to throw the stuff away.
Those packing peanuts have their purpose though. They’re great for making hills. Just pile them up, and cover them with wet plaster cloth. Plus, they’re cheap. A large bag only costs peanuts (pun intended, hehe) from the local post office 
emdgp,
Here’s a better way to get the peanuts. Order more stuff for the layout!!
There are drawbacks however. Don’t think the wife bought the argument - yeah that BLI is a little expensive, but look at all the free peanuts that came with it!!
The 2" (2x8) is $11.57 a sheet here at Lowes. I like the Blue stuff as it is not beveled on each side like the pink.
Thickness available does depend on where you live. When I lived in Georgia, you could not find anything over 1/2". One winter I drove to Chicago and went looking for thicker stuff. I went to 5 stores and they were sold out in each one.
well i have to add my input , i used 2 inch white foam sheets. one one my bench for the layout and the other for making mountains and hills. i think for a rookie it turned out most well. even my wife said she was surprised my mountains where that white styrofoam stuff[:D]. to me that is a compliment when she doesnt mind me doing it but actually doesnt see the purpose of watching little trains roll around with me in the background with a huge grin on my face.[:p][:p]. but ,the white stuff is messy and you have to use the right materials whn building or it melts really quick( experiance) LOL [V]. but in all it worked for me. where i am at i couldnt find anything but like 1/2 inch pink stuff i think it was and i couldnt see buying 4 to 6 sheets at the cost they wanted.
well, that is my story and i’m sticking to it hope it helped? it’s messy like stated already before but a hand vac works wonders and it fairly easy to fix your mistakes( experiance again) [xx(] so ,have fun with it.
Chris
Make friends with a siding contractor! Seriously, the best source of free good size foam board offcuts that I have had is from a friend who had their older house re-sided. There were many very useable offcuts from this project.