Ok, I’ve built one 4x8 wood table, painted it and gotten the 1.5" foam for it, so its ready…
Now, I’m working on a 5 x 8 table (this will be a L shape). Since the 5 ft. width is a bit odd, I have to get two pieces of plywood to put on the top. What should I do about the seam? Would wood filler work?
Second Question. How do you deal with the foam pieces? Can you cut that the same as the wood? What do you do about the seam on the foam?
Thanks…
Joint compound works wonders.
My advice is don’t worry about anything that you are going to cover up later. Do nothing to the seam unless there is a terrible gap.
Don’t cut foam like you cut wood, unless you want a real mess. A sharp utility knife will do most jobs. If you have foam that is too thick for a utility knife, an old kitchen knife should do the job.
Nick,
As along as the table top is well supported underneath and the foam is laid on top of that, I wouldn’t worry about the seam underneath.
The foam can be cut with either a serrated knife or a device known as a “hot knife”. I think a table saw and circular saw might spin too fast, melt the foam, and leave a rough edge. (It would also create a horrendous mess, too [xx(] )
You can just use spackle to fill in the seam in the foam.
Tom
A steak knife cus foam better than anything. DO NOT USE A SAW. Don’t worry about seams now. I did get a low temp hot glue gun to glue stacks of foam together, but for a flat layout that may cost too much. One worry, in an L shapped layout with 2 - 4x8s you have some very long reaches. Be careful you get the “Long” work done before the "Short " work gets too fragile.
Lite weight premixed joint compound does many things. I use it for about everything except castings. It takes a day or two to dry and if you are not in a hurry, that gives plenty of time to work the area.
Thanks everyone, I thought this was going to be difficult, but it doesn’t sound too bad…
I thought that if regular foam were cut with a hot knife it would burn?
There not really “hot knives”. it is a hot wire that you cut it with