Hello
I’d like to know what type of 2’’ foam board I should use in Building my layout .
I have been to my local hardware store ( HOME DEPOT) and they have two types at very different prices . They have the standard white sheets at $13.00
And then a pink sheet at $26.00
I guess my question is what properties am i looking for in the foam boards to be able to determine if i can use it .
Thanks in advance .
You want extruded foam, which is normally colored. Pink is the color that Owens-Corning uses for their product. Blue is the color that Dow uses for their product. I’ve heard that someone may make a green version.
White is usually an expanded foam, which has more of a compressed bead structure. It’s not a strong and can’t be shaped as well. Not that some people don’t use it, but if you ask what’s most common it’s the extruded foam version.
Mine says “Residential foam sheathing insulation”. It comes in different thicknesses, depending on which part of the country you live in.
Regards
Ed
Stick with the blue or pink!
To directly answer your question, the stuff you want is like sponge toffee or a foam “cheddar”, NOT the usually white stuff that is beaded or compressed beads of the type that you find in disposable picnic coolers or in electronics and small appliance packaging.
The extruded foam is solid and must be scored deeply or cut in order to snap it. The beaded styrofoam is usually fairly easy to break with your hands…good luck doing that with 2" extruded.
Those are the characteristics that you should look for…mainly, though, no zillions of foam beads when you snap it.
The Home depot by me carries the same stuff. I thought that I could get away cheap, I bought some of the white stuff (more than I care to mention) thinking that these guys didn’t know what they were talking about. I found out that I was the one that did not know what I was doing. NOW I listen and learn !!!
I finally when back and got the pink stuff. By the way the white stuff will fill up you trash cans in a quick hurry.
ennout
Ha Ha! Yes it will, but it is very light! Just bulky.
The quick answer, from a fellow HD customer, is “the pink stuff”… That price is odd, though. Are you looking a 4’-wide boards? My HD only carries 2" x 8’ x 2’ stuff, and that runs $12 per… I know, I just bought a bunch. $26 sounds within reason for 4’ wide sheets, but not 2’-ers.
Now the longer answer, which is “that depends”…
If you mean for a roadbed/baseboard, then absolutely “go pink.”
If you mean for something else, the white stuff may be useful. I have used surplus white foam (i.e. post-christmas packaging) as the base on which I put hardshell scenery (I pull the foam out after it’s dry, BTW).
My friend, Rich, uses big sheets of it for backdrop, which works 500% better than I thought it would. It’s so light he just glues it up on the wall with no other fastening, and the slight texture actually makes the backdrop look better than a perfectly smooth surface. This latter effect requires you to be 3’ or more away, though… closer than that and it just looks like painted styrofoam… Drawback - doesn’t bend real well around corners. I’m still looking for the ideal material for my backdrop…
I bet there are other good uses for it… Just none that requires laying track on it.
I just bought 2 sheets of the pink stuff at HD in Schaumburg, IL 4x8 by 2" for ~ $20 each ($19.98 or something like that) I had looked at the white stuff but it looked to weak to me and I thought it would make a mess if you carved in to it. I knew from past experience (non layout related) that the pink handled being cut and dig in to. HD also had 1/2 inch OSB type plywood for $14.50 each (4x8 sheet) I thought about putting the plywood under the foam but decided to try it without first. I’m building the layout a section at time. I will start construction when I get home from my business trip and will post some pics.
I was lucky. I found an insulation supply outfit here in Houston (Ryder Insulation) that carries the blue extruded foam (by Dow) in 1/2", 1", 2" and 4" (!)widths. I bought some of all of it.
I use the 1" as a base over the plywood. I also cut it into strips and break off little chunks to build mountains. I just stack the pieces, glue them together with Liquid Nails Foam Glue, trim and shape with a sharp knife or foam cutter, and cover with plaster cloth.
I also use the 2" and 4" foam for mountains. I use a wrecking bar, hammer it into the foam, then pry off large chunks. This leaves jagged shapes just like rock faces.
I got all my blue board foam free from offcuts from a siding contractor. I do not have an unlimited supply of it, so I proceeded to use the white beaded foam from packaging to build up the interior of the hills. There is no way you want to get into carving the white stuff, but it does fine inside a hill like this.
i used white foam with really small beads in it that had been glued tightly together, i used this foam for my hill (photos in my photobucket site) and i used a bunch of cheap metal files from a $2 shop to shape it, i was very pleased with the results, and plus the foam didnt cost me anything as i work for my dad and he gets alot of products out of china that have foam packaging in it so i have an endless supply…
OZJIM
EDIT: the cheap files didnt break chunks off just worked kinda like sandapaper taking a thin layer off at a time… perhaps you should try them?
I work for an EIFS contractor (styrofoam covered with fiberglass mesh and stucco mud), and I have access to a lot of scrap and damaged expanded foam in thicknessess from 1/2" up to 4", so I am using it on my layout as a “cookie cutter” sub roadbed and as a base for scenery elevations (under the blue stuff - like the pics above). The styrofoam that we use at work is much more dense than any packing material or the foam cooler type, and it doesn’t burst into the dreaded little white balls when you break it. The best way to cut the stuff is with a hot knife or hot wire, but a thin, very fine-toothed saw will work fine. I cut all my subroadbed to length and width, even radius cuts, with a saw, which merely produces coarse dust, just like when shaping extruded foam. As far as actually shaping the hills and mountains though, I prefer to stick to the blue/pink stuff
I think the only people who use white bead board are the ones who are too proud to admitt it’s horrible stuff, even if it’s free, and that they made a mistake using it. They try and convince the rest of us it’s because we don’t use the right tools, or try and cut it too fast, or don’t know the magic words. LOL. Blue and pink foam can be cut with a sharp rock and get good results. Imagine how well a $1 serrated bread knife works! Bead board bites! Fred
Well theres your answer kinda…lololol
I cant tell you what to use only what I use. And its the pink stuff. Its easier to sand and shape
Hey foam gurus…I’m planning on using it for the base under my Marklin C track (like Kato Unitrack) Should I use cork for subroadbed and then screw the tracks into the corK? I can’t see how the foam would hold the screws without it and I don’t want to totally glue the track down (but I will use scale ballast and diluted white glue to hold it into place…Thanks—Ken
LOL!
BTW, I use the pink stuff exclusively.
I am starting a layout with my Grandson, He is 5 yrs old, and a complete train nut. HAHA ,Gotta love it. I did one with my Son 10 yrs ago and had one when I was growing up.
The question is where to get the 2 inch board in Atlanta, Ga. I have looked and called around and can only find the 1/2 inch board. Anyone in Atlanta, Ga. have any idea’s
Thanks
Tony
Tony -
We often hear that 1 and 2" foam is hard to find south of that old Manson-Nixon line… It’s “too warm” for it… Of course, that makes no sense, because insulation is equally important to keep the hot out and the cold in, during the A/C months, but c’est la vie.
I’d suggest your best bet may be to go to a place that carries the 1/2" stuff and see if they’ll special order 1" or 2" for you. If you go to one of the national places (HD, Lowe’s et al) you may have better luck (because their ‘yankee’ stores do carry the stuff, they might be able just to transfer it internally)…
kchronister,
LOL I am from Michigan, The way they build houses here is funny and sad at the same time. I asked at the local lumbar yard and got the “It don’t git cold nufh to use it here, Hope ya find some”. Never thought about ordering it. Will try on the way to work. Thanks…
Tony
Lay a bead of cheapo latex caulk (99 cent kind), spread it out a bit with a putty knife. Press the track down into it and either weight it with some books, or put some T pins in the holes at and angle to hold it overnight. Remove the books or T pins. T pins are just big sewing pins witha T head, have wife get them 4U at Walmart. [:I] Done. Fred