Cheap EVA Foam!

[sq10e]

-edit- In USA

Hey everybody, just putting it out there for those that want to do foam builds and are looking for cheap foam, Kmart.com has a 6-pack of 2'x2' puzzle edge foam mats, on special now for 12.99

Best Step 2 ft. x 2 ft. 6 Pack Foam Flooring with borders - Tools - Garage Organization & Shelving - Garage Flooring

I've looked long and hard for cheap EVA to stock up on for a build, and figured if I could save somebody else the same trouble while this sale lasts... A lot of people have put out knowledge that I am gonna use when I start my first foam pepakura build, I just wanna share a resource too.

 

[Mr Tallpirate]

Great find! But I didn't see the thickness.of the foam.

Just the weight and dimenions of height and width but not depth.

 

[LordCaharin]

Good looking out. With Xmas around the corner, every dollar counts.

 

[The Night]

it looks to be around 3/8-1/2 inch. i got a pack like this for 20 at costco, havent used it yet but am going to try it soon

 

[msleeper]

This is what I built my War Machine out of. It's good stuff.

 

[sq10e]

Great find! But I didn't see the thickness.of the foam.

Just the weight and dimenions of height and width but not depth.

Just guessing, having bought something similar before and seen the same product on other websites where it does say how thick, it is probably about a half inch thick. I know it is thicker than what a lot of people want for their builds, but if the price is right for you...

Hang on a sec, I think they have a roll of the same foam that is a quarter inch thick with slightly more sq ft for $20... Looks like the same kind Stealth used in his Hero Tutorials on foam building
ah, here it is:

Best Step Antifatigue Foam Floor Mat - Black - Tools - Garage Organization & Shelving - Garage Flooring

Anyway, I personally can't afford $20 right now, but I can afford $12.99 so that determines what I'll buy. It also happens to be instock at the local Kmart, so I won't even have to pay shipping!

 

[msleeper]

I'm pretty 100% sure it's 8mm thick.

 

[sq10e]

I'm pretty 100% sure it's 8mm thick.

Seems pretty certain to me, I'll take your word on it.

 

[sq10e]

I just picked it up today in the store, the product that I picked up was not the one advertised online, was a different brand, but all the specs were the same, 6 pieces that were 2ft x 2ft for 12.99, so it didn't matter to me. It also gave the thickness as .47inches. It feels slightly more flexible than other EVA foam of the same thickness that I made a costume out of before I joined therpf, so it should work a bit more easily for those compound curves of Ironman. Has lots of little bubbles on the smooth side, so it looks like I am gonna do battle damage when I start construction.

It could be that the selection varries slightly by store, since I paid online and picked up in store... Anyway, I am not worrying about it, cause I now have 24 sq ft of foam in addition to about 12 sq ft left over from last Halloween's project. So about 32 sq ft stocked up. All about the same thickness unfortunatly, would have liked some thinner for the helm, but when on a budget...

 

[Spydwar]

it looks to be around 3/8-1/2 inch. i got a pack like this for 20 at costco, havent used it yet but am going to try it soon

Yup used this in my Ironman build as well it is about 1/2 in thick give or take a sixteenth does work well and usually does cost about 20 good find!!!
They may be running out soon now that the word is out.

 

[Spydwar]

I just picked it up today in the store, the product that I picked up was not the one advertised online, was a different brand, but all the specs were the same, 6 pieces that were 2ft x 2ft for 12.99, so it didn't matter to me. It also gave the thickness as .47inches. It feels slightly more flexible than other EVA foam of the same thickness that I made a costume out of before I joined therpf, so it should work a bit more easily for those compound curves of Ironman. Has lots of little bubbles on the smooth side, so it looks like I am gonna do battle damage when I start construction.

It could be that the selection varries slightly by store, since I paid online and picked up in store... Anyway, I am not worrying about it, cause I now have 24 sq ft of foam in addition to about 12 sq ft left over from last Halloween's project. So about 32 sq ft stocked up. All about the same thickness unfortunatly, would have liked some thinner for the helm, but when on a budget...

The softer feel subsides as you form it with a heat gun. I used a heat gun on all pieces before assembly to better close the surface of the foam no matter what brand i use can't tell which is which after painting.

 

[Genises]

harbour freight is doing the puzzle mats for 10 at the moment, if anyone wants to buy it there...

 

[sq10e]

I looked at harbour frieght for the foam, but I thought I read that there pieces were 1ft x 1ft

 

[Demonmaker]

Any links for a UK purchase? of this stuff, been checking out ebay but its not great.

Thanks in advance if you post linky's

 

[nick daring]

The harbour freight pads are 2x2 and they have the finer grip texture on the front which I prefer over the big clunky ovals.

They get really cheap sometimes too. 7.99 for a set if I remember correctly.

Nick

 

[sq10e]

Any links for a UK purchase? of this stuff, been checking out ebay but its not great.

Thanks in advance if you post linky's

I had been looking for cheap foam in USA since summer, and only now found a sale. I wouldn't even begin to know where or how to look for UK specific sales. Sorry

 

[zevdotan]

Try Big Lots / Odd Lots in the US. 46" x 93" 1/2" thick foam is around $18.