Tying Foam

[WyFlyGuy]

Here's a question for those of you who tie with foam.

I really enjoy the unique things that you can do with foam and the qualities it gives to the finished product.

My question is, where do you get your foam? I have found that craft stores (Michaels, Roberts, etc.) sell foam in some useful colors (black, tan, yellow) in big sheets for a couple of bucks rather than the small sheet you get in the tying stores. Is this the same type of foam, or is the tying foam made to float better? I've never used foam from a tying store so I don't really have anything to compare it to.

Thanks in advance for the input/comments.

WyFly

[Curtis Fry]

All of the above, plus anywhere I see foam, I'll grab it (packaging, toys etc). I buy it in the shops where the type and color can't be found in a craft store. In my experience, it's mostly the same. Obviously, you have closed cell and open cell being a difference, but I haven't found any magical source or magical quality of foam out there. Maybe Mr Wildnative can give us some of his sources.

[wildnative]

I get most of mine from the craft stores, but as Curtis mentioned, if it is a color I can't find, I'll get it at the shops. I use 2mm sheet foam the most. I would imagine one could go on-line and find a seller who would make some deals if you wanted to buy bulk, (like the stuff is too expensive anyway).

While on the subject, I have been cutting thin strips with my tying scissors. I have decided I can speed up my tying time if I can pre-cut the strips. What have you guys/gals found to be the best tool for cutting the strips? (Did I ask this on this site before, or was that another life?)

[WyFlyGuy]

Thanks for the information.

WN
I usually cut strips with a ruler and a razor blade. I read somewhere that the foam is slightly abrasive so you don't want to use your good scissors to cut it because it will tend to dull them. I think a sharp razor blade (or exacto knife)works great, though.

[Curtis Fry]

RW, they have some cool tools in the scrapbooking area that will cut foam, paper in various shapes and such. The easiest would probably be to get one of those trimmer things like this: http://store.scrapbook.com/f-9643-7097.html

[Red.Fly]

Last year I bought 50 sheets of 2 mil foam in at least 10 different colors from a low priced super store starting with a W that I don't ever shop at. The whole stack had all the standard colors plus and cost me 5 bucks. Mixed in with the sheet I've bought from tying retailers, I can't tell the difference (other than it's in bigger sheets). Fished side by side with the "good" foam I can't tell the difference in performance.

I cut my strips with an exacto carving blade on an as needed basis.

[Mike A]

RW, they have some cool tools in the scrapbooking area that will cut foam, paper in various shapes and such. The easiest would probably be to get one of those trimmer things like this: http://store.scrapbook.com/f-9643-7097.html

Those are great for paper, but they're not nearly thick enough for 2 mm foam.

I cut my foam into strips en masse using a metal ruler and one of those rotary cutters used for fabric. You need to have a rotary cutter and a decent cutting mat underneath, but it works wonderfully. I quickly get rough edges using razor blades, but the rotary cutter doesn't do that.

There are a bunch of them at the link below. For what it's worth, I prefer the Fiskars cutter to the Olfa, but either brand of mats work great (yes, my wife sews a lot).

http://www.joann.com/catalog.jhtml?CATID=24988

This is easiest if you have a wife who sews and has one on hand. Or you could always score points by buying a nice rutary cutter and mat, giving it to her, then later asking kindly if you might use it a little.