Where to get cheap camera case foam?

[btownproductions]

Hi everyone. I was just wondering if anyone on here would know a good place to get some durable foam in different thicknesses for use in a camera hard case.

I know you can buy premade ones from companies like pelican and zacuto and such, but it just seems way too over priced, and I'm sure there are places that sell this stuff for dirt cheap for other uses (industrial, crafts, etc). Just curious if anyone on here has any ideas.

Thanks,

Patrick McEnaney

[robmneilson]

I got my stormcase from cases4less.com

Its not dirt cheap, but its significantly cheaper than most sites online, and their shipping is pretty quick.

[btownproductions]

Sorry, I'm not looking for a case right now, just the foam. I'm not looking for any pre-cut foam meant for camera cases. Just wondering if anyone on here knows where to get it "bulk" so I can just cut it out myself instead of paying like $100 for some foam that I'm sure can be purchased somewhere else for like $5.

After all, it's just foam, not some special, crazy foam that can only be used for cameras. I know there has to be somewhere you can just buy a big block or sheets of it....

[btownproductions]

bump... anybody??

[j]

Look under foam in your yellow pages. Seriously.

Every decent sized town should have several places that deal in foam for furniture and auto repair. I got several pelican sized sheets in 1" and 2" sizes, dark grey and different hardnesses for like $10 ea.

[btownproductions]

Haha, I never would have thought of that. Thanks a lot though, that sounds perfect. I just can't justify paying $100 for a piece of foam that I know is only worth $10. Thanks a lot J

[utako.o]

Haha, I never would have thought of that. Thanks a lot though, that sounds perfect. I just can't justify paying $100 for a piece of foam that I know is only worth $10. Thanks a lot J

i think i paid $64 for a 4X8 sheet of roadcase foam in '98. it's much *much* different than the foam used in pillows or mattreses. Besides, if your camera or lens gets damaged because the foam isn't shock absorbing, have you really saved any money?

Any place that makes road cases will be more than happy to sell you a sheet of foam.

[bilgami]

go to big retail stores like sears or something. when i used to work for sears at nite we would throw out boxes and foam from the products that were shipped to us during the day. we would always give away boxes and foam rather than throw it away.

[btownproductions]

utako, do you remember what type of foam you purchased? I found a company called United Foam, but they have waayy too many different types of foam to choose from.

[utako.o]

utako, do you remember what type of foam you purchased?

honestly don't remember... i was getting some roadcases made at http://www.solotech.ca and i asked if they'd sell me some foam. which they said they do but only in whole sheets. It was their best foam.. Actually, i think there really is only one kind of hi quality foam used in shock mount cases.

[btownproductions]

I was looking at some 1.8lb/cubic foot packing foam, apparently it's really rigid if it's around 5" thick. I thought'd I'd buy a couple 2" thick sheets and layer them, it was around $55 for a 56" x 72" sheet 2" thick

[Kdawg]

Would upholstery foam work? Like this (http://www.rochfordsupply.com/product_listing.asp_Q_CatID_E_412_A_SubCatID_E_459 _A_ProdID_E_3310_A_promoid_E_5) The 5" 24x72 stuff is 43 bucks plus a discount for 3 sheets or more.

[Paul Hudson]

I was told years ago, I don't know if it is true, that the white foam emits a gas that can be harmful to the coatings on lenses. Is this why all camera cases use the grey foam? This may need further exploring before you damage an expensive lens.

[j]

In regards to:

>it's much *much* different than the foam used in pillows or mattreses.

Furniture foam stores carry *all different* kinds of foam. I got 2" medium density dark grey open cell foam for the bottom layer and a 1" hard density closed cell dark grey for the top layer. Very pro stuff. Won't fall apart like that pick and pluck crap.

[Al MacLeod]

You could try Target or K Mart for the 3 inch memory foam mattress toppers...slice and dice...it might be usable without cutting a form into it.

[Kdawg]

You said it J. That pluck crap just pisses me off more every day. I keep missing more and more foam in my Pelican case.

[sek0910]

Try Joann fabric store, especially when you get one of those 50% off an item coupons in the sunday paper (or emailed to you if you sign up online)

[Prodigi Pictures]

a

[Texanite]

Does anyone have a process for cutting the foam cleanly?

Electric knife.


http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_k?url=search-alias%3Dgarden&field-keywords=Electric+Knife&x=11&y=21

[Prodigi Pictures]

a

[hoarp001]

Hi,

You can cut that stuff with a hot wire, like you would use cut polystrene. Get some Nichrome resistance wire and pass a current through it and it will heat up enough to cut it. youc an cut out the shape you want from cardboard and stick it to the foam with double sided tape then cut round it with the wire. Looks pretty neat and professional

[Texanite]

It's been at least 15 years since I've done this, but I just used the Thanksgiving turkey-carving electric knife from the kitchen. It's like those on Amazon, has two blades that slide quickly forwards and backwards.

As far as locating the right kind of foam, I don't have a solid answer and would hate to send you in a bad direction. I totally believe that the consumer can find foam that works perfectly and costs much less than 'professional case foam' from a photo retailer. However, there really are some BAD kinds of foam to use. I got an old camera case once and the foam inside had basically melted. It wasn't melted from heat or anything, it had just basically started to deteriorate and disintigrate into a gooey mess. It looked okay but as soon as you touched it it was like you were handling cotton candy.

I'd never heard the tale of some foams giving off gasses, but that could be what was happening in that case. The foam had probably been in there for 15 to 20 years before I got it.

I replaced it with some foam I cut with that electric knife I referred to earlier. I tried a couple different kinds of dense foam if I remember correctly, and I do know that one of them ended up being too stiff and would fall apart in really really tiny grains. It looked like it would work but after cutting it, its surface no longer would hold together completely and was not suitable for equipment.

In the end, I think I salvaged some dense dark gray foam from some other kind of case. Again, it's been a while so the details are thin. My guess is that a trip, or even just a call, to a foam distributor might reveal the specific kind of foam you're looking for. Maybe just taking in a piece of pick-and-pluck would be enough to identify it. People who spend their lives working around one specific kind of material are usually pretty good at IDing it. You might be able to walk in with a 1" cube from an existing case and they'll look at it and say, oh yeah, that's such and such, how much do you want?

Good luck.


Texanite -

Thanks! Is there an electric knife that you recommend?

Also, what kind of foam am I looking for?

- Justin

[j]

> et some Nichrome resistance wire and pass a current through it
> and it will heat up enough to cut it.

Huh? More details please. :-)

I've often heard of "cutting with a hot wire" but I've never found anyone who has actually done it...

[Erik Olson]

Taking the reading of this thread into account and the time and money involved sourcing foam, measuring and cutting foam, I guarantee you it will be less expensive to purchase replacement foam.

What case are you trying to fill?

e

[JasonFox]

I found the best price (by far) for replacement foam for my Stormcase at apgcases.com. They're shipping was decent, too. Foam is light, but it's bulky and often incurs an upcharge if you have a big case.

[Prodigi Pictures]

a

[j]

For the most part open cell is soft. Closed cell can be denser and harder. You'd best go into a store and take a look yourself.

[Shenton]

Don't know if this is helpful, but I made a custom case for a Sony DSR250 Camera, and I bought a roll of foam that was sold to go under a sleeping bag.
It was fine, and was £5. ($10) You can use double sided Carpet Tape (the really sticky type) to fix it to your case.

[Prodigi Pictures]

a

[Prodigi Pictures]

a

[btownproductions]

Thanks for the very informative post Prodigi

[kladkym]

Texanite -

Thanks! Is there an electric knife that you recommend?

Also, what kind of foam am I looking for?

- Justin


Justin,
I would recommend grey closed cell foam. I buy it in 4'x8'x2"sheets. I have packed various ATA cases with it and you can drop them off the back of a truck with no damage to the camera inside.

I buy mine here:
http://www.diversifiedfoam.net/

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Michael

[bokkerz]

Prodigi pictures explained the various foam types very well. The only correction is where he labeled the foam Urethane-Ether/Charcoal Foam. I assume he meant Ester/polyester charcoal foam which is more dense and hold up better than Polyurethane foam.

The easiest foam to cut and the longest lasting is the Polyethylene foam which is best compared to the foam used for Pool Noodles. You can trace your parts and then use a Jigsaw with a thin serrated edge or a Filet knife. Do not use a utility knife as the blade will bend when cutting.

Please contact me with any questions.
Steve
www.carrycasesplus.com

[Brian G]

http://www.lentinicommunications.com/index.html?lang=en-us&target=d28.html

[Brad Neal]

I have used this place a couple of times. We just build a voice over booth and purchased all of the foam from them:
http://foamforyou.com/