Where to get cheap camera case foam?

btownproductions

btownproductions

Well-known member
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
 
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.
 
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....
 
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.
 
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
 
btownproductions said:
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
Click to expand...

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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
cheap

cheap

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.
 
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.
 
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)
 
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