Help - Search - Members - Calendar
Full Version: Modeling Foam For Creating A Fiberglass Plug
GlamisDunes.com > Sandrail Forums > Sandrail Tech
sandycrack
Thinking about building a fiberglass hood for new car and looking for place to purchase foam. I have seen the foam used on the TV shows when building custom cars. The foam they use has been green or blue. Any help finding a source?

Any tips from you pros on making a plug?
yoshi
QUOTE(sandycrack @ Dec 1 2006, 08:03 PM) [snapback]2000903[/snapback]

Thinking about building a fiberglass hood for new car and looking for place to purchase foam. I have seen the foam used on the TV shows when building custom cars. The foam they use has been green or blue. Any help finding a source?

Any tips from you pros on making a plug?
Check with pontoon manufacturers. There is a liquid that they pour into the big floaters under the boat that expands like a butt load.
yoshi
this is the first thing that popped up when I googled expanding foam....

http://www.marinefoam.com/
sandycrack
I thought about the expanding, but I think the fine closed cell foam I have seen on the TV will be easier to work with. It comes in blocks and can be glued together and then shaped with tools such as a rasp and DA.
The Rooster
QUOTE(sandycrack @ Dec 1 2006, 09:19 PM) [snapback]2000922[/snapback]

I thought about the expanding, but I think the fine closed cell foam I have seen on the TV will be easier to work with. It comes in blocks and can be glued together and then shaped with tools such as a rasp and DA.

Michaels carries foam for flowers and craft projects. (I've been drug there a few times when I was married...)
Toy Collector
I think Scott from MGM Plastics can get you that. My brother used that stuff on a lot of projects and I believe Scott got it for him.

He's on the board as MGM/FRP.
scotty_
i do fiberglass/composite tooling and fab work. foam is not a good way to go. you need to make a hood to fit on the car first and then pull a mold off of that.
yoshi
Maybe this will help you out. This guy made a 3D model of his design. He then sectioned everything off in about 6" increments. He then printed out the ribs off his computer in actual size, then transfered the design to thin wood and cut out the edges. He left some holes in the bottom for 2x4's so he could set the pieces on it. He then glued styrofoam between them making sure they stuck out above all the ribs. He built a very cheap and effect burner outa some thin wire and hooked up a battery charger to it with a positive on one side and negative on the other. This made the wire super hot and he just skimmed over the foam until it was level with the ribs. I saw a video of him using it and it cut through the foam as fast as a hot knife through butter, wen't really quick. He then used plaster over the whole thing since it sands so much easier than bondo. He then primed the whole thing multiple times until he ended up with a super smooth surface. After that he used the body to make a mold which he then transfered to his final product. The smoother the plug, the better your final mold will be and the better your hood will look.
[attachmentid=120651]
[attachmentid=120652]
[attachmentid=120653]
[attachmentid=120654]
Toy Collector
My brother used the two part expanding foam to hand form the side skirts, wide body kit and rear wing for this car. It turned out great, no problems whatsoever. Front section of the bumper is photo chopped for some odd reason...

IPB Image

IPB Image

He also used to make Carbon Fiber hoods so, if you need any advice, I can get that for you as well...
MGM/FRP
QUOTE(sandycrack @ Dec 1 2006, 08:03 PM) [snapback]2000903[/snapback]

Thinking about building a fiberglass hood for new car and looking for place to purchase foam. I have seen the foam used on the TV shows when building custom cars. The foam they use has been green or blue. Any help finding a source?

Any tips from you pros on making a plug?



Hey sandycrack, I sell liquid expansion foam in 2 lb density, and can get up to 12 lb density. If you want sheet foam for shaping, you can get it from General Plastics, in tacoma Washington (253)473-5000 They can ship the sheets to your door step. Or you can get butter board machineable plastic foam from Goldenwest Mfg. in Cedar Ridge Ca. (530)272-1133 They sell proof boards for cnc machinihg. Make sure you get urethane, and not styrene foam, or the resin will eat the foam. My # is (760)744-8909 if you have any questions.
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.
Invision Power Board © 2001-2012 Invision Power Services, Inc.