Custom cardboard box.

69ST

Well-Known Member
You do one helluva good job with box fabrication. (y) THAT'S the way to package a frame! Bubble wrap, stuffed between the tank portion of the frame & cardboard would add that last little bit of overkill...protection from UPS gorillas...without adding more than a few ounces of weight.

For shipping engines, a cheap plastic cooler and hard styrofoam are tough to beat, modest cost and very convenient.
 

red69

Well-Known Member
Kirby, if that pink foam is the same as the stuff (extruded foam) I use for model planes, it can be sanded, unlike the beaded foam. I've made use of it in building fuselages.
 

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69ST

Well-Known Member
Kirby, if that pink foam is the same as the stuff (extruded foam) I use for model planes, it can be sanded, unlike the beaded foam. I've made use of it in building fuselages.
Yes, it's a versatile product. Only wish it were cheaper...
 

kirrbby

Well-Known Member
The foam is great stuff. I've bought a lot of it for different jobs, including some just for packing material. If you talk to the boss at the local lumberyard, he might have some cutoffs, or damaged sheets for cheap. I've also pulled it out of the dumpsters on a building site or 2...small pieces...window and door openings make a lot of scrap.

I can't say enough about the plastic shrink...er stretch wrap either. It's awesome for this kind of thing, and verry handy for a ton of other things too.
I buy a 24" wide roll and cut it into 6" sections. I take it to work and use the bandsaw, but it don't matter, you could use a chain saw, you HAVE to trim the ends with a sharp razor knife for it to peel off of the roll properly. You need a shiny knife cut. You can buy narrow rolls too, but I've never seen 6", only 2" or maybe 3.
 

kirrbby

Well-Known Member
Kirby, if that pink foam is the same as the stuff (extruded foam) I use for model planes, it can be sanded, unlike the beaded foam. I've made use of it in building fuselages.
That's pretty cool Bob. What kind of glue do you use?
 

red69

Well-Known Member
Epoxy was used. Gorilla Glue works too.

Another source for foam is constructions sites. The expanded foam is used in architectural features on buildings. The cut-offs are discarded and you might check the dumpsters on the construction sites. "If it's free, it's for me!"

Edit: Sorry Kirby. I didn't see your comment about construction sites.
 

kirrbby

Well-Known Member
That's no sweat, and it's worth repeating. Free is for me too. I'm a garbage picker from way back :)
I've used gorilla glue too. Any polyurethane based construction adhesive works, but any glue with solvents in it will melt it. I'll bet water based contact cement would be a option as well. But, I've never found ANY glue that makes a strong bond...a little force and the foam lets go. I've used drywall screws to hold it while the glue dries...you just have to drive and tighten the screws carefully to not strip the holes.

A little MORE about the foam, in case anyone is interested...
Cut it, grind, file, sand, with just about any tool you can think of.
You can form it some with a torch if you're careful...but don't breath those fumes.
It's tough enough to walk on, and a good option to lay in front of your garage or basement work bench...soft under your feet and WAY warmer than standing on concrete...just hard to keep it in place.
It's verry warm to sit on, and is great on a bench or picnic table seat...almost like one of those hunters type seat pads...feels like it's heated.
It WILL compress...flatten out, under feet or butts, over years...yes, years of time depending on use.
The density of it is excellent for packaging heavy items. It will dent if you drop a motor on it, but it will mostly bounce back. You'd have to drop a motor on the same spot 5 times before it flattened out the foam.
 

69ST

Well-Known Member
Most have yet to learn about high-density foam and why bubble wrap won't protect a heavy item like a motor.

FYI television boxes are great raw material. Anything over 45" works, usually contains high-density foam...and thet're free.
 
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