Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hey, I'm looking for cheap foam (like the GW or battlefoam kind in their cases) that I could cut up for myself, any ideas?

Just buy some cotton and cut them into pieces or pad cardboard boxes with them, make little boxes and pad them.

http://www.miniaturemarket.com/table-top-miniatures/supplies/foam-trays.html

Cutting foam is hard though, how are you gonna cut the base out? you can cut the sides but,,,

well I was gunna cut a square/rectangle out but not all the way "deep", then fold the foam and just use scissors or something

Probably better off just cutting all the way through, then using a thinner layer as a 'base'.

I have some poly foam that I bought at wal-mart. Its about an inc thick and cuts well with scissors or razor knife. Kaiser-Rushforth has a good product as well, I feel.

KR Multicase is good to go for actual purchasing. All my mini cases come from them now.

Cheap foam can be good, but make sure you check it for roughness.
You don't want a tough foam that'll scuff the paint off.
Or, too flimsy that the models aren't held properly.

For me, KR's cases aren't too expensive, but I always balk at buying a case for just 1 or 2 models.

You'll want upholstery foam, you can get in in any large DIY/home improvement store. It's higher quality than any "proper" miniature transport foam on the market and much cheaper. Usually comes in huge sheets, tho.

Good call.
I'd heard that, but forgotten.

 lord_blackfang wrote:
You'll want upholstery foam, you can get in in any large DIY/home improvement store. It's higher quality than any "proper" miniature transport foam on the market and much cheaper. Usually comes in huge sheets, tho.

This is right. The problem is that ordering these sheets isn't that much more cost effective.....

http://www.rochfordsupply.com/product_listing.asp_Q_ProdID_E_3868_A_SubCatID_E_459_A_CatID_E_412

Plus you have to cut it yourself.

Say what you will about the bags and their pricing, but the actual Foam from BattleFoam is really competetively priced.

First of all, check out my tutorial on making you're own foam tray. It covers sourcing, cutting, gluing, etc.
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/120/362407.page
Regular eggshell foam can be a great starting point as it is usually quite soft, the cavities can be cut out for standard sized 28mm minis and it can even sometimes be salvaged from packing.The foam in my article mostly comes in the case but you can get a nice batch of soft foam by checking your local big box stores for a foam mattress pad. It's the only way I've seen to get foam cheaply as craft stores will charge alot for foam.
For the bases of foam trays, you will want 3mm closed cell (EVA) craft foam. It often goes by the name "funky foam" at craft stores. a 12x18 sheet is a buck.

Also, consider buying in bulk from these guys.
http://www.usafoam.com/packagingfoam/packagingfoam.html
I've bought their pluck form before and it's quite soft and comes in big sheets. It's most worth it though if you order 75 bucks worth to get their free shipping.

on the page you send me eilif, whats the difference between charcoal and poly? is the poly one softer but more flexible or something?

I don't know if poly is technically "softer" but it is typically less duriable. Poly has a tendency to break part. First a corner will chip out, then another, and pretty soon it looks like a dog and a three year old were fighting over a nerf football.

Poly also has a tendency to "yellow" and degrade over time.

Alot of your "softness" or "firmness" will come from the bubble density of a given type of foam. Open cell foams tend to have more give in them than high density closed cell foams.

from my experience, soft side cases tend to want a good high density firm closed cell foam as it is the foam that gives the bulk of the support to the case. If your case is hard sided like a GW case, you can pretty much use whatever foam fits your fancy.

For hand cutting ease and maximum minis, I tend to want a high density closed cell.

so youd recommend the charcoal kind from that site then?

Of the two on that dite, yeah I would go with the charcoal variety.

I don't know the exact differences. I've only bought the regular charcoal variety.

If you click on each type, there's a links for specs.
Poly
http://www.usafoam.com/tech/PolyTech.html
Regular Charcoal
http://www.usafoam.com/tech/CharcoalRTech.html
Firm Charcoal
http://www.usafoam.com/tech/CharcoalFTech.html

From what they say, I'd go with regular Charcoal, or maybe Firm. Poly seems less durable and only lists a 2 year lifetime.

Charcoal is an open celled foam like what you'd find in GW or Sabol trays.

Closed cell foam (sometimes called EVA) is the stiffer stuff. It's what you'd find at the bottom of Sabol trays, what Battlefoam trays are entirely made of, and what Funky foam is made of.

yeah I dont really "understand" the specs >.<