Re: [VFB] Closed Cell foam question...

[Wes Wada]

Here's some info from the past post:

Plastazote type foam is available from other manufacturers as other names. On my card, the following names are used:
Polylam (the coarse, bubbly pool noodle type foam)
Polyplank (a higher grade, smaller bubble, smoother foam, nice stuff -- I brought home about 1-1/2 sq ft. of 1" thick 2# white polyplank)

Evazote type film can also be found under other names:
Ensolite
X.P.E.  (stands for crosslinked polyethylene)  VERY nice stuff, small bubbles, resilient, easy to work, expensive - 4# X.P.E. comes close to the ideal foam material for flytying, in my opinion)

EVA foam is similar to flip-flop material.  It comes in several grades, a large variety of thicknesses and a good selection of colors.  It is VERY expensive and usually a special order item. Count yourself very lucky if you can find flip-flop foam in the colors you want at the local dollar store! EVA foam is the best choice for lathe work, shaping with an emery board, or small diameter cylinders for terrestrials, etc.

If you are really into foam flies, you really owe yourself a trip to the local foam distributor.  You may find cutoffs, samples, and freebies that will be very useful. My choice would be to buy white, then color them with art markers or dye them to the colors needed.

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I looked at the Rainey site (they supply a lot of the foam in flyshops).  Rainey's standard foam is Evazote.  The Razor Foam .5mm is X.P.E. (Cross-linked polyethylene)

Not sure which of these is available through a foam store in very thin sheets.


Wes Wada
Bend, Oregon