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Material Sources and Consistency

PostPosted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 3:46 pm
by Sir Thurat
I'm looking into ordering materials to build equipment for my local Bel realm, and I've read that consistency and quality varies from supplier to supplier, so I have some questions regarding a few different suppliers for foam and cores.

For foam, I've read that the foam from foambymail.com is extremely inconsistent, but I haven't heard anything about the other two suppliers that I've looked at: Foam Factory (http://www.thefoamfactory.com/) and Foam N' More (foamforyou.com).

For cores, I was looking at 1/2" round fiberglass from The Horse Fence Store (http://www.electric-horse-fence.com/) and Kencove (http://www.kencove.com/). I've ordered from The Horse Fence Store, and had good results thus far, but never ordered from Kencove; Kencove seems a bit cheaper.

If anyone has any input on these suppliers, or can suggest others, I'd appreciate the feedback.

Thanks in advance!

Re: Material Sources and Consistency

PostPosted: Thu Sep 11, 2014 4:02 pm
by Brutus
I get my fiberglass from Kencove, and always have. I can't compare it directly to horse-fence, but it works very well. I've never had a piece of fiberglass break from them. I can't say whether it's exactly the same stuff as horse-fence, but it is the pure-white fiberglass with long strands (if you ever cut a piece almost all the way through, but have some fibers at the edge tear off a few inches up the core, you'll know what I mean).

Re: Material Sources and Consistency

PostPosted: Fri Sep 12, 2014 1:59 am
by Sir Thurat
Yeah, the horse store stuff is pultruded as well. I've just heard that some brands flex less than others, or are more consistent in their strength. Not a big deal since I won't make anything longer than a min-red on them, but I figured it was worth asking about.

Re: Material Sources and Consistency

PostPosted: Tue Sep 16, 2014 9:31 am
by Sir Thurat
I got my samples in from Foam Factory today. Pictures and commentary may be found in this Facebook album.

Regarding the 2.2lb PE plank sample, are you supposed to be able to pop bubbles on the edge of the foam?

Re: Material Sources and Consistency

PostPosted: Tue Sep 16, 2014 12:22 pm
by Dangus
Thurat wrote:Regarding the 2.2lb PE plank sample, are you supposed to be able to pop bubbles on the edge of the foam?
This shouldn't happen on the 2.2# planks. I have some white 2.2# in my garage right now and I can barely compress a 1/2"thick piece enough to get my thumb all the way to the table. It sounds like they may have sent you 1.7#, or perhaps there was a defect in that particular batch.

Edit: I took a look at the photos in your album, particularly the 2# PE, and I agree with your caption, it does look a lot like blue foam, due to its particularly wide and spread out cells. Again, this could be a batch-to-batch thing, but I think you'll have better luck with high-end striking surface foam if you seek out "Cross-link polyethylene" (XPE). Typically with cross-linking you'll find smaller cells, a smoother surface and increased durability.

Re: Material Sources and Consistency

PostPosted: Tue Sep 16, 2014 12:47 pm
by Sir Thurat
I've used Minicell (XPE) in the past, and I've found that I don't care for it as much as I do for the PE as far as striking surface goes. For the box layer, I find the 4# EVA variety of XPE makes an awesome box. With the 2# MC, it certainly has been more durable, and it has passed for hit, but I find that it makes some rather unfriendly weapons.

Re: Material Sources and Consistency

PostPosted: Tue Sep 16, 2014 1:08 pm
by Dangus
Thurat wrote:I've used Minicell (XPE) in the past, and I've found that I don't care for it as much as I do for the PE as far as striking surface goes. For the box layer, I find the 4# EVA variety of XPE makes an awesome box. With the 2# MC, it certainly has been more durable, and it has passed for hit, but I find that it makes some rather unfriendly weapons.

You're mistaken in your assumption that microcellular foams are all XPE, because they are not. They are similar, but they are also very different. You're right when you say that MC foam makes for a less than friendly hit, which is why it's primary use is as a box foam. 2# XPE is the foam used in Edhellen fries and WLS bats; it has a tight, cellular density and a smooth surface, with a barely visible "cross-hatch" type pattern.

Edit: I think there might be some misunderstanding going on in this world of Bel and foam so I think I'll clarify: "MC Foam" as we know it is known in the industry as IXPE (Irradiated cross-link polyethylene), and while it IS crosslinked, it is not the same as XLPE (Cross-link polyethylene).

Re: Material Sources and Consistency

PostPosted: Tue Sep 16, 2014 1:16 pm
by Sir Thurat
Ah, I had thought that Minicell/Microcell were trade names for cross-linked polyethylene. Thanks for the correction.

Re: Material Sources and Consistency

PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 10:38 pm
by Temujin
Thurat wrote:I got my samples in from Foam Factory today. Pictures and commentary may be found in this Facebook album.


That #2.2 PE stuff seems oddly similar to the stuff I get at my local distributor... it is even exactly the same density...

It is the most reliable foam I have used, though. It is also the only type of closed foam I ever used, anything else is really hard to get over here at Mexico(The realm over at Tepic uses thin layers of rubber foam, ouch). It is also dirt cheap! I checked the prices for a full roll over at foam factory, and over here it is 1/3 of the price for 1/2 inch stuff. Of course, our contact cement costs more, as does our duct tape, fiberglass, polyurethane, and much, much more.