Help finding pink foam

thumsup

Member
:thumb: Greeting all,

I am starting the bench work for my N-scale empire. Right off the get go I am unable to find the pink foam (or blue). Does any of you fine folks know where to get this in the Orange County, ca area? I have tried two HD's with no luck. :cry:

thanks,

Joe
 

CRed

Member
Do you have a Menards there?That's where I'm going to get mine when I need it.If you have a Lowes you can check there or maybe a housing contractor in the area might have some.

Chris
 

thumsup

Member
Hey CRed,:wave:

I'll be dang, did a Google map screch for "Menards" and wouldn't you know their is one in the city I live in.:rolleyes:

I'll check them out this week, thanks for the reply.

Joe
 

thumsup

Member
Hey Ralph,

I don't know for sure, but it maybe just coperate office. No body there today. But while doing a search for them I found more polabilties near by.

See ya,
Joe
 

Jim Krause

Active Member
Your location, California, may be part of the problem. Many people from CA here on The Gauge state that they can't get the pink and blue foam. Some kind of state regulation about using it in house construction.
 

ezdays

Out AZ way
Depends on where you are. Both Lowe's and Home Depot carry it here in the Phoenix area, but I think Jim's right, so far we haven't heard from one person that found any in California. It might be a building code issue. Possibly they could special order it for you, or even transfer a few sheets from an out-of-state store.
 

thumsup

Member
:wave: Thanks for the replies guy. It appears I'm doomed to using the white messy stuff. Thanks again.

:thumb: Joe
 

0-4-0 Steamer

New Member
Yep, I live in so cal too, not far from u in Corona. No pink or blue foam, has to do with what it's made out of or something. You may find some in the Big Bear or Arrowhead area cause of the cold there. But I think it's a state thing and a call up there first may save you some time. If you find it somewhere, PLEASE post where you got it! I just built mine the old fashion way on plywood. I'm having fun, but not really building the layout that I had dreamed of. Good luck! (that white stuff is REALLY messy!)
 

thumsup

Member
:cool: Hey 0-4-0,
Well that drives a spike in the foam:curse: . unless someone comes up with a good alternative I'm stuck with the mess.. Now all I have to do is make up my mind on what I'm going to do (Rail Road wise) in the area I have.:confused:

Thanks for the info.

:thumb: Joe
 

ezdays

Out AZ way
Why not try talking to Lowe's or Home Depot customer service? There's a good possibility they can special order it. If you need to buy a full bundle, maybe you can get together with a few other modelers and split the cost. These stores there may be able to get it, but not stock it because it can't be used for construction purposes.
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
Hi Joe, I live in Orange County to and I had the same problem trying to find the foam. I instead used the white foam that is used in place of the blue/pink foam here in CA. This foam is not very good as it is not extruded (meaning it crumbles and makes a HUGE mess when you cut it) but it works and does the trick for me for now.

The blue/pink foam is insulation foam and the reason the Blue/Pink foam is not available here in CA. is that our climate is so "good" if you will call it (the temp. here in CA pretty much always stays the same year round) that the blue/pink foam would be inefficiant because of our beatiful climate. That is what I have been told at the local Home Depot. I also think it does have something to do with the building codes and the R-value in CA for the use of foam insulation for construction purposes as others have been saying.

As Don said above, you can special order it through Home Depot or Lowes and that is what I will be doing on my next layout because this white foam insulation board that we have available is just to messy.

Hope this helps you out some, I got frusterated when I was looking for this stuff last time to.

The Blue/Pink Foam is made by Owens Corning Company, that might be helpful when special ordering it at your local Home Depot or Lowes. It also comes in various thicknesses. Here is there web site to the page on the insulation boards CLICK HERE
 

thumsup

Member
Thanks Don and Josh, Josh the link was helpful, it list the use as for "basement" wall. I don't have time to dig one.
 

thumsup

Member
oops

Clicked the wrong button. Anyway guys thanks a bunch. Probably be seeing ya all over in the layout fourm soon.

:thumb: Joe :thumb:
 

thumsup

Member
Yeah Josh M. I'll be around following all the neat things you and the rest are doing. Hope it rubs off.:eek:

:thumb: Joe
 

thumsup

Member
The results are in.....

:cry: Thanks all for your replies. Checked with my local HD, no dice. At least he knew what I was talking about. sign1

See ya all around,

:thumb: Joe
 

ezdays

Out AZ way
:cry: Thanks all for your replies. Checked with my local HD, no dice. At least he knew what I was talking about. sign1

See ya all around,

:thumb: Joe
Don't give up, try a local building supply, one that had things like sand, gravel, cement and other products that they sell to people that do cement or stucco work. They may be more willing to order some for you than HD.
 

doctorwayne

Active Member
Yeah, California seems to be really paranoid, rightly or wrongly, about a lot of stuff. I'm surprised that you can find the white styrofoam, as I think that it's not that much different in its composition. I just read in today's newspaper that Ar-nold is in Toronto today - maybe I'll pop over there and tell him to pick up some blue stuff for you while he's in town; after all, I believe he's here on a trade mission. :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
I don't use foam, but would suggest that you try to see if you can find someone who can bring some in for you. Don't use the white foam: it's messy and has virtually no strength. Plywood makes a good solid base and plaster over screen probably is less messy than the white foam, and a whole lot more fun to use.
I'm really surprised that this stuff is banned outright: in Canada, many new homes are sheathed in it, as its insulation value is higher than fibreglass. I used it on the inside of my house, where the rafters form part of the ceilings, and it's also an approved vapour barrier in Canada.

Wayne
 
Top