Best Place to Buy EPS Blanks

General Discussion
1

New to shaping.  Can you recommend the best place to buy EPS blanks?  I purchased four from Foam EZ but not sure if they are the best.  I live in Charleston SC.

2

Also look at Greenlight Surf, they are up your way.  When you get really obsessed you can start making your own.

3

Also US Blanks has a distributor in Melborne Fla. ,  Atlantic Surfoam.  They are great and will ship.  Ask for Donna or Skip.  And Skip is a great source of info on all aspects of board making.

4

Never used them, but Greenroom is in Wilmington, NC -

http://www.greenroomboardco.com/

5

We ship out of Ventura, CA. Even though it’s far from you we have some killer shipping rates. Feel free to email us your wish list and we’ll quote it out for you. 

6

Hi Bmathews-

Thanks for getting your blanks from us.  What do you mean the “best” place to get EPS blanks?  Hopefully your experience with Foam E-Z exceeded your expectations.  We pride ourselves in stocking the best supplies at the best prices, with the BEST customer service, and speed of shipping your products.  We carry the best variety and highest quality EPS blanks; Marko Foam, US Blanks Superfused, and White Hot slab blanks.

We think we are the “best” place to get your supplies.   Of course if you can save money on freight by buying local you should take advantage of that.

Thanks again for your business, hope we can help in the future.

Brad

7

Brad,

I love you guys and still buy much from you (Love the Markso foam).  In fact, just had another small order arrive yesterday.  I was looking to see if something closer would cut down on the shipping cost.  It’s a long way from the west to the east.   I’m going to make another purchase for boards again and would like to get some SUPs.

 

Thanks

Bob

8

Marko is great foam. The Us Blanks EPS is pretty good too.

 You should be able to get billets locally for your SUPS.

If you are really getting creative check out Blue Shed shaping… he cuts a TON of SUPS and will ship your cuts to you.

Very reasonable prices. Robert Braun.

There is also  supplier in NC where you could probbaly drive up from Charleston to Wilmington.

9

Marko is great foam. The Us Blanks EPS is pretty good too.

 You should be able to get billets locally for your SUPS.

If you are really getting creative check out Blue Shed shaping… he cuts a TON of SUPS and will ship your cuts to you.

Very reasonable prices. Robert Braun.

There is also  supplier in NC where you could probbaly drive up from Charleston to Wilmington.

10

 

For SUPs in the Carolina’s use www.carpenter.com  Ships out of High Point NC. But, it’s block foam. If you don’t mind doing the hotwire work first! 

11

Funny question.

How about ...What is the BEST EPS blank?.......................

It's OK I already know the answer.........Craigs List....

12

Why Buy when its so easy to cut your own. Come on guys , stop selling and help. my blanks cost me 20 bucks a pice, im sure others get them cheaper!!!

13

 

Yep, my SUP blanks cut from carpenter 1.5 # block, come out to $67 each, including shipping. 

14

where can I buy this cheap online?

15

Dwight -- How big of a block do you buy??  How many blanks do you get out of a block taking into consideration thickness and over-all rocker from nose to tail??  Lowel

16

I buy whatever size block I need. You don’t have to buy full 47 x 47 blocks.

Some I’ve bought recently

  1. 34" x 28" x 108" $236   I made 5 boards from this. 

  2. 34" x 34" x 108" $296  makes 6 boards.  Shipping was $130

All 1.5 lb (true density 1.35)

I layout the rocker templates stacked (using AutoCAD) allowing 1" of meat between blanks to get my block size.

17

http://carpenter.com/index.php/us/en/expanded-polystyrene-systems/overview

I contacted these guys. They set me up with the rep for my area of the country. The rep places the order, they charge my card and it ships in 2 to 3 days.

If you’re in Flordia, you’d want to buy from these guys instead. http://imperialfoam.net/

18

I’m in PA.  I am looking to make my first paddleboard and was debating on just using Home Depot foam to save money but we’ll see.  

19

Hi -

I have no way of knowing how cooperative they'll be at your local Home Depot.  On the west coast I was able to go to the Contractor's Department and special order a big block with a specific density.  Of course, that opens a whole can of worms with rocker/profile templates, hot wire bows, transformers, etc.  It's also not very likely that you'll nail it the first time.

There really is a good argument to go with a ready made blank if you are planning to do one or two boards.  The money you 'save' making your own might be better spent on a pro made blank.  Even better... see if someone can take your own computer design and at least do a pre-shape on a computerized cutter.  A huge sled-cut blank is a pain to shape from scratch.  I know there are services on the west coast that can machine shape, package and ship but as you've found, shipping ain't cheap.

 

20

I don’t expect to make the perfect board the first time but I believe in trial and error to achive success.  This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time and look forward to doing well and messing up over and over agian.

Thanks