So I had a go a while back with the Shapers Aus foam sanding block (Thanks Paul!) and was thinking I can either order some from Oz for bout 25 euro plus customs etc...Or I can try and make some myself. From looking at the foam and feeling it, it seems that it something similar to the foam used to make bodyboards, either Arecel or polyehtylene. So Im thinking if I can get a cheap kiddies body/boogy board, cut it up into 7" blocks, glue some soft squshy foam to a few of them. Then just glue the abraisive onto the soft foam. What do people think? Worht it?
Mike Daniels i've read somewhere that you used to make your own....what foam did you use? And was it any good?
I use EVA foam, the stuff camping mats are made of, comes in all sorts of densities and colours . I use the soft flexible stuff for finish sandin with a strip of sand paper stuck to it with double sided tape, easily removed and replaced, and The dense stuff for rough sanding…
I don’t know what it is, but I use the foam out of a life jacket, glued to a wood block with 5200, for the rough sanding. I don’t adhere the paper to the block. I cut the block to the perfect size so I can wrap the paper around the block and hold it there with my hand. This particular foam is firm, but yeilds when you press it, and comes back to flat when you let go. I think it’s perfect.
DIY'ers don't need to look any further than their foam offcuts to make flexi-blocks. Thickness and even taper can control flex. Bare foam-on-foam works for final polish, too. Jim Phillips showed me that one, kayu mentioned it on here recently.
I think the material you're asking about is the play-mat/flooring/flip-flop 1/2'' foam. Likely same as ''camping mat'' nocean refers to. I glue the abrasive down with PU glue. If you wrap the paper around the block it won't bend in the direction of the fold. I use blocks made from this stuff everyday. The Dow Styrofoam sheet xps could be a substitute if you can't find the flip-flop foam.
All sorts of materials could be used, just imagination required. At one time I tied a lot of saltwater flies, I got used to looking at everything around me and wondering, ''could I catch a fish with that?". Now I look at stuff and go ''can I make a tool with that?". I think I caught this disease from the aforementioned Jim Phillips.
I'm pretty much the same as NJ Surfer - I use a light density foam - sort of like the foam you get in seating glued onto a 6mm plywood backing. I make the block as long as the width of a piece of production paper then just wrap the full sheet of production paper round and hold it by hand. This allows me to turn the block around and use the plywood if I want a hard pad or with the foam side down for a soft pad. Two tools in one!
I too tie my own flies, and truth be told, most tying materials have had another life and pervious use. I.E. foam, beads, Bozo Hair,etc. I’ll look at body board and say …“this would make a great sanding block for concaves” etc.
I like two-layer camping mats for soft sanding pads - eggshell foam on the top for grip, with a thin (1/4"?) layer of high density EVA that you can spray-glue the sandpaper to.
Balsa wood for hard sanding blocks. easy to shape if you want customized.
Cool!! Thanks for all the replies and tips fellas!
The camping mats seen like the simplest way to go about it. Can get some real cheap ones from aldi i think. It prob would need to be layered, but on a bright side, a curve can be introduced into the block easily i guess.
NJ…I’ve seen somewhere that EVA foam is used in marine applications inc. life jackets…cant find the link now though…
Mike: Thanks for the info…I was thinking along those lines… I guess EVA seems to be the concensus…
EVA stands for ethylene vynil acetate, so its a co-polimer foam…the bodyboards are made from polyethylene…so i guess the physical properties of the two might be quite similar…
Hey paul! Well, incase i want to do some quick shaping in the attic…them blocks would be handy…will keep me closer to home and father duties…
I’ll give you a text this weekend bout calling out. Thanks again for the help on the board.