Interesting learnings about EPS, for me anyway

This past weekend I installed quad boxes in a pop-out from Cobra (Thailand) and another from China. I was impressed with the EPS from the Cobra factory. The beads were fused so beautifully, they were no longer round beads, but smashed polygons with all flat sides matting perfectly with each other. Not a hint of daylight between any of the former round beads.

 

A) the Cobra board

B) the Chinese board

C) Carpenter foam in NC. Construction grade 1 lb.

 

The enlighting part of seeing these foams for me, is that the only surfboard EPS blank I’ve had my hands on in the US, was a SUP built in California using a big name blank brand. I got a peak inside this US built SUP when I installed a Gore-Tex vent. The EPS beads were not like the foam from Cobra. I could see loose beads and daylight between them after I used the hole saw on the board.

What US blanks companies are making EPS as pretty as this stuff from Cobra?

Yeah from that pic I reckon that Cobra eps is very good.

The Marko Foam EPS is nice and tight. 

How does A,B, & C compair in the weight department?

That is pretty amazing.  Makes me wonder what the overseas eps is blown with.  Somehow I don't think it would be legal in the U.S.

 

All three samples are 1 lb

All three samples look like different bead sizes.