Foam

How do you make a mold of an object using urethane foam and/or RTV silicone rubber, and are there any substitutes for either one if you can’t find them?

RTV silicon rubber is usually poured, it’s fairly liquid.
You can also use 100% silicon rubber from any hardware store. Squirting it into a pan of water with plenty dishwashing liquid in there allows you to shape the silicone into patties which can be used for mold making.
But if you google RTV silicone rubber you find about a hundred place which are happy to sell it to you. Same with urethane.
But if you want to substitute, it really depends why you want to use urethane. Light weight important? If not you could use plaster or hydrocal for less fragility. Resins tend to be expensive, but for something small might be appropriate.
Wax, chocolate, concrete are all substances which can be poured and have been used for sculptures…

How you make a mold of an object depends largely on your object. You can find plenty of general instructions for mold making online.

We are building with 6" cedar using foam gaskets and log seal. Trying to decide if it is worth the initial cost to do insulation package. What is R factor difference? Will it save heat/cooling costs? If so, will the savings be enough to cover the cost? Any opinions/facts would be appreciated. The log books go 50/50.

Yeah it will save. Cedar logs are wet. R factor is not that high.. Mine is Pine and Fir, less water logs 8-10" R factor is still low. Definitely could be better. Make special note about the windows and doors. Vinyl is better than wood and insulated steel door is better than wood.

I have a variable speed dremel and I am helping a friend with a diorama project. We would like to know if there is a particular bit or cutting wheel we should use to cut clear through foam core.

Honestly, cutting each one carefully with a razor knife is a real pain in the neck.

There is a hot wire cutting tool that works very well. It is built like a coping saw with a nichrome wire as a "blade" The wire is heated by electricity, and is plugged into the wall, so don’t use in any wet or damp areas.
The wire is just hot enough to melt the foam, so you get a clean cut. It should be available at a hobby shop that specializes in model making – especially trains. You can search (internet) for Micromark Tools, who are a US firm specializing in hobby tools and does mail order.
Don’t try to rig something yourself because if the wire is too hot and burns the foam, the chemicals produced may not be predictable and could be dangerous.
For the same reasons carefully follow the instructions for using the tool when you get it.

Thinking about a memory foam mattress. I live in Florida and like to be cool when I sleep.

they can be, but I"ve found that by using a high thread count sheet and a mattress pad that lowers the temp, that I stay very cool..

I recently inherited a used sofa. the fellow who had the sofa finally got a bed and didn’t need it anymore.( The bed AND the sofa were too much for the smallish bedroom) He had been sleeping on the sofa and one arm(used as pillow) and an upper part where he sat is saturated with some sort of dingy, oily, substance. It is either his natural oils or possibly geri-curl or the like.

We live in HUD apartments and furniture is passed from tenant to tenant. My question is what can I use to remove the stains? Are the foam upholstery cleaners used for auto interiors a good idea? Is there another type cleaner that would be better?

I’ve never tried to clean a velveteen type fabric before and don’t want to ruin the upholstery but the stain is disgusting, and probably not very sanitary. We have the stained portions covered with towels for now, but need a more permanent fix.

Any suggestions would be appreciated….Thanks…JPT

You will need a professional upholstery cleaner to take care of this problem. There are no "off the shelf" cleaners that can remove body oils that have passed through the chairs fabric and are now residing in the padding just beneath the fabric.

I found this out the hard way. I purchased a couch from our local Salvation Army that had geri-curl oils in it. I used a fabric cleaner for auto interiors and that just made matters worse.

I live in Florida and contacted a company named Tru-Clean Carpet and Tile Care and they came over, explained wy off the shelf remedies don’t work (not strong enough) and then cleaned my couch. They charged $95.00 but my couch looks brand new and no more staining.

Hope this helps so you don’t waste your money on products that won’t work.

I was just curious as to the point of most foam mattress pads having that egg shell texture. Some are flat on both sides, but most seem to have this bumpy thing going on. I assume there’s some kind of reasoning behind this, anyone know what it is? Thanks.
Ahhh, I found out. http://www.myfoammattress.net/compare/egg-crate.html

Told me what I wanted to know!

The "egg crate" texture allows them to be soft but still be firm, if that makes sense. Your body presses down on the bumps and they collapse to the same level as the lower areas. Hospitals use egg-crate mattresses and pads to prevent pressure ulcers (bed sores) because they don’t press back against the skin all at the same place and the same pressure.

I,m want sheet rubber not a wetsuit. Thanks

Do you want to buy a wetsuit, or do you want to buy neoprene?

a friend of mine is doing architecture he needs some foam boards to make building models. he asked me if I had any but I dont. now I’m wondering if shops would sell them. I always only see them in the packages of TV sets and things like that. never seen plastic foams sold alone in any kinds of shops?

Try hobby, model or floral supply shops.
They can usually order blocks in sizes other than what they stock.

I’m looking for cell foam or any thin comfortable foam for my motorcycle to replace the current foam. I was told this makes a dramatic difference in seat height. I live in Michigan can anyone direct to any store near here or any major department stores that would sell this?
car shops and motorcycle shops don’t sell foam. Use your brain! I’m just looking for foam, not foam modded to a motorcycle seat shape, just foam!
kb what store did you get this from? Are you talking about something like this?

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1343217&cp=2367824.2277089.2280720.2280724&pg=1&view=all&searchSort=TRUE&s=A-StorePrice-DSP&parentPage=family&searchId=2280724
I’ve called about 7 different fabric shops and no one has this foam, let alone knows what I’m talking about.
Thanks kb, I will go tomorrow and see if they have this in 1/2". If not do think just doubling this up will work?

Try you local motorcycle seat foam shop, any of them will have it.

I am buying some cases for my drums soon, and do not want to spend the extra money for the ones with foam in them. The cases I am buying are the Humes and Berg Enduro series. What kind of foam should I get to cut out and put inside them, and where can I buy it?

There is a sort of foam, which i can’t name you because i do not know it’s technical term. But it is made in Europe and the colour is in dark grey. I bought mine from brooklyn. But i’ve seen them on ebay before.