The Foamular Files

THE FOAMULAR FILES

Beyond The Straight Body Tube /// The Foamular Rocket Body

In my never-ending cloning/upscaling efforts I had a need to venture beyond the straight body tube. I needed a lightwieght material that would be carvable and that could be glued together to create unlimited thickness and length. I remembered an foam insulation product called Foamular that comes in 2"-5" thick sheets, and either 2'x8' or 4'x8' sheets. Its a high density foam product that can be cut, sawed, hot wire cut, and sanded. The following is about my first rocketry project made with Foamular.
Photo's of the Foamular Files and detailed editorial at this link:

Your opinions and questions are welcome. Thanks JP

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James Pierson Manager
Rocketry Preservation Society
https://groups.msn.com/ROCKETRYPRESE...?pgmarket=en-us

Please don't cross post.

Some cool ideas there. Could definitely come in handy.

Definitely a unique looking rocket!

i like the foamular stuff, it works like balsa, but has uniform strength, rather than strenght only across a single axis

it does however melt with heat, so take caution to sheild it

Scott McNeely

Hello Scott,

I'm glad you have tried this material. It does seem to have a grain to it running the thickness end of the sheets. On a homemade lathe turning at about 200-500 rpm's the Foamular chips away nicely with a wood rasp, but does not like to be cut with lathe tools. The lathe tools seem to tear rather than cut. The best sanding tool for shaping I have found is the sanding sponges with one side a 45 degree beveled edge. The biggest drawback is its fragility after carving and before the protective coating of epoxy and 3/4 oz. fiberglass.

P.S. Don't forget safely glasses and your respirator when working and sanding this stuff. JP

Thanks for the input.

James Pierson Manager
Rocketry Preservation Society
https://groups.msn.com/ROCKETRYPRESERVATIONSOCIETY/_whatsnew.msnw?pgmarket=en-us

I've also been wanting to try this stuff out. I finally found some after much searching in the local area. However, I can only find the 3/4" thickness stuff at our local Home Depot. Does anyone know where else I can find some of the thicker stuff?

well, you could make a road trip up here to get the 2 inch stuff, or glue a bunch of sheets together

Scott McNeely

Is this just the foam insulation they sell at hardware stores? Maybe a brand name? Pink or blue?

owens corning, extruded polystyrene foam, the stuff i have is pink, blue/green should work fine.

Scott McNeely

Ahhh, thanks. I used the pink variety to build my 8" cone for my L2 rocket. Somehow the term 'Foamular' threw me. I'm slow, what can I say? Both Home Depot and Lowes carry the 2" foam around here.

Hello All,

Foamular is a Owens Corning product ( the pink stuff) and can be purchased at most major hardware stores. It also is available in thicknesses that range fron 3/4" thick to 5" thick, although you may have to order is if you want over 2" thick. I tend to favor the Foamular as the sheets tend to be in better condition off the shelf (i.e.) warps , chips, cuts, etc...

The blue stuff is made by Dupont and I have never used it as the sheets always seem to be in poor condition off the shelf.

Also Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are available online at either Owens Corning and/or Dow Chemical.

I am in the midst of more research on foam glider wing covering for the best lightwieght covering to protect the foam. If anyone has any input it will be greatly apperciated.


James Pierson Manager
Rocketry Preservation Society
https://groups.msn.com/ROCKETRYPRESERVATIONSOCIETY/_whatsnew.msnw?pgmarket=en-us

well, im not sure about light weight, but glass seems to work, but i havent tried it yet

Scott McNeely

The lightest glass I have found is 3/4 oz. and I think it will work well however I have not tried it yet either. I think the key with fiberglass will be to vaccum bag to remove the excess epoxy. I may not be able to do anything like glassing as I am working in an unheated garage and may have to wait until spring.

I have heard tell of a few other materials I am looking into such as:

Silkspan
Polyspan
Duralam
Jap tissue
Monocote
carbon fiber matte
tagboard
brown paper
Kromocote
Rhinohide

Most of the above are use by R/C airplane modelists for foam wing coverings which is a whole new area to me, but I am slowly learning.

James Pierson Manager
Rocketry Preservation Society
https://groups.msn.com/ROCKETRYPRESERVATIONSOCIETY/_whatsnew.msnw?pgmarket=en-us