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Floral foam
Thu, 2012-08-16 09:05 — slow.track
Does anyone know of a place that sells floral foam at a reasonable price and quantity? I am looking for some to use on scenery but am not having much luck finding it in any sort of quantity.
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A source
Edited below -
One of the MRH sponsors, Scenic Express, does have something like what you request. If you dropdown the "Advertisers" menu and then select "MRH Sponsors" and click on their logo, you will have your browser directed to their web site. The product is shown in the middle of their home page:
The product name is "Silflorettes Flowering Tufts".
(direct link: http://www.sceneryexpress.com/products.asp?dept=1261 )
Edit is here:
Oh, that's different - I must have had flowers on the mind. I have seen this foam available at Michael's craft stores - do you have one nearby? (I believe the more popular term for this is "florist foam")
If you have not yet read the article by Mike Confalone (Building the Pulp and Paper Mill, part 3) in the June 2012 issue, you may want to look at how he uses the green florists foam for building terrain and a wood chip pile.
Bill D.
N Scale (1:160), not N Gauge. DC (analog), Stapleton PWM Throttle.
Proto-freelance Southwest U.S. 2nd half 20th Century.
Keep on trackin'
Thanks for your reply.
Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately that isn't exactly what I meant by floral foam. I was looking for something like this...
http://www.bloomsbythebox.com/pub/orderflowers.cfm?categoryid=137&productid=738
-Travis
Prairie Scale Model Railroaders
Floral Foam
Hi Slow
I have seen floral foam at places like Hobby Lobby (use their 40% discount on a large piece you can cut up yourself), but I never checked the prices. Other sources are your local florist shops. They always have scraps and may save them for you to come and pick up later (this may also save them from having to pay to have in hauled off by their trash people). If that doesn't work, then see if you can include what you want in their next order from their supplier - you should be able to at least take advantage of their quantity discounts and no sales tax. Just a few ideas.
Jim Dixon
Tried Michaels?
http://www.michaels.com/STYROFOAM%E2%84%A2/products-generalcrafts-basicsupplies-styrofoam,default,sc.html
MikeM
I tried a few local craft
I tried a few local craft stores and wasn't terribly impressed with the quantity you could get for the price. The best I have found thus far is the link I posted. I have seen Mike's article and was watching the videos I purchased again which is what brought all this up. I appreciate all the help! Maybe searching Florist foam will give better results.
-Travis
Prairie Scale Model Railroaders
Floral foam...
...of the type you refer to is known as the Green Foam of Death and is a safety hazard. The fine particles when cut can easily get into your lungs and the off gas when you use a hot knife is much worse then styrofoam. If you are still going to get it, AC Moore, Michaels and Hobby Lobby are your best choices. Also try a flower shop. They may buy this foam for their use and may be able to get a volume discount.
This is a YouTube series you might like...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ncTR3p-kHI
Lengthy, but he uses a lot of this type of foam in some interesting ways.
MikeM
I have seen this as well...
I have seen this as well... really like how he uses the shavings with the glue to use as a paste to fill holes.
-Travis
Prairie Scale Model Railroaders
Someone posted the link to
Someone posted the link to Michaels Crafts. That's the material - green styrofoam, It's used for floral arrangements but it's hard and has a course texture vs. the material that is meant to hold water for live flowers. That's no good.
I have a friend who was in the wholesale flower business. I purchased a case of the 3'-long pieces years ago, but have since run out and he can't get it at a discount any longer. So, I generally check on-line and shop for the best price, or go to Michaels. It's not cheap, but man is it versatile, especially if you have a ton of trees to plant. Otherwise, use the pink stuff for areas that don't have lots of trees.
Mike Confalone
I hadn't noticed the aquafoam
I hadn't noticed the aquafoam versus the regular, thanks for the tip. Who knew florist foam could be so complicated!
-Travis
Prairie Scale Model Railroaders