Battery/Motor Case Foam?

[peetbee]

I'm trying to find out where to get hold of some of the foam/sponge like the stuff used in battery and motor cases. Can anyone recommend a cheap source?

Also does anyone have any hints or tips for the best way to cut it to fit items like transmitters and funnily enough motors & cells?

Thanks

[Scouser]

Jessops the photographers used to do foam sheets that were 'scored' into easy to tear chunks so that you could remove the required shape easily. Been a while since I was there so I dont know if they do them anymore but worth a try.

[Lowie]

easy way to cut this material straight, is with an electric knife, such as used to slice meat at the dinner-table.
(such as this : http://www.johnlewis.com/jl_assets/p.../230135072.jpg)

[RogerM]

Any furniture repair shop or trimmers should be able to supply you firm cushion foam .. just the job and about £5 a tonne too!!!! Try the markets

[peetbee]

Thanks, looked at the stuff on Jessops site and several other camera places do replacement foam too. But will pop into the local furniture trimmers first.

[scotoap]

Try your local £1 shop or the equivalent for foam chopping boards.
I traced round a battery pack with felt tip pen then cut with craft knife (long slim blade), or if you can find a correct or near size copper or other metal tube, run a file around the inner edge to form a sharp edge and spin it down into the foam to the depth you want ( not much good for soft dense foam though, only hard stuff).
Hope this helps too

[peetbee]

Now that's a good idea, thanks!

[mole2k]

One method for cutting is to create your own hot wire with a 9v battery and some fuse wire, never done it myself but I know a friend who does a lot of stuff like that made his own with this method and a hacksaw without the blade.

[Col]

I've just bought some foam for my batteries today. Got it from Dunelm mill. It's light blue (think snee blue) but other than that, it's spot on and at £3.50 for a large sheet, not bad price either.

[peetbee]

Cheers, but I'd better not take my wife with me, she'll only find curtains or something else that we 'need' and that will make any bargain foam very expensive!