20 replies to this topic

[TimmyTown]

I am looking to buy larger quantities of FBR, preferably online. I was wondering if anyone has a reccomended place and what I should purchase for darts that would fit well in CPVC and 17/32. Currently I have been using ACE brand foam and that seems to work pretty well but it all comes down to quantity. I need much more of it then I am getting (buying 6 100 foot sections is just strange).

I use CPVC and 17/32 brass as barrel material and need a new supplier of foam, whether it be a store or someone on NH.

Thank you for your time.

[Dayko]

You should go to Lowes and pick up there home brand ( I'm pretty sure its there home brand, I could be wrong though). It comes in a clear and purple plastic bag. This stuff fits perfectly in 1/2" CPVC and 17/32 brass.

Edited by Dayko, 20 September 2008 - 02:59 AM.

[sub280]

Dayko, he said he wanted large quantities, and i believe Lowe's brand comes in packages of 20ft.

[Shrub]

McMaster and once I get my sample from herticorp I'll see if it works.

[mrcrouse1]

TimmyTown, on Sep 20 2008, 02:33 AM, said:

I am looking to buy larger quantities of FBR, preferably online. I was wondering if anyone has a reccomended place and what I should purchase for darts that would fit well in CPVC and 17/32. Currently I have been using ACE brand foam and that seems to work pretty well but it all comes down to quantity. I need much more of it then I am getting (buying 6 100 foot sections is just strange).

I use CPVC and 17/32 brass as barrel material and need a new supplier of foam, whether it be a store or someone on NH.

Thank you for your time.

I could get you several hundred feet of red foam. It will probably be about 25 cents a foot? It fits tight in cpvc, so if you stretch it, it will fit nicely. If you would like a sample before you order alot, I can send you one.

[TimmyTown]

mrcrouse1, on Sep 20 2008, 04:57 AM, said:

I could get you several hundred feet of red foam. It will probably be about 25 cents a foot? It fits tight in cpvc, so if you stretch it, it will fit nicely. If you would like a sample before you order alot, I can send you one.

Thats just a little bit unreasonable. It comes out to almost 200$ for 750 feet. I am looking to buy in the hundreds. Ive seen people with those giant rolls and that Is what I want to buy.

[Vistagecko]

Go here for the best deal on foam. It comes out to about $54.00 with shipping, but it's great shit.

Kinda tight in cpvc, but nothing a little stretching can't fix. As far as 17/32 brass, It is nothing short of perfect. And the price is unbeatable. I bought an 800' role, and still have yet to make a dent in it.

Bottom line, it's the best deal out there. (That I know of).

[CaptainSlug]

The 250 foot rolls of Dennis brand foam I've been getting through McMaster for the past year and a half fit perfectly in 17/32" brass and 1/2" ID Polyester tubing.
It's extremely consistent and durable. So much so that I have completely stopped looking elsewhere for foam.


93295K43 - Polyethylene Foam Cord 1/2" Diameter, 250' Length = In stock at $35.92 Each

If you want to order a much larger quantity you may want to contact the manufacturer directly.

W.J. Dennis & Co.
1111 Davis Road
Elgin, Illinois 60123
USA
Tel.: (847) 697-4800
Fax: (847) 697-4821
Toll free: 1 800 323-8027
Web site: www.wjdennis-rcr.com
Email: info@wjdennis-rcr.com

Edited by CaptainSlug, 20 September 2008 - 05:37 PM.

[TimmyTown]

Thanks slug. I really appreciate your undoubtable wisdom. It seems that you have found the perfect foam for me. Thanks a ton!

[Rover]

I know Slug doesn't really need anyone to back him up, but I too use Dennis foam and find it to be highly durable. I'd also note that it can be expanded to fit perfectly (for airguns) in omc's medium walled PETG with a high-temp hairdryer.

[jwasko]

While this topic is on the subject, I have a couple of questions about that Dennis brand FBR (which I recently purchased):

Slug: What do you mean by polyester tubing? Are you just talking about 1/2" PETG (see: McMaster #9245K25)?

Rover: Could you explain your expansion technique? I use a hairdryer to straighten my foam, and I didn't notice any significant amount of expansion...the foam is still way too small for OMC's medium-wall PETG.

[Rover]

My technique is fairly simple. You take your foam "blanks" and put them all in a pillowcase. You then insert the hairdryer into the pillowcase and pull the pillowcase tight around the tip of the hairdryer (to prevent the hot air from escaping). Turn the hairdryer on the highest heat setting. The heating element in my hairdryer must also double as a thermonuclear reactor because within a minute or so, every dart had fused into a massive clusterfuck of charred plastic. When this happens, procede to use copious amounts of vulgar language. The secret of my process is twofold: trial and error will tell you how much to melt them before they get ruined, and secondly, shake the pillowcase like its a goddamn maracca. I find the optimal time is in the neighborhood of 40-50 seconds, depending on the amount of blanks and the intensity of the agitation. At this point, the pillowcase becomes literally painful to hold. The resulting darts will have a nice, solid, feel, seeing as they were practically melted down into liquid form. I am not responsible for serious burns, death, or ritual disembowelment you may incur by using my stephan-expanding technique.
TL;DR - Put em' in a pillowcase and use a dryer on high heat till they're inflated like a marshmallow in the microwave.

[CaptainSlug]

jwasko, on Sep 21 2008, 02:29 PM, said:

Slug: What do you mean by polyester tubing? Are you just talking about 1/2" PETG (see: McMaster #9245K25)?

Yes, exactly that. It's what I now use will all of my springers.
It's durable, smooth, and cuts easily with a PVC pipe cutter.

Quote

My technique is fairly simple. You take your foam "blanks" and put them all in a pillowcase. You then insert the hairdryer into the pillowcase and pull the pillowcase tight around the tip of the hairdryer (to prevent the hot air from escaping).

I don't particularly see the point in stretch or expanding your foam so long as you can find barrel materials that fit it. Consistency is important, but difficult to achieve if you have to expand or stretch every batch you get.

Edited by CaptainSlug, 21 September 2008 - 03:50 PM.

[TimmyTown]

Shit slug I thought you meant 1/2 CPVC by polyester tubing.

Does this stuff fit well in CPVC? I use that primarily on most of my guns and I do really need to know if this stuff fits nicely in that.

[Rover]

CaptainSlug, on Sep 21 2008, 04:46 PM, said:

I don't particularly see the point in stretch or expanding your foam so long as you can find barrel materials that fit it. Consistency is important, but difficult to achieve if you have to expand or stretch every batch you get.

I do see your point, but I tend to make massive batches of blanks and straighten them all at once, so my darts are consistent to a reasonable degree. I may end up using a timer to measure the exact amount of time needed per batch of 100 or so, just to make it a bit more accurate. As to why I size the darts to the barrels rather than sizing the barrels to the darts, some of my blasters (Sm1k especially) wouldn't work with any barrel material besides PETG, as well as the fact that it's cheap, easy to aquire, and lightweight. Although if 1/2" polyester tubing works well with my crossbow, I may not need to use this process at all.

In response to Timmytown: Yes, without expansion it's really only good for the thinner barrel materials like 17/32" brass. It's a bit of a squeeze in cpvc, but it'd work in a high powered springer.

Edit: Because people seem to be asking the same questions, lets sum up what has been said:

-Dennis brand calk sav'r is a good choice for ordering a large quantity of FBR. It is durable, and also very thin in diameter. It will fit into 1/2" cpvc tightly, 1/2" polyester tubing (for a springer), and can be made to fit into OMC's Medium walled PETG with my admittedly primitive method.

Edited by Rover, 21 September 2008 - 04:43 PM.

[CaptainSlug]

TimmyTown, on Sep 21 2008, 04:52 PM, said:

Shit slug I thought you meant 1/2 CPVC by polyester tubing.

What? How would you get CPVC from me saying polyester? The Dennis brand foam fits perfect in 17/32 brass and 1/2" ID Polyester tube without stretching or expanding it.

Dennis brand foam will fit fairly loosely in 1/2 SCH80 PVC Pipe. It might fit perfect in 1/2 CPVC as well, but I've never tried it because my local stores don't carry it.

Edited by CaptainSlug, 21 September 2008 - 04:43 PM.

[jackster57]

I used dennis brand before my hardware store switched to Frost King. Frost King Blows. The dennis brand has a perfect fit in CPVC , 17/32 , or anything else with a 1/2'' ID. It is too loose in OMC's Thick Walled PETG.

[Salmon]

Hey CaptainSlug, is OMC PETG different in size, clarity, durability, etc. from the McMaster's stuff? I have a tiny bit of PETG with the same ID and OD of OMC PETG, and I find it a bit loose. Is McMaster's any tighter or looser?

[TimmyTown]

CaptainSlug, on Sep 21 2008, 01:43 PM, said:

TimmyTown, on Sep 21 2008, 04:52 PM, said:

Shit slug I thought you meant 1/2 CPVC by polyester tubing.

What? How would you get CPVC from me saying polyester? The Dennis brand foam fits perfect in 17/32 brass and 1/2" ID Polyester tube without stretching or expanding it.

Dennis brand foam will fit fairly loosely in 1/2 SCH80 PVC Pipe. It might fit perfect in 1/2 CPVC as well, but I've never tried it because my local stores don't carry it.

Hell I dont know the P? I wasn't in an entirely cognisent state upon posting that. But now that I am thinking a bit more logically if it fits nicely in 17/32 brass then it will fit nicely in CPVC too.

Thanks for all of your help people my Dennis order is on the way!

[CaptainSlug]

Salmon, on Sep 21 2008, 06:25 PM, said:

Hey CaptainSlug, is OMC PETG different in size, clarity, durability, etc. from the McMaster's stuff? I have a tiny bit of PETG with the same ID and OD of OMC PETG, and I find it a bit loose. Is McMaster's any tighter or looser?

Learn to read please.
The ID of the Mcmaster stuff is exactly 1/2 inch (.500"). OMC's PETG comes in .528" or .548".
Therefore the Mcmaster tube is obviously tighter. The wall thickness is also significantly higher since the OD is 5/8"

[xbox180]

Vistagecko, on Sep 20 2008, 01:28 PM, said:

Go here for the best deal on foam. It comes out to about $54.00 with shipping, but it's great shit.

Kinda tight in cpvc, but nothing a little stretching can't fix. As far as 17/32 brass, It is nothing short of perfect. And the price is unbeatable. I bought an 800' role, and still have yet to make a dent in it.

Bottom line, it's the best deal out there. (That I know of).

You sure it will fit cpvc?