First off we have some hollow black foam (after I ordered they added choices for grey and white, mine was given to me randomly). Outer diameter of 14mm (0.55 inches) with the hollow having a diameter of 5mm (0.19 inches). The foam is a bit fat but I figured 11 cents for a meter wasnt too bad to try out some to see what it was like.
Purchased from this listing: http://item.taobao.c...&_u=jmnugjbc5e3
Ordered about 100 feet, came in 2 meter lengths (and got a bit squished in the plastic bag it was coiled and shipped in).
Heres some side by side comparison with stock foam (elite). As you can see, the inner hole is a tiny bit smaller on my foam (someone feel free to correct me with measurements).
Here is another side by side with some hot rod XL beige (apologies, took the pictures quickly with an iPhone). The cell structure is pretty rough and I would say equitable to the Hot Rod Beige.
Another picture of the side of the foam (texture) versus the beige:
The fit into 1/2 pvc is a pretty tight twist but it will go in.
You can see the foam kind of warping inward here.
Not sure if anyone cares but I also was messing around making some domes with the foam and used one of these camera air duster contraptions:
to sort of cool and inflate the molten glue dome from the back for a very very domey dart. Although I did forget to add a weight...(nobody kill me for making domes please).
And I'm sure you opened this thread looking for more than boring foam backer rod. Upcoming are (what at least I thought) the more exciting attractions:
Black adhesive-backed rubber pads (no easy source I have found for felt pads in China...yet anyway). Diameter of 12mm (0.47 inches) and 3mm thick (0.12 inches, compared to 0.125 inches aka 1/8 of mcmaster felt pads). 8 cents a pop, grabbed 30 to see what they were like. Okay - now that I calculated the price, these are ridiculously expensive, but it was more a sample run to see if it was worth making a big huge order. These compared to a bit over 1 cent per felt pad dont really seem all that great any more, but rubber does add a bit more weight and should be more durable? Or maybe these were a waste of time and people think I'm stupid. I'll just go on about them anyway.
Purchased here: http://item.taobao.c...&_u=jmnugjbe6ff
A plain old glue dome + the pad (simulating a dart with a bb glued under). Apologies, no access to my dartmaking materials here in China (just brought a few stefans), will do some better darts with these when I get to the States soon.
+Can they be used for Slugs ooooooh...
The other potential dart heads I ordered were these white sort of rubber plugs. 13.5 cents each... I'm feeling more and more ripped off as I calculate the prices.
Purchased here: http://item.taobao.c...&_u=jmnugjb5a06
The 5mm size (size of the stub, meant to be a plug), with the 12 mm top diameter.
No metal, just hot glue and the plug:
And just to be silly:
For reference (and plus to check if my scale is off) here's an elite head:
Comparison with some stock tips:
Awful picture comparing the 2 of them (thickness):
The tips have no problem fitting into 1/2 cpvc (here it is in 1/2 PETG on top of some stock foam just so you can see about how wide they are in a barrel).
On some stock foam:
Dont know if anyone would really use/want/care about these things, just thought they might be useful for new ideas/dart making ideas. I might look to sourcing them on the wholesale website alibaba for cheaper prices and reselling them back in the States if there was interest.
I did have another white foam shipment coming in, but it will not get here in time as I will heading for the States within days. I also ordered some moldable rubber putty, 'Sugru' on the Chinese shopping portal for very inexpensive prices (probably defects or something but they suffice).
I had stumbled upon Sugru through the web and basically found its a self curing silicone sort of adhesive putty that cures in 24 hours, is fairly strong, but maintains elasticity and some squishyness after curing. I made a cpvc speedloader using it (it prefers more porous materials but still works) for fun and its got a nice spongy bounce to it while still retaining its shape. I don't think I have seen other nerfers use this material much (althogh it seems it would have quite nice applications for nerf) probably due to its insane prices (I obtained mine for much much cheaper..), I may try weighting darts with it (metal free yay) or other jobs for it.
Sugru Website and said gouged prices.
It may be similar to Oogoo: Link to Instructable On making homemade Sugru (recipe for Oogoo and then compared the two)
Thanks for reading through, hope the post was worth your time and let me know any ideas or questions, if any less crappy photos are wanted, any tests you would like me try, etc. Foam and dart tips. Taobao is fun!
Edited by Chenanio, 18 July 2014 - 10:43 PM.
