Foam

Does anyone know the name of the foam that is used in power tool cases to protect the tool. I know that it has pre marked lines so you can trace around the tool and then pop out the small blocks. What is the name of this stuff??

Not sure I’ve ever heard a proper name for it. You could maybe use foam insulation board.

Ok thanks

It is polyethylene (Black PE Foam) It is considered a rather dense and long lasting foam. Additionally it can be diced – picked/plucked.

Its expensive. Was looking at getting some until I saw the prices. If anyone finds it for cheap, let me know

Thanks guys and Eric, how much was it when you saw it?

It’s called pluck and pick foam and here is a site that has it cheap.I don’t know if 2 inches is deep enough for what you want to do though http://www.onlinefabricstore.net/foam-and-pillows/foam/packing-foam/case-foam/charcoal-pick-and-pluck-foam-2-10-5-14-5-.htm?utm_medium=shoppingengine&utm_source=googlebase&s_kwcid=TC|1027047|{keyword}|{placement}|{ifcontent:C}{ifsearch:S}{ifmobile:M}|{matchtype}|{creative}&cvsfa=2700&cvsfe=2&cvsfhu=3732313935&gclid=CK2dzYPq0bYCFaYWMgodt3AApg

Thanks and that would work, I’m am putting on my drill and impact case.

ChaseRogers wrote:

Thanks and that would work, I’m am putting on my drill and impact case.

Well glad that I was able to help because I was shocked at how much some places were trying to charge for some foam $40 bucks for a piece of it is fucking insane sorry if swearing isn’t allowed here but it just shocked me.

The website above references a Polyether foam, that is a softer, open cell foam. It will absorb water, grease, oil etc. And is not very impact resistant meaning dropping a tool on it repeatedly will destroy it. You want a closed cell foam like polyethylene, it is much more durable and is very well suited to take the repeated impact of dropping a tool in it. My experience with pick and pluck has been miserable as the shape never truly “shadows” the tool. There is a product called Kaizen Foam, that is a closed cell, polyethylene that you can cut to shape and it peels off in 1/8″ layers It comes in overall varying depths and is cheap, and is warranted for life. Do a search for it.

This topic came just in time because I wanted to do this! Thanks for all of the great information

Thanks for the info E.H.. Welcome to the forum!

Thanks for the link on the foam!  I am converting my tool storage over to the Bosch L-Boxx system, but the boxes come without any foam.  The Bosch foam is $25 a pop.  I was able to pick up 15 pieces of this other foam for less than $100.  The sizing is a bit different but a few dabs of adhesive on the bottom should keep everything in place.  15 gives me enough for all my L-Boxxes and will let me go a few layers deep for some of tools.  I’ll let you know how it works out.  

$25 for a piece of foam is just ridiculous. Very uncool of Bosch to charge such a premium for something so inexpensive to produce. 

I agree.  Bosch is completely missing the boat on this.  Also, they do not sell the trays for their own tools separate.  I have quite a few 12v and 18v Bosch and a few corded ones that I bought before they introduced the l-boxx.  It would be nice if I could but a tray to fit them in my new l-boxxes, but the trays only come with new tools…frustrating…

And another thing about the foam – Festool charges $25 for a superior foam package that includes bottom foam, “shapable foam” to customize for a tool, and a top lid foam.    

Kinda shitty they done sell the trays. Probably sell them in Europe only. That’s the way it usually works

For the price Bosch are charging there’s must contain Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.  LOL  🙂

Well I will say that at full retail the Bosch’s aren’t too much of a deal…but…I managed to get about $500 worth of l-boxxes for about $300 using various promotions and sales. That same $300 would have bought me 4-5 Festool Systainers, vs the 12 L-boxxes I was able to get. Although now I’m adding $90 for foam…

Can’t wait until the long holiday weekend so I can get everything organized.  

Speaking of Festool, Wayne, are they as insanely over priced in Europe as they are here?

You said the magic word Conductor. I have wanted a Festool ts55 for a long time. I love those clean clean cuts!

I am sorry to say it but For me Festool is over priced and over hyped as well because they are not very powerful at all and a bit crap to be honest.

I went to the manchester tool fair and got chance to have a go side by side with many many drills and can honestly say hand on heart that if I were in the U.S.A I would buy Milwaukee or Bosch.

My reasons are simple and are this. The only 2 real quality manufacturers where the gear is tough and you guys get anything like as much of the range as us are BOSCH and MILWAUKEE.   🙂

I agree with everything you’re saying Wayne. Those are lot better tools. Except the festool track saw. That’s the one tool festool makes better then anyone else. I think I have seen too many of these videos of it in action. I have been brainwashed.

My Pal Neil has the Festool track saw and he is very happy with it.

I am being quite general here but they just are not up to being used and abused as a tool range on a job site.

The Milwaukee fuel for example is over a third up on torque which is a vast amount of power not to have having spent enough to buy nearly 2 milwaukee fuel drills on 1 Festool.

No matter how you look at it the Milwaukee and Bosch brands destroy Festool which even look dated these days.

The only tool i like from festool is there sanders but they are too much $$$$$$$$$$$ i’m gone a stick with my makita

You are absolutely right Wayne. Thanks for bringing me back to reality.

Wayne Burgess wrote:

My Pal Neil has the Festool track saw and he is very happy with it.

I am being quite general here but they just are not up to being used and abused as a tool range on a job site.

The Milwaukee fuel for example is over a third up on torque which is a vast amount of power not to have having spent enough to buy nearly 2 milwaukee fuel drills on 1 Festool.

No matter how you look at it the Milwaukee and Bosch brands destroy Festool which even look dated these days.

I’ve never seen how anyone in the states could justify Festool prices. The quality is there, but they never spec out close to many of the other brands. 

That being said, it’s a good thing PutnamEco isn’t around. He’d tell you how wrong you are and how Festool is the greatest thing since unprotected sex with a super model 😆

Conductor562 wrote:

the greatest thing since unprotected sex with a super model 😆

Harold Wray wrote:

LOL!! That does sound fun!

I wouldn’t know, but yes, it does sound like a ton of fun 😆

Trouble is the model he was having unprotected sex with was a Ford pick up truck.   LOL 🙂

A super model is probaly less expensive then festool !

LOL  🙂

I was anti-Festool for a long time until I saw the track saw in action.  The demo was ripping a piece of plywood with the vac attached for the first cut.  I remember thinking “yeah, okay..a straight cut, what’s so special about that?  I can do that with a straight edge, some clamps and my circular saw.”  Then he did the same cut without the vac hose attached and there was dust everywhere.  And then it took him about 5 seconds to re-position the guide rail for another cut that was smooth and accurate.  About a month later I had one in my garage.

As someone who does a lot of interior work you can’t beat Festool’s dust control.  I have the track saw, a few sanders and router.  When hooked up to a CT26 it is night and day between Festool and any other setup.  I’m thinking long and hard about the Kapex as well.  I have a Bosch 10″ SCMS that is pushing 8-10 years old and even when hooked up to a vac it is a total mess. 

I do not use their drills.  They provide zero advantage over my current arsenal (all Bosch – 18v and 12v).  I tried them and just don’t see why.  Some people claim they are tanks – go to youtube and type “Festool Cordless Drill Myth” and watch what this guy does to his $400 drill.  There’s no way I’m doing that to my Bosch and expecting it to run.  I guess if you are really bad to your tools maybe they are worth it???

The systainer system they use is wonderful, and I would have gone that route had Bosch not gotten into the game allowed me to convert my tool storage to their system for about half of the cost of the Festool system.

I don’t think Festool is the greatest thing in all the categories they compete in, such as drills, jig saws and handheld planers.  But the sanders, track saw and routers are tough to beat in pure head-to-head.  And most people who use the Kapex are kicking themselves for waiting so long (like me).  

Some people buy autographed jerseys worn by pro athletes to hang on the wall, other spend thousands to restore a car only to have it sit in the garage because they don’t want to put any miles on it.  I buy Festools because they make working with power tools easier and more enjoyable.  

They are for me workshop tools which is no bad thing.

But I do most of my work on the job site.

If you are making furniture in a nice clean workshop Festool may be for you, but no good in my world.

Im totaly with you Wayne !

I also agree with you too wayne!