Is there anywhere local I can get 2 part polyurethane foam?
West marine usually has it, but it’s too expensive. About $110 for 2 quarts! You can get a 2 gallon kit online for $85. This is where I buy it from.
http://boatbuildercentral.com/products.php?cat=56#.UPasl_KaVtg
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
I have a small project I am working on and was going to go through us composites. I have never worked with this stuff before, do you think it is possible to pour into a 1-1/4" pipe when working with 5’ sections or would it expand to quickly before gravity does it’s thing?
You can get a small amount at the hardware store. It’s call great stuff and is in a large spray can with a straw type nozzel. I’am not sure if it’s the same expanding foam used in boats but I do know it’s weather proof.
ZX
The spray can insulation foam is not even close to the same thing.
quote:
I have never worked with this stuff before, do you think it is possible to pour into a 1-1/4" pipe when working with 5' sections or would it expand to quickly before gravity does it's thing?
I’ve used at least 50 gallons of it. Is your goal just to fill the pipe sections with foam?
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Yes, I have some Schedule 80 PVC that I was looking at possibly making a redneck push pole and the two part foam is for the stiffness aspect of the pole. What kind of weight would you think I would be looking at? Based on volume calculations I would be looking at around 0.25 cubic feet of space in all four 5 foot sections of pipe.
Thanks for your help. Not even sure if it would work thats why I wanted a small amount so if I screw up I am only out a few bucks.
Also I was looking at the 8lb two part vs. the 2, 4, or 16? Any thoughts on that?
You have to mix the stuff perfectly and with exact measurements, or your “cell structure” won’t come out right. Have to work fast and cooler weather will help slow it down. I suggest you practice first on something you don’t care about…
Having a friend mixing for you as you pour and pouring several small batches while all are reacting will be helpful. If you mix more than a small cup full in its own batch, the reaction will occur more quickly, to the point where the hot boiling stuff is flooding out the container and going everywhere.
Small batches done at the same time or quickly during the same period or else the reaction is too violent to deal with.
4lb foam doesn’t expand as much as 2lb, and 8lb doesn’t as much as 4lb, and so on.
4lb and 8lb are more manageable in other words, but cost goes up considerably as you go denser.
www.scmarine.org
www.joinrfa.com
Luke 8:22-25
That should work fine for the application. I would use 2 or 4 pound for that, the 4 would be a bit stiffer. I wouldn’t go heavier.
Like Phin said, you need to work fast, and the warmer it is, the faster you need to work, but the better expansion you get. When the weather is cool I put the jugs of foam in warm water and warm it to 80 or 90 degrees before mixing.
With 5’ sections I would pour each section all at once. Start with about 3 ounces of each part, that should do it and give some overflow. I mix it in cheap plastic keg cups, put an equal amount in each cup, then pour one into the other and stir it vigorously about 100 strokes inside of 30 seconds, then pour it immediately. Don’t dawdle:smiley: You should have about 20 more seconds before it starts to expand, depending on temperature.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Sounds good I will order some and let you know how it turns out!! Thanks for everyones input.
i did the same thing a while back
the schedule 80 is thicker wall and MUCH heavier causing it to flex more under its own weight
i bought some thinwall pressure pipe like they use for irrigation water pipe.
i drilled 1/4" holes about every foot and filled with great stuff and let cure overnight
it worked okay, but was nowhere near as good as a “real” one.
best substitute i have found was a 16’ wooden closet rod
it was about $20, lightweight and pretty strong
I also use a closet rod and it works good enough for me 
I’m not going to spend $600 on a push pole, or $5K on a pair of Powerpoles either[:0] Not when a closet rod and a couple of stake out sticks will do the same thing.
The Great Stuff foam isn’t nearly as stiff as the 2 part expanding marine foam though, so he might get better results, but probably no better than a closet rod:wink:
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Merton’s on line. 5 gallon kit 175 bucks. Great people there. They’ve also got resins,gelcoat,etc.
I second the Mertons recommendation.
They will probably pour you a pint kit off and sell you that too. They are great over the phone and ship fast.
www.scmarine.org
www.joinrfa.com
Luke 8:22-25
Check out the alum. extention handles used on concrete floats, they screw together, are light and strong and float. I have been using the same ones for over 15 yrs. You can buy them at local concrete co.
they not to expensive!