Has anyone tried "Great Stuff" expanding insulation for lost foam molds?

Has anyone tried "Great Stuff" expanding insulation for lost foam molds?


I never thought of that, It might be too dense but if it works please post your experiance with it.

Tried it after ignoring everyone telling me
all the hazards of vaporizing urethane foam
It off gasses really nasty stuff.

Any ways all it did was blow most of the molten
metal back at me. I never was able to vent enough
to get a good casting.

There is a new latex canned foam havent tried
that yet.

If your going to experiment with molds make
sure you use a lot of release agent or you just
glue your mold together.

Brad Stilley

there is another type of foam you can get at places like TAP Plastics that is a 2 part mixture. i have no idea if this would perform better as a lost foam material, but it will cure without waiting as it doesn't depend on humidity and has a lot bigger bubbles.

I have tried it and will not again. Here are the problems;
Toxic and stinky.
Too dense.
Too much gas generated when burned.
Foam at the center of the part does not cure while in the mold. Foam parts removed from the mold swell-up. Even tiny parts have this problem even when left in the mold for days and days.
Go with expandable beads. - Ray

Hello,

I suspect one of the reasons that urethane or other 2-part foams don't work well for lost-foam casting is that they're not really made to melt like styrene is...

I've wondered about floral foam, haven't played with it, but I wonder if it's a styrene variant.

Thanks,
Kevn

I've wondered about floral foam, haven't played with it, but I wonder if it's a styrene variant.

Thanks,
Kevn

Through some Googling I have found that Floral Foam is a phenolic resin foam.

Here's a link to an MSDS: http://www.fdionline.net/Files/MSDS/SO-OasisFloralFoam6-05-05.pdf

The first box at the top of page 3 is giving me evil ideas. :bat:

I have tried it and will not again. Here are the problems;
Toxic and stinky.
Too dense.
Too much gas generated when burned.
Foam at the center of the part does not cure while in the mold. Foam parts removed from the mold swell-up. Even tiny parts have this problem even when left in the mold for days and days.
Go with expandable beads. - Ray

Ray- were do you optain expandable beads?

https://duckdeco.dkgnet.com/appieshop/index.cgi?duckdecoSTORE:CKIE:prod017+

I have never used it, but would love to try someday when my work load decides to cease and desist! - Ray