hey all, so does anyone make their own?
if so hows it done and what products do you need?,
cheers!!
ben

If anyone knows where the EVA foam is imported from, I'd love to find out. Id's love to know if it's possible as well. I'd also ove to know a source for Hypalon in various colors in larger than teh finished sizes currently available.

Bought some blocks for making poppers once, fella on the phone said he gets it from China and that's where everyone gets it from. IIRC, it was Sleazy Steve (Soggy Bottom Flyshop) and he mentioned large orders (big pieces sawn to size) to make profit...don't know if the place still exists. Not sure about EVA, but I had a relative that worked in a foam factory of some type for awhile in the Midwest, it was shut down do to safety issues. Guess foam making is like that, it has some pretty nasty components to it and the factory was using stuff that is actually illegal to even have inside the states.

You may have success finding the supplies, I doubt it though. I suspect it's largely a China import in made forms, possibly due to the components used to manufacture it.

I think it may be cheaper (and safer) to find a source for large blocks.

IT's used in various mats for gymnastics, judo, etc. IT comes in vaious thicknessess and hardness. I would love to know where to get more Customgrip. I guess if I would look hard enouhg I would be able to find out.

I'd love to find a little softer version than most of it that's out there. I guess I could cut up a gym mat.

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The hypalon is just a wonderful handle material, nothing beats the feel of it, if only it were 1/2 the weight with the same properties.

DR

Has any one ever played with this stuff [www.tapplastics.com];

Bill - willierods.com

Bill,
I think that's basically the same stuff as foam arbors (reel seat 'unders') are made of. Roughly the same as "Great Stuff" foam insulation that you can buy at Home Depot / Lowes etc.. .

Bill, some folks have used expansion foams like the one in your link for making plug bodies. Tackleunderground (lure making forum) is a good place to get info on that sort of product.

Guys, if your speaking of EVA in terms of the "sandal foam" that's used in flip-flops/beach sandals, it comes in every imaginable hardness, density, and formula. Myriad of colors as well, we like it in the fly tying arena for poppers and other foam head creations. Things may have changed, but it's still likely a China import thing and blocks are most common form to start from. Don't know if you gents are looking for long pieces or blocks that can be cored and used like cork rings.

Website mentioned in previous post (not affiliated) is still around, just one of many who sells the blocks and coring supplies. Any pipe, sharpened and turned into a block, will provide one with uniform rings to make a handle. My butts are made just this way from popper foam blocks, occasionally a brown sandal from Walmart will find it's way in there as well. Harder stuff sands and shapes better, softer varieties are a bit more frustrating and require patience.

Billy,

You need to check out [www.rueylung.com.tw] its out of Taipei, Taiwan. They list EVA in a wide variety of densities from 1.3-1.7 lb/ft^3 up to 13.1-13.7 lb/ft^3. Most types are available in custom colors. For several type a wide variety of colors are stocked ( [www.rueylung.com.tw]). The question is what density would be good for us?

Dave

Ken:
The x- 30 is listed as a 2 LB density. A 2 part mix. Maybe it can be tinted ??

Bill - willierods.com

Bill -
I don't know but I think it will still be a hard foam rather than an EVA / Hypalon "soft foam". More like people are using to pour handle blanks and over sleeving with fiberglass/graphite.

Bill, That's a urethane foam like the flex coat arbors and the foam grips that people have been poring

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

For urethane, Taxidermists use the two part stuff all the time to pour fish forms. They also use bees wax for a release agent on those forms.