« previous next »
Pages: [1] 2 3   Go Down

Author Topic: New (?) Power Tool for Carving Pink Foam  (Read 4704 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

C855B

  • Crew
  • *
  • Posts: 10861
  • Respect: +2415
New (?) Power Tool for Carving Pink Foam
« on: December 29, 2017, 09:09:38 PM »
+1
I was dreading the future task of using SurForm rasps to contour pink foam for the layout... the mess, the work, the aching shoulder, the scars on my left hand from the "oops!" Yeah, a belt sander could be used for the coarsest cuts, but real contouring was back to the SurForm. So last weekend I was "imagineering" a power tool, something along the lines of a small hand-held drum sander with the drum sideways for fast but well-controlled contouring. In a perfect world, this tool would also have a provision for connecting a shop vac to deal with the volumes of foam dust this device would generate.

It turns out this tool exists! The Porter-Cable "3.5 Amp Restorer" is exactly what I imagined. Here's a very quick demo:

Not a valid vimeo URL
Notice the vacuum hose connected to the handle! Not totally dust-free, but darned close! Very impressive.
Logged
...mike

http://www.gibboncozadandwestern.com

Note: Images linked in my postings are on an HTTP server, not HTTPS. Enable "mixed content" in your browser to view.

There are over 1000 images on this server. Not changing anytime soon.

Philip H

  • Crew
  • *
  • Posts: 8910
  • Gender: Male
  • Respect: +1655
    • Layout Progress Blog
Re: New (?) Power Tool for Carving Pink Foam
« Reply #1 on: December 29, 2017, 11:16:31 PM »
0
How did you get turned on to that rig? And where did you get it?
Logged
Philip H.
Chief Everything Officer
Baton Rouge Southern RR - Mount Rainier Division.

C855B

  • Crew
  • *
  • Posts: 10861
  • Respect: +2415
Re: New (?) Power Tool for Carving Pink Foam
« Reply #2 on: December 29, 2017, 11:30:25 PM »
+1
Had the idea, and did an online search... 'hand-held drum sander' or something like that. I fished through a few of the results and found a couple that mentioned a type I'd never heard of, "surfacing sanders", and there it was.

Got it at the local Lowe's, $100. Home Depot has it, too.
Logged
...mike

http://www.gibboncozadandwestern.com

Note: Images linked in my postings are on an HTTP server, not HTTPS. Enable "mixed content" in your browser to view.

There are over 1000 images on this server. Not changing anytime soon.

peteski

  • Crew
  • *
  • Posts: 32930
  • Gender: Male
  • Honorary Resident Curmudgeon
  • Respect: +5334
    • Coming (not so) soon...
Re: New (?) Power Tool for Carving Pink Foam
« Reply #3 on: December 30, 2017, 01:21:57 AM »
0
Great idea and nice find!
Logged
. . . 42 . . .

Ed Kapuscinski

  • Global Moderator
  • Crew
  • *
  • Posts: 24733
  • Head Kino
  • Respect: +9246
    • Conrail 1285
Re: New (?) Power Tool for Carving Pink Foam
« Reply #4 on: January 02, 2018, 08:35:59 PM »
+1
Holy *****. One of those is definitely going to come live with me before my next layout is started.

Awesome find.
Logged

C855B

  • Crew
  • *
  • Posts: 10861
  • Respect: +2415
Re: New (?) Power Tool for Carving Pink Foam
« Reply #5 on: January 02, 2018, 09:05:05 PM »
0
Thanks, Ed. I kinda thought you'd appreciate it. Keep an eye on the GC&W thread, I'm about to carve a mountain with it. :scared:
Logged
...mike

http://www.gibboncozadandwestern.com

Note: Images linked in my postings are on an HTTP server, not HTTPS. Enable "mixed content" in your browser to view.

There are over 1000 images on this server. Not changing anytime soon.

Ed Kapuscinski

  • Global Moderator
  • Crew
  • *
  • Posts: 24733
  • Head Kino
  • Respect: +9246
    • Conrail 1285
Re: New (?) Power Tool for Carving Pink Foam
« Reply #6 on: January 02, 2018, 09:06:13 PM »
0
Oh, I am... Godspeed.
Logged

Mark W

  • Crew
  • *
  • Posts: 1988
  • Respect: +2125
    • Free-moNebraska
Re: New (?) Power Tool for Carving Pink Foam
« Reply #7 on: January 02, 2018, 09:46:36 PM »
+3
Quote from: C855B on December 29, 2017, 09:09:38 PM
Not totally dust-free, but darned close!

What's the fun in that?! 

I just use a wire wheel in a drill.  :D




Logged
Contact me about custom model building.
Learn more about Free-moNebraska.
Learn more about HOn3-mo.

C855B

  • Crew
  • *
  • Posts: 10861
  • Respect: +2415
Re: New (?) Power Tool for Carving Pink Foam
« Reply #8 on: January 02, 2018, 10:16:04 PM »
+1
:facepalm:
Logged
...mike

http://www.gibboncozadandwestern.com

Note: Images linked in my postings are on an HTTP server, not HTTPS. Enable "mixed content" in your browser to view.

There are over 1000 images on this server. Not changing anytime soon.

Scottl

  • Crew
  • *
  • Posts: 4842
  • Respect: +1515
Re: New (?) Power Tool for Carving Pink Foam
« Reply #9 on: January 03, 2018, 07:15:04 AM »
0
That foam dust will be great filler for Sculptamold  :ashat: :facepalm:
Logged

DKS

  • The Pitt
  • Crew
  • *
  • Posts: 13424
  • Respect: +7026
Re: New (?) Power Tool for Carving Pink Foam
« Reply #10 on: January 03, 2018, 07:43:35 AM »
+5
Not to be the grumpy contrarian, but I still haven't seen anything to beat a hot wire tool. Clean and precise, with the ability to create shapes (such as undercuts) impossible with any other tool.
Logged

Lemosteam

  • Crew
  • *
  • Posts: 5919
  • Gender: Male
  • PRR, The Standard Railroad of my World
  • Respect: +3666
    • Designer at Keystone Details
Re: New (?) Power Tool for Carving Pink Foam
« Reply #11 on: January 03, 2018, 07:59:29 AM »
0
Mike, are you using the sanding drum or the paddle grinder?
Logged

C855B

  • Crew
  • *
  • Posts: 10861
  • Respect: +2415
Re: New (?) Power Tool for Carving Pink Foam
« Reply #12 on: January 03, 2018, 11:09:18 AM »
0
Drum. I was using the coarsest sleeve (60 grit) in the demo clip, but have since discovered it "grabbed" too easily with concave cuts. I'm using the finest sleeve now (120 grit), which oddly enough cuts the foam at the same rate as coarse.
Logged
...mike

http://www.gibboncozadandwestern.com

Note: Images linked in my postings are on an HTTP server, not HTTPS. Enable "mixed content" in your browser to view.

There are over 1000 images on this server. Not changing anytime soon.

C855B

  • Crew
  • *
  • Posts: 10861
  • Respect: +2415
Re: New (?) Power Tool for Carving Pink Foam
« Reply #13 on: March 30, 2023, 03:42:20 PM »
0
A local MRR just called to ask about the tool since I had demo'ed it for him a while back. Checking the DIY big-boxes for him... I discovered it has been discontinued, apparently for a couple of years. I did find somebody selling NOS on eBay, so if any of you are still interested, they have two left.
Logged
...mike

http://www.gibboncozadandwestern.com

Note: Images linked in my postings are on an HTTP server, not HTTPS. Enable "mixed content" in your browser to view.

There are over 1000 images on this server. Not changing anytime soon.

ednadolski

  • Crew
  • *
  • Posts: 4809
  • Respect: +1756
Re: New (?) Power Tool for Carving Pink Foam
« Reply #14 on: March 30, 2023, 04:09:24 PM »
0
How would you compare it to an oscillating tool with a scaper blade ?

Ed

Logged
Pages: [1] 2 3   Go Up
« previous next »