Disintegrating contact proofer foam

Mainecoonmaniac · Jun 25, 2010

How many APUGer's have this problem? I have two contact proofers that have gray foam that is disintegrating. I can't use the proofers because the foam bits get stuck on the neg pages or on the neg itself. Is there a place to buy replacement foam that won't rot?

NormanV · Jun 25, 2010

Jon Goodman

Kirk Keyes · Jun 25, 2010

I looked in the local phone book (remember those) and went to a place that sold foam for matresses and other applications. They had some closed cell foam (and it was black) and I bought a 1/4th sheet of it. Cut it to fit my frame, and glued it in with contact cement. Works great.

Mainecoonmaniac · Jun 25, 2010

Thanks for the tip. Maybe I could get some foam scraps.

Kirk Keyes said:
I looked in the local phone book (remember those) and went to a place that sold foam for matresses and other applications. They had some closed cell foam (and it was black) and I bought a 1/4th sheet of it. Cut it to fit my frame, and glued it in with contact cement. Works great.

Maybe I could get some foam scraps.

Best,

Don

Craig Swensson · Jun 25, 2010

i just scrapped it all off and use without the foam
what actually does the foam do?
regards

canuhead · Jun 25, 2010

I would think good felt would work just as well since that's what's used in all my split back contact frames.

bdial · Jun 25, 2010

I replaced the disintegrating foam in mine with a neoprene mouse pad cut to fit, it works pretty well.

DanielStone · Jun 26, 2010

Joann Fabric store(not sure if they're in your area). or any good, large(ish) fabric store will have roll foam(1/4" thick), generally with some cloth glued to one side. I just scraped off all the old foam, sanded in smooth, and covered the bare place with gorilla glue(or any other strong adhesive), and then laid the cut-to-size piece of foam down.

works like a charm, and very cost effective too

-Dan

youngrichard · Jun 26, 2010

We used to have a foam supplier in Kingston, where I bought foam sheet to resurrect a couple of proofers. They're closed now; try googling "foam sheet suppliers" - should do the trick
Richard

Mainecoonmaniac · Jun 26, 2010

Thanks APUGers for all the great tips. So many vendors and substitutes for foam. One proofer which I keep in the box, the packing foam is fine. However, the foam in the proofer is shot. Should have used the better form for the proofer

Mike Wilde · Jun 26, 2010

I have a proofer with a slot type hinge that allows for different heights to be compressed under the glass. It never had foam. I have stuck black 1/4 rigid foam core board in the frame , and then can center a neg file page in there with paper under it in the dark when I proof RA-4 and have to load the thing by feel.

SteveRad · Feb 25, 2023

Mainecoonmaniac said:
How many APUGer's have this problem? I have two contact proofers that have gray foam that is disintegrating. I can't use the proofers because the foam bits get stuck on the neg pages or on the neg itself. Is there a place to buy replacement foam that won't rot?

Air Conditioning foam filter From Orange box store 15" x 24" x 3/16", $2.34 enough for two. Ame stuff that printfile uses and lasts at least 10 years

Sirius Glass · Feb 25, 2023

SteveRad said:
Air Conditioning foam filter From Orange box store 15" x 24" x 3/16", $2.34 enough for two. Ame stuff that printfile uses and lasts at least 10 years

Welcome to ~~APUG~~ Photrio!!

Patrick Robert James · Feb 25, 2023

I've redone the two Print-file contact printers I have that had bad foam with two layers of some thin foam I happened upon at Michaels. Works fine, and it is firmer which I think is good.

I replaced the old thin felt in my big mamma jamma with some thick felt from JoAnne. That might work in place of the foam and won't go bad.

Nicholas Lindan · Feb 25, 2023

I've also got a Print-File with urethane foam rot. Urethane is the work of the devil. I was thinking of using Ensolite, a closed cell foam sold for backpacking sleeping pads, but it seems to be no longer used for camping.

But I did come across https://foammart.com/ - I'll order from them if I can't get satisfaction at HomeDepot or the fabric/crafts store.

Sirius Glass · Feb 25, 2023

Any number of art * craft stores could supply replacement foam. Take your choice.

snusmumriken · Feb 26, 2023

I bought foam sheet for this purpose very cheaply on eBay. I don’t think it’s possible to get foam that won’t disintegrate eventually. But I think if I were to replace it again, I would use old mousemat as suggested above.

tokam · Feb 27, 2023

I re-foamed a Patterson proof printer a while ago and after cleaning off the old foam residue with isopropyl alcohol I fixed the new foam in place with double-sided tape.

The tape I used came from a stationery supplier and is intended for use in craft projects. It is extremely thin and very sticky. Just lay the tape on the proof printer, remove the protective layer and lay the foam on - instant stick. Much less mess than using contact adhesives.

quine666 · Mar 1, 2023

I've been using a piece of foamcore board in place of the foam in my Patterson.

wiltw · Mar 2, 2023

A fabric store is likely to have foam sheets precut to small sizes, in a variety of thicknesses. Some even are adhesive backed.

Disintegrating contact proofer foam

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