Creative uses for styrofoam?

[cgallery]

We end up with lots of oddly-shaped Styrofoam pieces. The kind of stuff they use to pack consumer electronics (printers, monitors, etc.). I haven't been able to find a use for it, it goes to the landfill.

What I would LIKE to see is a machine with knives or hot wires that can cut these up into pieces that could be use as packing peanuts. Perhaps they could keep these machines at UPS or FedEx stores and offer a valuable community recycling program.

Anyone know of anything that can be done with this stuff other than landfill?

[DaveS]

Wood chipper?

[cgallery]

I can see the snowstorm now!

[cabinetman]

I use some of the formed captive corners that furniture/electrical components, or appliances come with as cabinet corner protection for both working on or for delivery. Some of the long rectangular/square sections are used as a "soft land", for turning heavy stuff over or to keep them off the floor. Flat sheets can be used as a base for painting small parts. nails or mounting screws can be pushed into/through to line up pieces to spray or dry. A bandsaw, electric knife, Ginsu, or a hack saw cuts it up pretty good.

Since they are somewhat "free" I can't bring myself to pitching them out. LOML continues to call me a pack rat.
.

[crokett]

I use it as bases to hold parts for spray painting. I've also used it as a cushion for glue ups, staining parts, etc.

[scmhogg]

David,

I used some when I had to spray some parts for my kids science project. I can't remember what the finish was. But, it dissolved the foam into a nasty sticky mess.

Steve

[dbhost]

I have a large block of the stuff, with 32 holes in it, for keeping engine valves. (I rebuilt a Caddy Northstar 32V a few years back).

I have taken and stuffed the stuff in a bag, and busted it up into packing peanut sized chunks manually and reused it...

I HATE throwing that junk in landfills... I wish there was an easier way to recycle it... Hmmmm.

This IS a woodworking forum here guys. Anybody want to design a "styrofoam chunker" for recycling the stuff? I would imagine a simple kind of machine, a loading chute, some kind of rotating press assembly with a stiff set of knives that the press passes by and chunks the stuff. I dunno, maybe just talking out of my ear now...

[cgallery]

This IS a woodworking forum here guys. Anybody want to design a "styrofoam chunker" for recycling the stuff? I would imagine a simple kind of machine, a loading chute, some kind of rotating press assembly with a stiff set of knives that the press passes by and chunks the stuff. I dunno, maybe just talking out of my ear now...

No, that is exactly what I was thinking! Why can't someone make a hand-cranked machine for "chunking" (your perfect word) it? Larger, motorized versions could be used at shipping stores and recycling centers.

I would imagine there are some machines already made which could be adapted.

[Nil]

I know people with aquariums who cover the styrofoam in cement & sand to make very realistic "rocks" that they then silicone into their aquarium. They hold up quite well underwater. I've done one myself.

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/phpBB/v...ic.php?t=99515

I've also thought about trying to make outdoor pots out of the stuff (covering it in cement again), but haven't gotten a chance to do so yet.

[crokett]

David,

I used some when I had to spray some parts for my kids science project. I can't remember what the finish was. But, it dissolved the foam into a nasty sticky mess.

Steve

Hmm.. maybe it is how much you get on it? I've used it for smaller stuff because I can stick dowels in it and they will stand up.

[williwatt]

How About Building a Boat?

Styrofoam Peanuts Boats in China
These fishing rafts are made from chunks and pieces of styrofoam bundled into nets to form pontoons. The pieces are bigger than foam peanuts, but not much bigger. The rafts are about 12-15 feet in length. Their deck is made of bamboo, covered with mesh. Here they are stored against a wall.

[gsmittle]

I've cut, glued, shaped, etc. the stuff into faux moulding for theatrical sets. It's pretty labor-intensive, but the result can be pretty convincing, and much lighter than the real deal.

I even built a massive "marble" baluster for a set once!

g.

[JoeyGee]

Don't laugh, but you could probably sell the stuff on eBay or Craigslist. LOML and I used to do a lot of business on eBay, and finding cheap packing material was always a challenge.

I remember seeing a woman on 60 minutes (or similar show) who made quite a living off buying and selling packing peanuts on eBay.

[jackellis]

How about recycling.

The town next to ours operates a recycling facility that's next to the local airport and that's where we get rid of whatever comes in the mail. Lately we've been buried in the stuff.

[jbrain]

In our town Roseville, California they just setup a recycling place where they take styrofoam, newspaper and cardboard. Easy drop off. Just throw it into the containers.