What to do with a bag of foam

[GunnyUSMC]

I was thinking about buying some ammo can foam inserts, but most run $15 to $20. Today some new equipment came in at the lab and there was a bunch of packing foam blocks. I was able to get the foam before it was thrown out.


I took a try at cutting some up to fit an ammo can.



I think it came out ok for my first one.

 

[bannockburn]

Gunny

Great idea! I have done the same thing but with the soft type foam packing material.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

Quick, patent it!

Seriously though, good idea. I'm all for repurposing.

 

[dbmjr1]

Glue a thin piece to the inside of the lid too, to keep things from getting beaten up by the lid.

Great idea.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

Gunny
Nice catch
And nice first job.

FYI There are instructions on how to make foam cutters on Instructables.
Basically you mate a soldering iron and Exacto blade.

You might want to look into it.

 

[ontarget]

You never fail to amaze us Gunny. Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

You never fail to amaze us Gunny. Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome.

Sounds like a Marine!

 

[GunnyUSMC]

The next one I do, I’ll take my time.
This foam cuts pretty easy with a sharp knife.

 

[Walkalong]

I love re-purposed items that were headed to the trash. They make fun of me for scrounging and saving stuff.

 

[RPZ]

I love re-purposed items that were headed to the trash. They make fun of me for scrounging and saving stuff.

I've sometimes come across pieces of closed cell foam for use accordingly. There is a lot of useful stuff that businesses in particular just throw away.

To people that look upon it as junk I say, go out and price this if you were to have to buy it! I kept nuts, bolts and other assorted hardware I find on the street - often looking like new. Gotten me out of a scrape numerous times (and neighbor) without having to make a special trip to a hardware store or Home Depot to buy a whole bag of screws, bolts, nuts, washers etc at significant prices.

 

[ontarget]

I love re-purposed items that were headed to the trash. They make fun of me for scrounging and saving stuff.

Probably because the haters don't have the imagination or skills to repurpose anything.

 

[DoubleMag]

I like it!

Just a suggestion

You might want to throw a dessicant pack into that can

 

[lemaymiami]

Custom padded containers work great - but make sure not to leave a weapon in one in any kind of humid conditions. You won't like what happens...

I work out of a small skiff down in the salty portions of the Everglades so rusting tools (for any purpose) is something I'm always struggling with (that even includes stuff left inside my truck's cab, unfortunately).

Anyone lucky enough to live out in a desert (or other zero humidity places) can disregard this small warning.

 

[springer99]

Good idea. I assume that you checked it out to make sure your guns lubes/oils/greases didn't react to the compounds used to make the foam? Otherwise, over time, you might have a problem. Been there/done that!

 

[Bo]

I have found when cutting foam rubber or Styrofoam, a electric filet knife works wonders.

 

[Officers'Wife]

Any <darn> fool can do the job with store bought parts, real success is when you can make what you need from the junk pile out back and turn out an even better product.

or my personal favorite - Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.

I'm glad to see there are others that will create wealth out of what others will discard as trash. Nicely done Marine!

 

[BSA1]

I have been wanting to do the same thing for quite a while after I saw the inserts on caseclub and another website. Like you $20.00 for such a inexpensive project is a bit much when doing several cans. I don't like the results from the soft foam so I have been looking for the harder stuff.

One question. How did you cut the slots for the magazines?

 

[GunnyUSMC]

I have been wanting to do the same thing for quite a while after I saw the inserts on caseclub and another website. Like you $20.00 for such a inexpensive project is a bit much when doing several cans. I don't like the results from the soft foam so I have been looking for the harder stuff.

One question. How did you cut the slots for the magazines?

I just used a small knife. I'll pull the foam out of the can and take some more pics when I get home.

 

[H&R Glock]

That guy from Minnesota ground up the foam and stuffed it into a pillow case. Made a million bucks on that idea!

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Here are the pics of the foam cuts.




Here’s the knife I used.


The next one will be done with just two pieces of foam.

 

[FROGO207]

It seems so many cant think outside the box and find uses for cast off stuff. Thanks for showing how you did it.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Very cool! I'd toss a desiccant packet in just to remove any moistures.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

It seems so many cant think outside the box and find uses for cast off stuff. Thanks for showing how you did it.

Wouldn’t this be thinking inside the box, or ammo can? Couldn’t help it.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

My buddy at work likes the Plano plastic ammo boxes, so I made one for him to put a Glock 19 in.

 

[Coop45]

Sometimes I sits and thinks and sometime I just sits.

Gunny, how do you switch off your brain at bed time?