Ron, Eva foam is an reticulated polyurethane foam often used in outdoor furniture.  It comes in three different densities and is a good substitute for "scott" foam when building puppets.

Jon, we have discussed EVA foam here a few times over the years, and Shawn himself compared it to the funky foam/craft foam you find in crafts shops, (which is also called "Foamies."). I have seen it and handled it in the past. It is a dense but flexible material, unlike the stiff, carvable "balsa" foam blocks that Billy mentioned in this thread.

http://puppetsandstuff.com/community/index.php/topic,842.msg4379.html#msg4379

http://www.craftsetc.com/store/department.aspx?dep=50&cat=4&subcat=0

http://images.google.com/images?q=eva%20foam

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethylene-vinyl_acetate

http://www.schenz.com/fm_eva.html

 

Ron G.

This is the email I just recieved from  http://www.americanfoamtech.com/balsafoam/default.asp

Thank you for your interest in our balsa foam.  We do have sample kits available to purchase for only$5.00.  The balsa kit includes a 2"x3"x.5" piece of each density of balsa foam available, 7 lb, 12 lb and 20 lb.  Informational material for working with balsa foam is included as well.  Regular wood carving tools are sufficient for sculpting balsa foam.  Balsa is a corrosive material for metal tools, therefore it is recommended that you wipe down anything metal to avoid rusting.
 
Flora Craft Corp, out of Ludington MI, is our marketing partner for balsa foam.   A letter will be icluded with information to contact Flora Craft if you wish to order balsa foam.
 
If you would like a sample kit of balsa foam, please contact me with your credit card information, and I will be happy to send the kit to you right away.  You can contact me by e-mail or calling 304-497-3000.
 
Thank you,
 
Ronda Edmond

I'm ordering mine today.

Billy D.

Exciting news, Billy - thanks for the report!

(Gee... that must mean that I lead a pretty boring life, if I find a new kind of foam for carving arts and crafts exciting...)

 

Ron G.

Sorry, my mistake.  The material I was describing is called Eva Dry foam.  Eva, Eva Dry I guess its an understandable mistake. 

Incidentally, if anyone interested in trying the eva dry foam you can order it from Albany Foam.  If you call and order a full one inch sheet they will recut it to 1/2 at no extra cost.  It's less costly than scott foam

Incidentally, if anyone interested in trying the eva dry foam you can order it from Albany Foam.  If you call and order a full one inch sheet they will recut it to 1/2 at no extra cost.  It's less costly than scott foam

Thanks Jon

If anyone is interested here is information

http://www.ausinc.net/ausinc/index.asp

Foam in question
http://www.ausinc.net/ausinc/2008/06.asp

Albany foam
Monday-friday 8 am - 5 pm
1-800-235-0888

I'll have to check this out more................. it may be cheaper than what I'm getting

Billy D.

Thanks for posting the links, Billy.  Just to let you know, the Eva Dry comes in three densities.  As yet I haven't checked it out.  I live about an hour from albany and I've been waiting till I had a chance to go to Albany foam and feel the difference in the different densities before I buy.  At this point I'm not sure how soon that will be but when I do I'll let you know which I think is best suited to puppet building.

Kind of late to chime in but Blas foam is used widely before the days of computers for prototype modelmaking because it can be finished and glassed over to create a light weight finished model ready for mold making.

Just to let you know, the Eva Dry comes in three densities.  As yet I haven't checked it out.  I live about an hour from albany and I've been waiting till I had a chance to go to Albany foam and feel the difference in the different densities before I buy.

Thanks for the updates, Jon and Billy! From what I can tell, "Eva Dry" is a term used commercially to imply "(for)ever dry." It is also used by a dehumidifier company. I'd be interested in hearing how well it does as a substitute for Scott reticulated foam.

Jon - I used to live about an hour south of Albany, in the Kingston NY area. I lived in West Saugerties for awhile twice when I was a kid and my dad was there getting training on new computer systems with IBM in the Sixties and early Seventies, and again for a couple of years across the river in Red Hook NY, from 1978-1980.

 

Ron G.

From what I can tell, "Eva Dry" is a term used commercially to imply "(for)ever dry."

In Hawaii, we say the term fo-eva in slang for "forever."  There is also a city called Eva.  I was in a play called, "for-Eva."  Ok that's all...I promise.  This post is taking FOREVA!

Aloha,
Nikole

I think you could right about Eva Dry being a play on words for forever dry.  The foam is reticulated to help it not hold water.  I think it may also be made for ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA).  People can get pretty clever when it comes to names.  We'll have to wait and see how it compares to scott foam.

I also want to encourage people to keep discussing the Balsa Foam (the original purpose of this thread).  It sounds interesting and could be useful in some of my future projects.