Roll Cage Padding?

[rerock]

What are people using for roll cage padding/ foam? I read some people go to the crafts store (Michael's, etc) and get some foam. Well, I scoured the entire store for about two hours; all I could come up with that could possibly work was this 12"X18" sheet of stuff called "Cool Foam" (P/N# 15200-55) that has the right consistency & thickness (2mm). The only problem is it's a sheet, so you have to cut it in a strip and wrap it; not very scale looking.

I'm sure there is an available product (for soemthing) that is or has a foam tube? I'm trying to think of anything I've ever seen; but I'm striking out and my brain is starting to hurt.

So I ask, what is everyone else doing/ using?

Thanks.

 

[beachbum]

Best thing I've come across is a product from most local home healthcare suppliers/Pharmacys. It's a product used on nasal cannulas (the nose tube you see on people who use oxygen in hospitals, portable O2 units. The part is a piece of foam about 4 or 5 inches long called a nasal cannula ear protector or nasal cannula ear foam. The tubing goes under the nose then curves behind the ears to hold it in place then down under the chin to a single tube then running to the air supply. The part of the tubing running behind the ears can rub skin raw in some cases thus the foam protector. The foam piece is round and hollowed to fit properly and decrease the diameter and is split down one side to slip easily onto the tubing. You can run a few of these around most chassis tubing which is usually the same diameter as the nasal cannulas, then trim electrical tape to a narrow scale like width and rap the foam to give it a scale taped up look. You can even spray them with Plasti Dip rubberized spray (Lowe's, Home Depot, etc.), just use a razor to recut the split then use a foam friendly glue to reseal the split. I've only seen them in one color, grey, thus the covering with tape or rubber sprayed. You can call any pharmacy or medical equipment supplier in the phone book that carries oxygen/equipment/supplies, as most carry them. I can try to see if I have a pack laying around my shop and give a specific item # and if I do I'll post it. The most common manufacturer is Salter Lab. Hope this helps.

 

[SMFtwstdHICK]

I used some Nerf shooting arrow things I found at Target..

Then I just threw some electrical tape around the pads. Looks like killer looking 80's stuff right there. haha"thumbsup"

 

[hitman46mod]

You can get this as small as 3/16" ID
http://www.gripworks.com/round-hand-grips.htm "thumbsup"

Some more 1/4" black
http://www.grabongrips.com/foam_tubing.php

This is the cannula tubing foam.
http://www.everydaymedical.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=3413

 

[The1nonlyJ]

I dont know what its called, but in the motor trade there is a very sticky tape that is backed with 1-2mm thick foam that is used to wrap the wiring loom inside the vehicle mainly under the dash.

You can also get thicker (width and thickness) sticky back foam that is for putting in door shut, and as i recently discovered is really good to put between panels and buldheads to stop landys rattling so much.....

Im also pretty sure ive also seen it used in houses to go inside door frames to stop drafts.

 

[beachbum]

You can get this as small as 3/16" ID
http://www.gripworks.com/round-hand-grips.htm "thumbsup"

Some more 1/4" black
http://www.grabongrips.com/foam_tubing.php

This is the cannula tubing foam.
http://www.everydaymedical.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=3413

Yep that's them hitman, added another pic, this is one by airlife, just the padding itself. Salter I thinks still sells just the pads by the pair (distributed, by medical supply dealers, not direct). I sold them for about $1.50 a pair when I was in the medical supply business.

 

[Racer4Life]

I used some weather stripping from Lowes. Comes in a roll. It has a cavity to it. I just scored one side and opened it up and slid it over the tube and then used 3M electrical tape. Don't go cheap on the tape. Most off brands don't stick that well.

 

[rerock]

I used some Nerf shooting arrow things I found at Target... Looks like killer looking 80's stuff right there. haha"thumbsup"

That's awesome! It's a little thick for what I'm after though. This is the kind of ingenuity I'm looking for...

You can get this as small as 3/16" ID
http://www.gripworks.com/round-hand-grips.htm "thumbsup"

Some more 1/4" black
http://www.grabongrips.com/foam_tubing.php

This is the cannula tubing foam.
http://www.everydaymedical.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=3413

I know of a medical/ oxygen supply company a few blocks from my work. I'll give them a shout and see if they're open today.

I dont know what its called, ...in the motor trade... there is a very sticky tape that is backed with 1-2mm thick foam that is used to wrap the wiring loom inside the vehicle mainly under the dash.

You can also get thicker (width and thickness) sticky back foam that is for putting in door shut, and as i recently discovered is really good to put between panels and buldheads to stop landys rattling so much.....

Im also pretty sure ive also seen it used in houses to go inside door frames to stop drafts.

I work at an auto parts store (part-time); I hadn't thought of this earlier... automotive weather stripping. I know the foam comes in various thicknesses (make/ model/ trunk/ door/ etc) and diameters; and we sell universal stuff by the foot. I'll go look at this today.



Thanks for all of the idea so far! I appreciate the ideas!

 

[rerock]

I used some weather stripping from Lowes. Comes in a roll. It has a cavity to it. I just scored one side and opened it up and slid it over the tube and then used 3M electrical tape. Don't go cheap on the tape. Most off brands don't stick that well.

Super 33; is there anything else???? I'm an electrical/ electronics tech.

 

[hairba11]

maybe vacuum tubing or fuel line from an auto parts store.

is hpi baja fuel line larger in diameter than the regular stuff?

 

[rerock]

maybe vacuum tubing or fuel line from an auto parts store.

is hpi baja fuel line larger in diameter than the regular stuff?

Vacuum tubing; maybe not foam, but scale-ish in form. It would certainly hold up to lots of abuse too, especially when wrapped in elecrical tape.

Interesting thought.

I ran out of time today, so I cut the cool foam in to 10mm wide strips and wrapped the tube. I then cut the Super 33 (e-tape) in to thirds and
wrapped the foam.

It looks okay, but I'm not totally pleased with it. It'll be good enough for the unveiling tomorrow, but it'll get redone afterwards...

*BTW* I'm got my wife a digi cam, so I can then post up pics.