Void in a Minicell foam block. Is this normal?
Moderators: kenneth, sbroam, TheKrikkitWars, Mike W., Sir Adam, KNeal, PAC, adamin
Void in a Minicell foam block. Is this normal?
I was cutting apart a block of foam to use in my saddle, when the table saw shuddered, scaring the crap out of me. When I finished the cut, I saw what had caught. There was a void (a contained hole) inside the block of foam, roughly the size of a chestnut.
Is this normal for a minicell block? I doubt it will harm my saddle, but it is annoying. At least it's on the side being glued.
I just wanted to know if anyone else has seen voids this size in a block of foam, and if anyone thinks it will be a problem. Here's a picture.
Is this normal for a minicell block? I doubt it will harm my saddle, but it is annoying. At least it's on the side being glued.
I just wanted to know if anyone else has seen voids this size in a block of foam, and if anyone thinks it will be a problem. Here's a picture.
Chris Loomis
- Smurfwarrior
- C Maven
- Posts: 1491
- Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2009 3:09 am
- Location: Utah
The saw blade didn't kick back like it hit something, it just jumped a bit like it bit back into foam after not cutting anything as it passed through the void. I'm 99% sure nothing was in the hole, because I didn't find any remnants. Theoretically, it might have been a bubble formed in the pouring process.
And for what it's worth, the reason I was scared is because the table saw was 30 years old and a little ratttey to begin with, but that's a whole 'nother story.
And for what it's worth, the reason I was scared is because the table saw was 30 years old and a little ratttey to begin with, but that's a whole 'nother story.
Chris Loomis
Voids are "normal" in minicell although not common, usually appear near the outer edges. Often the foam is a little less flexible around the void. Won't affect your saddle, but cutting minicell on a tablesaw isn't ideal as the saw tends to pull the flexible foam into the throat of the saw and bind up. A bandsaw is WAY better for all foam work IMO. And yes I have cut A LOT of foam (all day for days at a time at Savage).
BrownDog Boats- "Bring the Dog"
-
- BlackFly Canoes
- Posts: 631
- Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2004 9:54 pm
- Location: New Hampton, NH
- Contact:
OK, thanks guys. I'm about to glue in the saddle, so hopefully everything will be all good.
Totally agree. Only problem was that I decided to take an inch off the height after I had glued the blocks together, and my bandsaw didn't cut eight inches tall. Hence the homicidal table saw.tennOC wrote: A bandsaw is WAY better for all foam work IMO.
Chris Loomis
-
- C Maven
- Posts: 1447
- Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2004 2:39 am
- Location: Northern California
- Smurfwarrior
- C Maven
- Posts: 1491
- Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2009 3:09 am
- Location: Utah