Polystyrene – what you might think of as Styrofoam, which is actually a brand name of Dow Chemical – comes in a few forms, including extruded polystyrene, which is the real Styrofoam, and expanded beat polystyrene, which is the stuff that breaks apart into little balls. Either one can be handy for a variety of uses around the shop. Here are a few from the grab bag.
1. If your toilet tank is sweating, you can line it with foam to help insulate it.
2. Foam trays from the grocery meat department can be handy as faceplate insulators on outlets and switches on outside walls. Don’t put foam inside the outlet box.
3. Foam insulation makes good lightweight panels for constructing items where strength isn’t an issue. Items such as valances are easy to hang and not subject to abuse from contact.
3. A block of foam can make a good drill bit holder. Stick the shank into the foam, and add a label for each so you can find what you need quickly.
4. Got a socket set without a case? You can make make perfect fitting slots by heating each socket and pressing it into the foam. Hobbyists often use heat to sculpt foam, but they stress that you should do it in a well-ventilated area.
