Suggestions for making neoprene style inserts

First I have to say I love the DIY thread and everybody here has always been a big help to me. Now, my current problem is that I need 210 3.5" neoprene inserts. Something like an EZ cloner insert just a little bigger. Now I could shell out a buck and a half a piece and buy all these inserts, but somehow I just couldn't feel ok about spending over 300 bucks on neoprene when I know me and my. 3.5" hole saw could pop these out in an afternoon. I've done the research and I know that I can buy neoprene by the sheet, but even buying it by the sheet is spendy. So Im hoping that one of you briliant DIYers have already come across this solution and figured out how to make a sufficient insert out of something other than neoprene. Remember I need 210 of these so it would be nice if I could buy thus material in a large bulk piece. Thanks in advance for th suggestions.

yoga/exercise mats from walmart

I don't know what you call them, or even what size they are exactly! But they are big long poles, that kids use to "beat the crap out of each other" in swimming pools. They are made of a semi-firm plastic foam. I think you can just slice them into little "pucks".

Might be a little hard to find them this time of year, but I've seen them for sale all over the place!

Haha.. Fun noodles man! I forgot all about those things, that's honestly a great idea if they are close to the right diameter. Looks like I've got mor research to do

You might try those interlocking foam mats. I just seen some at Harbor Freight today. A pack of 4 (4 sq ft) was 7.99 ...You should be able to punch out 9 per mat which means total cost would be a little less than 50 bucks. The only problem I can see is when you go at it with your hole saw it might shred it up

I buy the Pool Noodles at the Dollar stores for $1 each. They usually have them all year long. Cut them to length with a Radial arm saw for speed. They are aprox 4 ft long, and you can make about 50 pucks each. I buy the solid ones (some have a small hole in center), and cut the same "t" shape with scissors just like the neoprene pucks. They work great!

Other alternatives are yoga mats, kneeling pads, interlocking floor mats...etc. Use your imagination.

Just remember to cut them a bit larger than your hole so they are snug. I make them to fit in the top of the netcup so they are easier to move around. They can go from the cloner to veg station to flower station.

200 to 250 DIY Pucks for under $5! Plus a bit of Labor.

Good Luck! + rep (share the love)

thanks for all the help guys. Just to let anyone know who is interested most pool noodles that i have found online have a 2-3/4" outside diameter, which is too small for the size hole i have. they seem like the best option if i could just find the right size.

so, if your like me and the noodles are just too small I just was looking into those foam cylinders people sometimes use for yoga or at the gym, like this http://www.nefitco.com/foam_roller_3footx4in.html hope this helps somebody else as well!

Well i don't know if anyone else is as interested in this as I am, but i have found a company out of California that does custom foam pieces. you can get any diameter cylinder at any length and they will make it out of the material you want. It is actually quite inexpensive as well. for 10 feet of 3.5" diameter cylinder foam( 2, 5 foot sections) I think I was quoted something around $32. The link for those interested is http://www.foamonline.com/cyl.php

tat2ue said:

You might try those interlocking foam mats. I just seen some at Harbor Freight today. A pack of 4 (4 sq ft) was 7.99 ...You should be able to punch out 9 per mat which means total cost would be a little less than 50 bucks. The only problem I can see is when you go at it with your hole saw it might shred it up

Click to expand...

great idea
i have a ton of these for my kids play room and bedroom they are thick and soft
and the cut ezly with a box cutter and cost a lot less then you quoted