go for the most compliant foam you can get. The stock open cell foam works as it is very soft and allows the flaps to close and seal with little effort. I have tried stiffer closed cell foam and it does not work as well as compliant open cell foam. Open cell foam tends to be, all else being equal, softer than closed cell foam.

alistair

On 2012-12-10, at 11:12 AM, Dave Mcneely wrote:

> For what it's worth, I'd say that a foam that is tolerant of high temperature would be needed.  Why would open or closed cell make a difference, if it makes a good, tight seal?  Some open cell foams are more fragile than closed cell foams of the same material.  Of course, this is in a dark environment, so light breakdown, a killer of many plastic foams, is not a problem.  mcneely
> 
> ---- Mike South <msouth@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>> This is a link someone gave in the archives.  This is what they used to
>> replace the foam on the heater flaps:
>> 
>> http://www.homedepot.ca/product/adhesive-foam-tape/941505
>> 
>> (in case that link dies over the years, here are some details that might
>> help someone search it out:
>> 
>> TAGO Adhesive Foam Tape
>> 
>> Model: TA78537 | Store SKU: 1000124257
>> )
>> 
>> On the right rail on that page there are several references to foam tape
>> that is explicitly advertised as closed-cell (e.g.
>> http://www.homedepot.ca/product/closed-cell-foam-tape-self-adhesive-weatherstripping/941502
>> 
>> TAGO Closed-Cell Foam Tape Self-Adhesive Weatherstripping
>> 
>> Model: TA78626 | Internet/Cat: 941502 | Store SKU: 1000113273 )
>> 
>> Is the difference just that one is porous like a natural sponge and one is
>> formed of a bunch of closed bubbles stuck together?  I saw a lot of
>> recommendations that you use "open-cell foam", so I guess I'm wondering if
>> that's the "default foam" :).
>> 
>> mike
> 
> --
> David McNeely