Opinion on this crazy idea.

jinman · Sep 23, 2013

I don't know if it will work, but I want to see the video of that lawnmower shredder eatin' that foam.

Larro Darro · Sep 23, 2013

How about using a shop vac to collect the foam from the mower? You might have to run the foam through the mower a couple of times to get it small enough anyway. With the blade upside down and a hopper to feed the once shredded foam into the top of the mower, you could run it through as many times as needed. Just seal the bottom with plywood and reduce the output chute to fit the hose on the shop vac. {what could go wrong?}

bcp · Sep 23, 2013

Buy bean bag filler or shipping foam "peanuts" to pour in.

Sysop · Sep 23, 2013

Are you going to change the motor on the mower from bottom shaft to side shaft or feed the foam up into the bottom?

turnkey4099 · Sep 23, 2013

Egon said:
Good idea.

Do a test run before getting properly set up by just putting the lawn mower over some broken up pieces?

Doesn't work. The blow will still be in the same direction but not as good. I learned that with model airplane engines. Putting the prop on backwards just results in very poor performance in the same direction.

Harry K

Harry K

teejk · Sep 23, 2013

Thrift is one thing but you will be advancing the myth that southern people are hill-billies (the snobs love that stuff). Styro on any type of blade that could chew it up will give you some fumes that you probably don't want to breath. Pull the osb and fill the corner with batting or your foam board. Otherwise check your building center for a rental blower and materials. Cut wholes in the osb to accomodate the hose size and patch them.

Or have it done...I paid $1,500 to have somebody insulate my 30x40 shop building ceiling to R50.

John White · Sep 23, 2013

It is open at the top. 6x" wide 8' long so I can look down inside. Bean bag size pellets is what I would like. I can just put them in a 5 gal bucket and pour them down. There are no wires or any thing that will catch them. I might talk some one into running a 4x8 ft sheet through their chipper and see how it comes out. If it is ok, I could just throw a tarp over my dump truck bed and have him run me a truck load.

SPIKER · Sep 23, 2013

This would be a poor insulation job at best. Styrofoam is OK as long as it is sealed up on all it's sides, fit tight to a stud to prevent airflow. Grinding it up will provide very little R value at all. The stuff also is not very "fire friendly" either... I would rent a insulation blower (or hire it done) blow it in and save the wasted effort.

Sorry about disappointing ya but will sure be better to find out NOW than when it is mid winter and everything is freezing cold.

Mark

KennyG · Sep 23, 2013

There are a lot of reasons why I think conventional insulation is a better idea, but the one that sticks with me is static electricity. Every time I have any small pieces of foam, it goes everywhere and sticks to everything.