I don’t know if this product still exists (or even if I’ll be able to describe it clearly) but in the late 70s/ early 80s there were “As Seen On TV”- type television commercials for these stiff rectangular blocks of some peculiar abrasive substance one could use to strip paint and varnish off a variety of surfaces.
I used them once and they did a pretty nice job. I recall that the material of the block would wear away rather rapidly as you used it and it gave off a skunky odor.
Anybody recognize what I’m trying to describe? What were they made of? Are they still available?
I remember them. I assume that they died out because they weren’t worth the cost compared to regular sandpaper sanding blocks, and the foam sponge sanding blocks.
Neither of those links address abrasives. At all. The word doesn’t even occur.
Do you have a citation linking “foam glass” and the OP’s remembered application? Because your contribution so far absolutely doesn’t do it.
ETA: Furthermore, googling “foam glass abrasive” returns nothing supporting the idea either. I’m very close to reporting your post as subject-irrelevant spam.
I base my links because I used that material myself back in the 70s for this exact work, and I lived in the town where it was manufactured. We always knew it as glass foam from Pittsburg Corning and used it to strip wood before someone got wise and realized they could make money from that application.
I’m guessing they don’t advertise this use anymore, because the fine glass particles produced are probably an inhalation danger and will rip up your lungs.
here is another link, complete with describing the odor and being able to cut it easily.
Thanks for providing the missing link in your chain of assertions.
That said, that’s a 2015 patent and I can’t find evidence that it’s been applied yet. Of course, if you were using FoamGlas ™ products off-label, that’s interesting, but I doubt a recent patent would be granted if the exact application had been advertised “As seen on TV!” before that time. (Assuming it was that far back. I don’t remember the advertisements at all, and googling “As seen on TV!” doesn’t return anything resembling what OP described.
I noted the recent patent date too…but I think the focus of this particular patent is in the material manufacture. It looks to be a different process than the original sulfurous blowing agent.
:o Sorry if I came off hostile. I admit mentioning reporting was a bit douchy; but at least I held off because I figured you had are a reasonable chance of good intentions.
Yeah, that’s a good point. Maybe a formulation of foam glass less likely to cause silicosis after a few years.