pool noodles

[Phildirt]

Where does one find them in Michigan in the winter?

[Ether]

Originally Posted by Phildirt

Where does one find them in Michigan in the winter?

Amazon.com ?

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Phildirt

Where does one find them in Michigan in the winter?

In your shop, because you bought them in the fall.

Sorry, that's next year. For those that didn't know to plan ahead, your friends down in Kokomo, Indiana have your back. http://www.andymark.com/Bumpers-s/253.htm Scroll down a bit. (And, while you're at it, browse around the rest of the site. Just don't blow your entire robot budget there.)

Now, I do have to give you guys fair warning. We don't know for sure that we actually will need pool noodles this year, given that we didn't get any blog posts about making sure you have your supply. But, with the bumper rules as they have been for the last few years, I think your concern is reasonable. And, as noted, one source is in Indiana.

[tim-tim]

Originally Posted by Phildirt

Where does one find them in Michigan in the winter?

Here is a 20 pack on Amazon.
You may also try other places, but this about the going price for bulk/quantity purchases. You may be able to find a pool/spa store that has some leftover in the back room.

[Edit] Ether beat me to it... and EricH, thanks for providing a link to AndyMark. I would have guessed/known that they sold the noodles.

In all seriousness, set an alarm or calendar reminder for the middle of August to get them in the summer months or as the stores are prepping to switch seasons. [/Edit]

[MrBasse]

If you are going to Grand Rapids for kick off I can bring you some. There may be another team more local to you who buys them when they see them like I do in September. If they are a dollar or less I grab a few, we probably have thirty in our storage room.

[Tungrus]

You will find them in local pool supply stores.

[Chris is me]

Along these lines, does anyone have a good source for buying SOLID pool noodles online? The stiffer, the better. I've got way more than enough hollow squishy ones.

[The_ShamWOW88]

Search for solid pool noodles on Amazon....they have them...

[hrench]

If you get the the store at just the right time, when they're clearing out the pool supplies for fall, you can talk to the manager and offer $1 a noodle for the case(s) and no foolin', that works.

Did get all pink noodles, but that's no big deal. Can't see 'em on the 'bot anyway.

As for 'solid' noodles, can you foam 'great-stuff' into the center? I think maybe you want your bottom noodle to be solid and the upper noodle hollow, so you'll get a wedge-effect that gets the other robots' weight onto your machine so you get the traction. Would that work?

[Qbot2640]

Originally Posted by hrench

Did get all pink noodles, but that's no big deal. Can't see 'em on the 'bot anyway.

The pink noodles are superior...and even though you can't see them, just knowing they are pink gives you a competitive advantage. Your scouts should be telling other teams that there are pink noodles in those bumpers.

[Rosiebotboss]

Originally Posted by hrench

...As for 'solid' noodles, can you foam 'great-stuff' into the center? I think maybe you want your bottom noodle to be solid and the upper noodle hollow, so you'll get a wedge-effect that gets the other robots' weight onto your machine so you get the traction. Would that work?

I would say no, you cannot fill the hollow with Great Stuff. A pool noodle is a pool noodle and is legal for use on a FRC Robot (under previous years rules. My ruling would be a pool noodle filled with Great Stuff is not in line with the rules.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

I should have added (thanks Dana) that if the two noodles do not feel the same, we will want to know why.

[hrench]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

I should have added (thanks Dana) that if the two noodles do not feel the same, we will want to know why.

I can definitely see this reasoning, but to follow on from another comment above, apparently we can use solid noodles...so do I have to only use solids with solids and hollow-with-hollows, or can I put a hollow above and a solid below.

And would the wedge-effect I've imagined really be anything or is this just wishful thinking?

As for pink working better, yeah, I knew that. That's it. Yeah, I knew.

[MrRoboSteve]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

I should have added (thanks Dana) that if the two noodles do not feel the same, we will want to know why.

Here's the training video for inspectors on checking the feel of the bumpers, for everyone's reference.

[aldaeron]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

Along these lines, does anyone have a good source for buying SOLID pool noodles online? The stiffer, the better. I've got way more than enough hollow squishy ones.

Pool noodle = Polyethylene Foam

Here is a site that sells cylinders of polyethylene foam: http://www.foambymail.com/PE2C/polye...cylinders.html
(Disclaimer: I have not ordered from this site).

At $8 for one 70 inch length they are significantly more expensive than pool noodles.

I used to do packaging engineering for Northrop. There will be a foam supplier somewhere nearby who does custom shipping containers and custom foam. Find one locally and call them and see if they can get you polyethylene cylinders in larger quantity for a discount. If you mention what it's for I bet they will give you a discount or wholesale price.

-matto-