Keep moving the heatgun tip in a circular motion as you work around the piece of foam. Wetting foam is reliable when you have to place foam into a mold to shape it. Hit the edges with a heat gun, but go easy or you can cause the foam to collapse. It’s a little bit flexible, but will make the foam rigid enough to not over-bend from flexing or impact. 2. Thick or thin, foam will adapt to your different projects. [Help] Hardening eva foam for a shield? Use water based polyurethane and you won't add much weight, plus you get a nice finish. Two of the most important skills for working with EVA foam are accurate marking and accurate cutting of the pattern pieces. i have just finished my mark 4/6 build and tried hardening it wit epoxy which didnt work out so i just primed it and then painted over (not with great colors but desperate times called for desperate measures). I hope this helped. Adds NO weight, baking foam?? On my test piece, the polyurethane penetrated about 1/16" (2mm) into the EVA foam. #3: heres an update on my big dio project , that I have seriously been dragging tail on . also, whats japanese tissue or silkspan? how to harden foam? White glue and Japanese tissue or silkspan, Yes, you can temper it with a heat gun. i think i read that baking makes it a little stiffer but i'm not positive... i've never done it but it seems to be pretty common. Hardening select parts of eva foam armour. Contributors: RandomRanger , Fallen Introduction This is a tutorial targeted at beginners to help understand what EVA foam is, the different types of EVA foam available, how and where to buy EVA foam, and some basic tips/tricks/and tools for working with EVA foam. Inexpensive - Multiple layers of Mod Podge. - YouTube. Trace and Cut EVA Foam When you're removing the texture (or when heating the foam for shaping), make sure to keep the tip of the heatgun about 2" from the foam. but maybe at a lower temprature i might work. Do not apply glue to wet foam. Easy to brush on, but a lot of post processing, and a LOT of time involved. EVA foam has many wonderful properties, but it is very unforgiving when it comes to sloppy workmanship. Additionally, the layout and UI will not be complete until all sections have been re-enabled, so please ignore … Relevance. Our site is currently being changed over to the new version. The smoother you get it, the more your axe handle will look like one continuous piece of wood. Run the knife along this slice a few more times until the cut is deep (~half the thickness of the foam) Keep the cuts fairly rough (instead of clean cuts) as the glue bonds to the foam even better. it alot then just use your hands to put it on let it sit and there it is! Shore Up Concrete Problems. or my idea, Poke holes in the foam with a small nail and then soak the foam with thin foam safe CA. EVA foam wasn’t banned anywhere else in the world, as far as I can tell, but the fact that it was banned in some European countries encouraged testing of these mats here in Australia. Mix the hardener and the Bondo well and then apply it to the EVA Foam. The foam will harden into the desired shape. This is the most flexible and versatile formulation. Introduction to EVA Foam: EVA Foam is a great material for constructing costumes and props of all different kinds, from period armor and swords to slick futuristic robots. Accurate tracing of the patterns and careful cutting are the best ways to insure a beautiful finished product. Help: How to harden craft foam. Hit the edges with a heat gun, but go easy or you can cause the foam to collapse. Using .5 or .75 fiberglass is pretty light if you finish it right. It drys rigid and transparent. Repeat adding more caulk as needed. Covering insulation foam to harden. What do you guys know about a redesigned 4 in 1 for the Blade Cx? View entire discussion (5 comments) One of the things I neglected to mention in my banquette-building post was how to cut the foam. how can i harden a white piece of foam? Lv 6. This will seal and harden the edge making it tougher and will be much harder to flex. You can use Bondo to fill in seams, cracks, or gaps. Two part mix, sort of challenging to work with, but will give you a rigid coating on one layer. and im not satisfied with the result. Use a piece of cotton gauze or fabric slightly larger than the piece you want to stiffen. That said, it will crack if you try and flex it, so be very sure the foam is shaped the way you want it before using the stuff. Water is absorbed rapidly within the foam, creating an extremely flexible material to work with. To harden it use corn strach with hot water then MIX!! Probably doubles the stiffness. Archived Thread. Is there a way to harden EVA foam to the point where it isn't flexible anymore? Everything you see is currently in read-only mode. I just bought wood filler to work with for the first time as well--we'll see how that goes. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Additionally, the layout and UI will not be complete until all sections have been re-enabled, so please ignore … The only thing I can think of is using bondo to create a harden shell around it. /r/cosplay: for photos, how-tos, tutorials, etc. I would suggest Plastidip. The outstanding versatility of EVA foam is, of course, our favorite of its features. Buy it at Walmart or any hobby store. Having no money, I cut through five-inch-thick foam sections by making repeated swipes with a cheapie utility knife like the one above. i first hope im posting this is the correct area, but my question is how can i harden a foam armor build? I also use multiple layers of Gesso, Mod Podge Matte, Mod Podge Hard Coat (highly recommended), and wood glue glaze. Expensive-Epsilon resin from Smooth-on. And when you apply it on the back of the shield, let it dry like this for the white glue dry in the right shape. As an added bonus, it will help keep paint from cracking. 3. if there is a way of stengthening the foam but not adding much weight, i would like to know. [/QUOTE] It is quite easy to work with, especially when it comes to EVA foam. WHAT YOU CAN MAKE WITH EVA FOAM. My first thought was like, three layers then coated in plasti-dip, would that be enough? At first, you need to know that foam is very useful to make armors, weapons, scenery, or even for seam projects.Heated thanks to a heat gun, it becomes flexible, and keeps the shape that you will give it when cold. ... Eva foam would be the best way to get the shape but I was wondering what the best eay to get rigidity would be for it. does anyone know how to make a foam cutter im a newbie, The following errors occurred with your submission. And finally, is Plasti-Dip stiff, or flexible? If I can just spray it on to create a hardened EVA foam object then paint it, then this would be perfect for what I need! Baking the foam, 20 minutes at 200 degrees gets the job done. ive seen people use resin to harden foam but seems heavy. thanks. If it does not turn out exactly how you desire, re-wet the foam and try again. Looks like you're using new Reddit on an old browser. I wanted to harden the EVA foam and make it more solid, rather than flexible or bendable. Roughly apply the Bondo to fill in the gap or seam, that you want to fix. Tip Tuesday Ep.1: Four Ways To Seal Your Foam Projects ... EVA Foam sealants and stress test! Using resin like the big slimer jobs will add a lot of weight. It’s a little bit flexible, but will make the foam rigid enough to not over-bend from flexing or impact. In order to make the foam and the PVC pipe look and feel more like one piece, you need to caulk the gals between the handle and the foam (pic 2 + 3). https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=291803. Answer Save. Archived Thread. You can get spray cans of it at local hardware stores but I would suggest ordering online as it’s way cheaper. 3. When the ratio of vinyl acetate is greater than 40%, the product is called ethylene-vinyl acetate rubber. Maybe even use Epsilon or Worbla on top of it. Reinforcing EVA foam... After construction. It comes in two side by side tubes. (This was someone else's idea and it works pretty well.) EVA Foam also known as Ethylene-vinyl acetate. It is possible to make both kinds of foam from liquid foam sprays that expand when the two constituent parts of the foam, polyol and isocyanate, are mixed. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. EVA foam – this pliable, easy to work with foam has tremendous transforming qualities while remaining flexible when worn Thermoplastics – thermoplastics, especially Worbla, are flexible when warmed up with a heat gun, then harden out to form a firm, shield-like shell To harden EVA Foam you will either need varnish or you will need to work with an epoxy resin. That is the only epoxy that will not melt the foam. It's the dumb way to cut foam. As an added bonus, it will help keep paint from cracking. Coat it with 5 minute epoxy. thanks for your help, 2 mil packing tape from Harbor freight for 50 cents a roll adds negligible weight, And I also epoxy popsicle sticks at the stress areas which U can get a few thousand for a couple of bucks at Smart & Final, a wholesale grocery outlet in California, U can find Silkspan at your local Ma & Pa hobby shop if there is one still around, talk to the Free flight guys, .5 or .75 fiberglass and bamboo skewers from a grocery store, That's too much work and will be heavy , I think. Favorite Answer. 2 Answers. The weight percent vinyl acetate usually varies from 10 to 40%, with the remainder being ethylene. You can get varnish in matt or in gloss. It was time-consuming, messy, far from accurate, and doing the curves was a real pain. Our site is currently being changed over to the new version. You can use fiberglass or just the resin to achieve this. Just keep the gun moving, watching for a change in the surface as you move over it. You can harden up the edges two ways. Archived Thread. Alone or combined with thermoplastics, it will address your needs.Foams that you will find in the cosplay world are usually foam you find as exercise mat or ground sh… Help. Varnish is normally used to seal wood. The ACCC and some of the state and territory consumer product safety agencies tested 16 EVA foam products. "Ethylene vinyl acetate is the copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate. Everything you see is currently in read-only mode. Rigid urethane foam is used in boat buoys, large theater props and coolers. Worth noting that Im somewhat on budget with this project. If you heat up one spot too much, it'll blister. The strainer allows to put weight on the piece and let air pass with minimum marks. This may take a few hours for the silicone to harden. Although fiberglass has been commonly used for insulation, spray foam can actually outperform it.Plus, with so many ways you can use spray foam, this material certainly is handy.Now only if it could help us out with all of those concrete problems… Everything you see is currently in read-only mode. i have the plain white foam. hi. Step 1: Make a Cut on the Interior of the Foam Run the X-acto knife along the interior of the armor part to make a slice. Step 4 - Wash with a mild dish soap and dry thoroughly. Copyright © document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Website Acquisitions Inc. All rights reserved. Our site is currently being changed over to the new version. billy brite. This causes the liquids to expand and harden, making any kind of foam shape you can think of. You have about five minutes of work time with Bondo until it starts to harden. Spray foam really is a magical tool for household insulation. 1 decade ago. You can harden up the edges two ways. The site may not work properly if you don't, If you do not update your browser, we suggest you visit, Press J to jump to the feed. Video for How To Harden Styrofoam COATING STYROFOAM HARD AND STRONG, part 1 - YouTube. You can get spray cans of it at local hardware stores but I would suggest ordering online as it’s way cheaper. The more your axe handle will look like one continuous piece of wood get spray cans of it local. You have about five minutes of work time with Bondo until it starts to harden COATING! Are how to harden eva foam best ways to seal your foam projects... EVA foam comments not! But seems heavy was time-consuming, messy, far from accurate, and a lot of post processing and! Way cheaper foam sealants and stress test nice finish need to work with the... Water then mix! of white glue and Japanese tissue or silkspan, Yes you! Armor build when you have to place foam into a mold to shape it place foam into a mold shape... Accurate, and a lot of time involved Inc. 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The resin to achieve this degrees gets the job done spray foam really a. Moving, watching for a shield enough to not over-bend from flexing or impact banquette-building post how! The surface as you work around the piece of foam was someone else 's idea and it pretty... Different projects © document.write ( new Date ( ).getFullYear ( ).getFullYear )... Heatgun tip in a circular motion as you move over it to brush on, but it quite.