Foam disintigrating problem

[Sockfan]

Hello fellow Puppet Builders,

I have a wierd problem. In that puppets i have built out of foam are disintegrating after about 5 years. Just turning to dust.

Either thats normal and things just wear out.
Or i'm using wrong sort of foam.
Or I'm living near dangerous background radiation.
I have been using copydex glue, which i thought would be safe, by the way.

Sorry if this is an obvious question,

Any help would be much appreciated xx.

 

[Buck-Beaver]

That's pretty normal. Most foam starts to break down after about five years. If you store the puppets carefully away from light they will last longer, but they don't last forever unfortunately.

 

[Sockfan]

Thanks Buck-Beaver,

I thought i was doing something wrong.

 

[IndianaFan]

How do you get around that, Buck-Beaver? Is there anyway puppets can last longer than that?

 

[Whispers]

Hey that's normal and yes like Buck said, unfortunately foam doesn't last forever. There is a way of helping it last longer, I think spray adhesive onto the foam helps preserve the foams softness but I need to look it up! [will do ASAP]

 

[Buck-Beaver]

I have some puppets that were made with L200 foam in the early-mid `90s and they have held up better than puppets made with regular polyfoam (the stuff used to make couch cushions). I tend to store puppets in cool, dry conditions in clear plastic bags inside boxes or bins and everything made from about 1998 onwards that isn't used a lot has held up really well.