Foam you can carve and paint?

[mrhogg]

Hey all,

I'm curious to know if any of you can recommend any foam that I can use for set-pieces. What I want to do is shape it for some background elements, then paint it to make it look shiny and metallic; what kind of foam works for that?

Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Blink]

Pink insulation foam from a home supply store. Use an acrylic paint on it. You are only limited by your imagination.

 

[staceyrebecca]

Our theater uses white styrofoam. We coat it with several layers of paper maiche, letting it dry between layers & sand it down (using glue-paste & grocery bags) between layers. Prime it first & then paint it.

Keep in mind that I say "we" but really I've personally only done it like twice.

 

[mrhogg]

Awesome, thanks. How expensive is that kind of foam? I don't think I've ever bought any.

 

[Blink]

Awesome, thanks. How expensive is that kind of foam? I don't think I've ever bought any.

Who me or staceyrebecca?

Pink foam is not super expensive $20.00 or so per sheet? Not sure exactly. Depends on thickness, length, etc.

 

[Teenager's]

White is only $10 per 4ft x 10ft sheet.
I bought some today.

I haven't used papier mache on it....but regular wall paint works just as well---I also have never primed it---I don't think it needs it. Just use a roller.

But along with any kind of shiny wall paint--I also found this super Cool paint on Stainless Steel---
http://www.liquidstainlesssteel.com/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx

 

[ravagefrackle]

Thier is a Blue foam as well.

I do recomened that before you paint The Pink ,Blue or White foam that you coat it with a Material caleld FOAM COAT, most theatrical suppliers sell it.

its an acrylic paste that will dry rock hard, it is sandable, and paintable, and will help with durablility. I find just with out doing that the pint will just flake off, and Paper mache is way to time consumming.

 

[staceyrebecca]

The papier mache is indeed super time consuming which is why i've only done it twice....they do last for a long time, though.

 

[wes]

If you want to make rocks or trees there this stuff I used call Tiger Foam i like it. It works great!

 

[Conor IX]

If you want to make rocks or trees there this stuff I used call Tiger Foam i like it. It works great!

Haha! "Unleash the beast on your insulation project"!