URGENT: need help protecting my faux tree

[crazy chris]

hi everyone... we are 6 days from opening...and allready we've chipped a couple nasty notches out of the faux tree...

its basically just the spray foam and flat paint....

could anyone reccomend some sort of spray on substance that might give it a clear protective coating that might lower the amount of scuffs and dings it gets...

thanks so much for any help!

cc

 

[Puppetainer]

Other than a clear acrylic spray paint I can't think of anything but Gordon (spcglider) has some REAL prop making expertise and might have some clever ideas...

 

[crazy chris]

i bought some today marc! hopefully it works... also hope gordon comes through with some cool ideas!

cc

 

[fragglerockr]

Hard coat for foam...

Chris,

I can help you. Most of the time when a set is made of any kind of extruded foam, or carved styro it is hard coated for durability. As you can see, typical wear will chip, break, or crack it. Most of these commercial and construction installs usually involves a spray on type hardener. This type of spray rig is usually not financially feasible for most small time projects like yours.

The good news is, for smaller applications, there is a paint on (or trowel on) product that does the same thing. It's by Rosco (a theatrical supply company) called Foam Coat. It gives foam props a rock hard finish depending on how much you apply. I think this would be your best bet. It also makes coated objects inherently fire retardant, which your Fire Marshall will appreciate. You will probably need to order online. It is not the cheapest stuff in the world but probably won't break your bank either.

If you can't get that, as a last resort you can try 5 gallons of drywall compound mixed with a gallon of latex paint. That will form a mud solution you can slather on. On both of these options however, you will have to repaint. Good luck!

Lee

 

[Puppetainer]

Outstanding! Leave it to a forum buddy to come through! And I'm taking notes so that when I catch up to where you Chris I can follow suit.

 

[crazy chris]

LEE! THANKS SO MUCH! i too am taking notes!

marc...your right.... this forum is amazing!

cc

 

[Buck-Beaver]

If you're strapped for time I would definitely try an Acrylic sealer first to avoid repainting, but coating the tree is your best bet for the long term, as others have mentioned (in your previous posts I didn't realize that you weren't coating the foam or sealing the paint).

Another option for coating is Sculpt-or-coat, which does essentially the same job as Foam Coat as far as I understand.

 

[crazy chris]

thanks buck!

i'm still quite the novice when it comes to this stuff... i feel like a dumb dumb for waiting this long to act...

im going to do the acrylic coat pre grand opening ...then pursue the other options

cc