Is there an inexpensive type of 3/4" 4'x8' sheet foam for a theatre set?
Thanks
Posted by Jane Diaz (Member # 595) on :
This is one I know A BUNCH about! We have been doing the children's plays in the summer for YEARS! Use regular old, cheap foam insulation, available at your lumber yard. It cmes in 4X8' sheets, differnent thicknesses, is very light weight and fairly cheap. You might need to cross brace it or something on the back, depending on how much abuse it is going to take, (carried off and on HOW many times!?) It works great for cut outs too. Cut it to the shape you want and just paint it with acrylic house paint, probably FLAT (the lighting people will like that better). You'll probably need 2-3 coats depending on the quality of the paint. It cracks and dents though, so your stage crew can break it if they aren't careful. (Ask me how I know!!)
Posted by Penny Baugh (Member # 3275) on :
Thanks, Jane. Just walked over the lumber yard and looked at some pink tongue-n-groove insulation panels that are 4'x 9'. I think that would work. Do you pull the plastic cover off before you paint?
Posted by Jane Diaz (Member # 595) on :
I'm laughing here....YES!! I learned that one the hard way, too!!! We always had a whole crew of painters, from many levels of "expertise". I had some helpers paint some of the pieces and they finally said..."Hey, this paint is cracking off!" I forgot to tell them to take the plastic liner off!! Just never occured to me. They weren't too happy that they had to do it over!
Posted by Kathy Joiner (Member # 1814) on :
Peney, go to http:www.hotwirefoamfactory.com. Look at some of the projects done woth foam. Check out their $29.95 hot knife. I have one and LOVE it. But make sure you use it outdoors. The fumes are very toxic. Good luck.
Posted by Michael Latham (Member # 4477) on :
Being a former union stage carpenter out of the Baltimore Md unionhouse, I have used more than my share also. Dense house foam panels are great, a little bracing for stability and to hing together and your htere. Acetone works great for releaving the pieces, just remember to also have water to stop action! Pump sprayers are great, do not forget water in one (experience is why I repeat) magic mark brick lines and do sharp spray to do mortar joints, wide spray for texture. Have fun, remember nothings wrong!
Posted by Jane Diaz (Member # 595) on :
Kathy, I am really interested in that tool you talk about. I will check it out!
[ April 09, 2004, 09:32 AM: Message edited by: Jane Diaz ]
Posted by Don Coplen (Member # 127) on :
I see you're in Alabama. Too bad. When I lived in Indiana, the builder's supply stores carried 1" AND 2" insulation foam. Only can get 1" in the south...or at least that's the case in Florida. Ask, you might get lucky.
I've seen the acetone spray trick used, but had never heard of spraying water to stop the process. Sounds like another very cool trick. I've actually sandblasted the stuff for an interesting effect. Only takes a dusting to get some depth.
Carving insulation is easy. I've used a surform rasp to remove lots of material, and razor blades, knives and sandpaper for details.
Posted by Don Coplen (Member # 127) on :
Insulation foam.....
Posted by Penny Baugh (Member # 3275) on :
Holy Cow!! Don...OMG. How in the world...
Posted by Penny Baugh (Member # 3275) on :
Kathy,
I ordered the hotwire just now. Thanks for the link.
Posted by Mark Fair Signs (Member # 289) on :
2" extruded polystyrene insulation foam.(pink) "blasted" with lacquer thinner.
Posted by Penny Baugh (Member # 3275) on :
OK, I'm stopping all current jobs and going out for some insulation to play with.
How do you do it Mark?
Posted by Rovelle W. Gratz (Member # 4404) on :
I used to get the white foam, 8" thick. You can do some sculpting with an airbrush and laquer thinner. Go easy, it don't take much. If you prime it with latex housepaint primer, a couple coats, then two good coats of enamel, it will last for years outside.
Posted by Mark Fair Signs (Member # 289) on :
have fun with it penny. I cut a computer mask then laid the piece flat. I used a low pressure sprayer and carefully spritzed it.(be careful, it only takes a small amount to dissolve the foam! if you are not careful and put to much thinner on it, it will eat all the way through.(i learned this, trial and error! LOL
i carved the duck. (using the technique Don describes above.) experiment and most of all, have fun!
mark
Posted by Penny Baugh (Member # 3275) on :
My project is going to be about 12' tall overall and 18' wide; a sun with a cutout kind of like this:
I can get 1/2" PVC for $20 a sheet and thought about making the sun base out of that instead of going with styofoam the whole way. Then doing the 25th out of the styrofoam.
What do you guys think? I sure could use some advice about the construction.
Posted by Jane Diaz (Member # 595) on :
Cut a mask out of any cheap vinyl and cover your insulation. Spray it with acetone or even easier, Krylon. It has to be a paint with a solvent base. Do a light coat first to see what happens. You can always give it more. Have a water base paint (spray) on the ready. Let it etch a bit and when it is to the level you want, spray it with the waterbase paint. This stops the etching process. Be careful. You can experiment with different amounts of paint (acetone) as it will etch differently the more you put on. I have sprayed it on TOO thick and it eats UNDER the mask! You can get some really deep etches the longer you let it on. Watch it though.... It's fun to do and very inexpensive. There is a granit looking paint that you cna get that can be sprayed on there after the water base coat that makes it look like a piece of rock! I don't know if I would recommend these for outdoor extended use, but I haven't tested that theory yet. We've done a bunch of gifts with it, wedding signs, graduation signs, etc.
Posted by Don Coplen (Member # 127) on :
Penny, I saw ya write it once and let ya slide...but after ya mentioned "styrofoam" the second time, well, I can't let ya get away with that!
It's EXTRUDED insulation foam Mark and I are talkin about. If you can make something COOL with styrofoam, we're going to want you to post a step by step here, because you'll be covering new territory.
In my opinion, the king of foam graphics is Bill Biggs in Texas. You can find Bill through the Letterhead member database. I know he uses a higher grade of foam than I've used, but I respect his advice way over my own on the subject. He's got outdoor foam letters that have been up for years in good shape. My stuff may be nice to look at, but I've never done any of the insulation foam stuff for outdoor use...and I think everyone will agree that we can get away with murder when it comes to indoor installations. Posted by Don Coplen (Member # 127) on :
OK...since Jane mentioned the stone spray, I'll add a couple more cents to my input here.
Krylon and Formby's ( the company that makes all the antique restoration kits) both market the stone spray kits. I recommend Formby's. Reason being that the two brands are very similar in finished look, but the Formby's will cover about double the area of the Krylon version. You can find it in the paint aisle of WalMart and probably at Ace Hardware, too. Krylon is sold in a two part set, which includes a can of clear coat. With Formby's, the clear is sold separately.
I wouldn't recommend either for outdoor applications, but you're talking "Stage set construction" and I assume this is an indoor stage.
Some cool applications for this kind of sign would be offices, restaurants, night clubs/bars.
Posted by Amy Brown (Member # 1963) on :
Penny,
Are you getting 1/2" PVC in 4x8 for $20??
Definately go with the pink or blue insulation sheets. I'm going to use it to make a castle type thingy-ma-bob for my daughters room.
Have fun!
Posted by Kathy Joiner (Member # 1814) on :
This makes me want to go to a "Pink Panther Letterhead Meet." I have been playing with the corning pink extruded foam and having a blast with it. It carves fairly well too, and is easy on the old gal's back!
Don and Mark, I am so impressed with those panesl. Mark, I remember that panel from my first meet, but was too green to realize what it was crafted from. Gotta go cut a mask & try my luck.
Posted by William DeBekker (Member # 3848) on :
It routers Great too real easy on the bits. I use to use it to do test cuts when I was unsure on my router work. And if you really want to get fancy there is a spray/brush on urethane also that works great for added longevity. http://www.industrialpolymers.com/styrospray.html Posted by Penny Baugh (Member # 3275) on :
Had a conversation with an artist/auto body friend Friday night and happened to mention the foam conversation we'd been having here. Come to find out, he's been carving sand blasting and laquer thinner blasting foam for a long time. He even used it for a fancy crown molding in his house. He just bought a 12" thick 4'X 8' sheet to carve and is going to get me the information for the supplier he uses. I'll post it if anyone's interested.
Posted by J.T. Gazaway (Member # 2001) on :
Sheets? Weedun need no stinkin' SHEETS! Look what you can do with Blocks...
Posted by Penny Baugh (Member # 3275) on :
This just keeps getting better.
Posted by frank weidman (Member # 4378) on :
I am so glad I popped my head in atthis time, I have a foam project to do. I am going to create a facade of a bait shop that will hang off the side off the Ste. Claire, a 1910..215ft steamship. Bob-Lo Boat
I am always finding useful information in here when i stop by, Thankyou group
Frank
Posted by frank weidman (Member # 4378) on :
I am so glad I popped my head in atthis time, I have a foam project to do. I am going to create a facade of a bait shop that will hang off the side off the Ste. Claire, a 1910..215ft steamship. Bob-Lo Boat It will be used as a store front to sell ice, bait, and snacks from our concession stand to boats that pass by.
I am always finding useful information in here when i stop by, Thankyou group
Frank
[ April 12, 2004, 08:10 PM: Message edited by: frank weidman ]
Posted by jon peterman (Member # 528) on :
Heres a cople of small projects I've done. the stone calendar was done with a wood burning tool and krylon the fire place was done in 45 min with a dremel and airbrush
I'm going to put on my best california teenager accent here... Dude! That stone calendar is awesome!
Posted by Philip Steffen (Member # 2235) on :
Jon P- That really is a great "calender"- how did you do it? A stencil? A mask? or a router?... The coloring is wonderful too, looks a bit like cork but comes out great. Posted by Philip Steffen (Member # 2235) on :
Jon- too many pop ups on your website though- it is real annoying.
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
Penny!! An Alabama girl!!! We need to have a mini-meet in 'Bama!!
Don, Mark, and JT!!!!! Awesome work ya'll!!! I never wudda thunk it! lol, I only ever used it to pounce patterns on or for my knees when gardening, and only 1/2 or 3/4 then . . . . well, looks like I'm off to 'spermint!!
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real easy on the bits. I use to use it to do test cuts when I was unsure on my router work. And if you really want to get fancy there is a spray/brush on urethane also that works great for added longevity.
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