Question about Foam

[biblebetty]

Hi Everyone, I’d like to ask a question? I'm looking at a lot of your puppets and I noticed that some of the puppets are not covered in material, the foam is painted. Does painted foam last long? How old are some of your puppets that are painted (no material)? And if you sculpt foam what kind of tools do you use just to cut the foam. I have used many tools, razor blades, carving knives, scissors, etc. I can’t seem to get a piece of foam to form nice. The surface always looks like I cut large chunks of foam so it looks like there are holes in the surface. I’m trying to sculpt a face and I want it to look smooth?

[Froggy]

When you use paint or toner as Puppets by Cher explained on a tutorial blog, she said you use what florist use. Its more of a toner, dye if you call it.
Floral paints are lighter like a chalk dust and she said never use regular household paint in a can, especially enamels. This makes the foam hard and will break apart in time.

I know Michaels has the floral paints and lightly dust the foam.
She still has puppets over 20 years and still look brand new.

Never put foam puppets in a plastic bag. The weather changes and humidity can set in and either stick the puppets together or deforms em.

Your next question asking about tools.
This depends on your foam.
You use a sharp long razor, this way no jagged cuts.
Clean the razor with alcohol because the foam dulls them quickly.

Many builders cover their blocks of foam that they carve with fabric or fur and you don't have to worry so much about ragged edges because your covering it.

Hope this helps.

Froggy

[fleeceman]

I use some larger tools for carving foam. if I'm carving from a solid block I'll block it out on a band saw,it cuts foam very nicely. I rough in the details with blades and scissors then smooth it on a belt sander then detail it using a sanding wheel on a dremal moto-tool. it takes some practice to not chew up your foam, but done right the results are great.

[biblebetty]

thanks everyone you have some great ideas.

[biblebetty]

I have used floral spray,(I buy it from Tall Mouse) I love it, but I was just wondering if it lasted a long time or was it good just for a few shows? But I noticed you really have to let the foam glue dry completely before you start to spray. Also if you dye the foam will the seams still show. When I spray the foam the seam don"t show as much

[John Parisi]

Have you a copy of The Foam Book: An Easy Guide to Building Polyfoam Puppets: Donald Devet, Drew Allison? If not get one and this will answer allot of questions you may have. If you are making a figure that will be covered with material and you carve the foam for the face you can smooth its appearance with thin layer, 1/4 inch or less if you can find it, of sheet foam before covering it with material.
MJD

[Tim Davies]

Reticulated foam dyes very easily and is permanent. Then an airbrush with diluted acrylics makes for wonderful accents without the cracking problem.