"Great Stuff"" foam expanding in a can

[takevin]

I just got a latex yoda head, feet, and hands. Thought of using great stuff in a can, its a foam expanding used for filling cracks and stuff, whatcha think? Also reccomendations on filling in some imperfections I have on yoda's face, some minor little holes so to speak? thank you

 

[TazVader]

Mmm....do you think it might distort the mask if you tried to fill it free standing? Tight I mean? I gather you need some sort of mothermould to make this work.

Mmm....holes....just paint with liquid lates maybe?

Regards
TAZ

 

[superjedi]

I used that expanding foam once to fill a hole in a ceiling. You know what?. . . it EXPANDS... :lol

Seriously, if you're going to use it, do a l-i-t-t-l-e bit at a time. And make sure each application is fully cured before you add more. Some of those products expand to 3 or 4 times their original volume.

 

[exoray]

If you are going to try it use the blue can "window and door" version it's a much lower expansion rate and doesn't get hard just stiff...

But, beware it expands and doesn't care what direction so you might distort things...

 

[propsculptor]

DON'T USE IT...

Take it from me, I tried the same thing for a Mannequin to sculpt on and my shop heated up reactivating the foam and it expanded so much after it alread set the first time, it cracked the Mannequin in Four Places..

Try a Rigid foam from a Foam supplier, you will have better results and it won't expand again.

 

[PHArchivist]

<div class='quotetop'>(propsculptor @ Aug 27 2006, 04:20 AM) [snapback]1307823[/snapback]</div>

DON'T USE IT...

Take it from me, I tried the same thing for a Mannequin to sculpt on and my shop heated up reactivating the foam and it expanded so much after it alread set the first time, it cracked the Mannequin in Four Places..

Try a Rigid foam from a Foam supplier, you will have better results and it won't expand again.
[/b]

HEAR FRAKKIN' HEAR...

Stay away from this stuff - its a BITCH to use. And don't get it on you because it takes ACETONE to get it off your skin.

The referrence to the blue can is wise. The stuff is latex based, water clean up, and no where near as aggressive.

The blue and white can product is called Dap-tex Plus window and door foam sealant.

Less resilient in the end, but MUCH more user friendly...

 

[shortimer52]

If you do use it make sure you use gloves. I used that stuff when I worked on walk in coolers and got it all over my hands one day. Took almost a week to get it off.

 

[ob1al]

I tried this recently and agree with teh above - it is a nightmare to use, I would recommend against it.

You could consider using plaster bandage inside the head to reinforce it.

 

[DAVIDYR1]

That foam is not meant to be used this way. Great Stuff is an air dry expansion foam. The outer skin cools and hardens as it expands but the inner core of the foam can remain uncured for hours....days even...and until it does cure it just keeps expanding and expanding...it will warp your headpiece. No question about it.
You need to use a 2 part foam that is catalyst cure so it wont matter how much it builds up as the entire amount of foam will set at the same time.

My suggestion....
Stuff your headpiece with newspapers...give it a perfect shape as you'd want to see it displayed. Cover the head with a few strips of plaster bandages...nothing fancy, not actually molding it but creating a supporting mother mold for it. Then flip it over, pull out the newspapers...get some Flex Foam V from Smooth-On. I'm not a fan personally of hard foam filled busts but that's your call...mix up your foam...pour, watch it rise...and away you go.

David

 

[Gigatron]

I used expanding foam in my vinyl gremlin kit and never had a problem.

Maybe the trick is to do each part seperately, so the foam has a place to expand to. I just filled each part about half way, let it sit overnight and by the morning, the foam had filled the piece. Cut off the excess and I was good to go.

Just make sure you wear rubber gloves and old clothes that you don't care about. It's a pain to get off your skin, but it'll never come out of clothes - I learned that the hard way.

-Fred

 

[frosty]

yup yoda basketball head is what you will end up with if your not carefull..
To fill in small airbubbles etc use liquid latex dab it on with a sponge let dry and paint it, for big gaps use either tissue or cotton wool, put latex on the area then tissue then latex over that, cotton wool is best for bigger gaps, give it a couple of light coats of latex don't soak it as it will take forever to dry, cover it with tissue if it needs it.
Hope it helps

 

[uscm buzz]

Look Go to www.smooth-on.com check for a product called Foam IT .. it has you mix a and b and it expands.. you may want to call and talk to a tech and ask what they recommend as it has different hardness and expanding ratios.. you can also ask for samples to be mailed to you.. like little pieces of foam.. Also a Sample kit usualy only cost $20 and that might be all you need..