Hot glue sticks alternative for plasti-dip

[GlennTech]

I live in a country without plasti-dip... But with much glue sticks . Since I'm finishing my mark VI Iron Man I needed plasti dip. Tried PVA-glue but I could peel it off my foam.

I spilled MUCH glue on my foam in a reflex I grab a piece of crap foam and spread the glue.

It dried...

I was in big worries that my piece would be f*cked up. But NO it wasn't screwed!!!

It was strong, flexible, and paint-able (have to try the last one).

Going to experiment on that a bit more...

 

[German]

Definitely works. They have been using it as an alternative to resin for pepakura over at the 405th for a while. You can make big batches up of it with a pan(not used for food) on the stove or a portable heating element. I know I have seen little, dedicated pots for melting hot glue sticks for floral stuff at Michael's.

I think the biggest issue with using it on foam is getting an even coverage. Hot glue will run but it still cools pretty quickly. The glue could also heat the foam up too much and cause the foam to want to flatten or sag if you were adding it to a curved surface.

 

[GlennTech]

Definitely works. They have been using it as an alternative to resin for pepakura over at the 405th for a while. You can make big batches up of it with a pan(not used for food) on the stove or a portable heating element. I know I have seen little, dedicated pots for melting hot glue sticks for floral stuff at Michael's.

I think the biggest issue with using it on foam is getting an even coverage. Hot glue will run but it still cools pretty quickly. The glue could also heat the foam up too much and cause the foam to want to flatten or sag if you were adding it to a curved surface.

I've to look further to achieve an even coverage. It's pretty even coverage but with a few 'faults'. Maybe look for a good spreading tool or maybe a chemical product which modifies the surface of the glue a bit.

 

[GlennTech]

Mistake

 

[Pete SSS]

Once the hot glue has cooled on the surface of the foam, you could try gently heating it up again with a heatgun to smooth out the surface? JUst an idea, but be careful not to melt your foam!

 

[Cal]

Anyone ever tried Resin on foam. I was wondering if it spiderwebed, if it got hit.

 

[GlennTech]

Once the hot glue has cooled on the surface of the foam, you could try gently heating it up again with a heatgun to smooth out the surface? JUst an idea, but be careful not to melt your foam!

I have bought a heatgun, my hair dryer couldn't meet my standards any more. I'll post in a few hours some pictures of the process. Hope it works.

 

[Bizarro Lois]

Do you mean the sticks that you buy for a hot glue gun or the little push-up sticks of glue you use in schools?

 

[GlennTech]

Do you mean the sticks that you buy for a hot glue gun or the little push-up sticks of glue you use in schools?

hot glue gun.

 

[Egon Spengler]

I wouldn't do it. When that stuff gets hot again, it gets sticky all over again.

 

[kialna]

What IS plasti-dip actually?

 

[EyeofSauron]

well, it says liquid rubber on the can, i think that describes it pretty well

 

[GlennTech]

I wouldn't do it. When that stuff gets hot again, it gets sticky all over again.

I live in Belgium, Belgium is known for its 'cold' climate. But I understand what you mean. When in a crowded room or a hot room. But some paints gets also a bit sticky when it's hot. So I won't consider that as a problem. You just have to cool down some time .

 

[DirtyBrit]

I have a couple of cans of Plasti dip for my foam iron man project but at $5 a can i see that becoming a little expensive, hot glue sticks are really cheap so if this works it may save me a few butt chewings from the wife! Once the sticks are melted could they be brushed on if you work quickly?

 

[Shades]

I just got some cans at Home Depot... There is also a Rustoleum production "undercoat" that doesn't dry as quick but also works. I had to use it when there was a plasti dip shortage.

I have tried the liquid plastic dip by painting it on. I thought it looked like junk. I was really unhappy with it. the spray gave a much better surface finish. I think you would have the same issue with hot glue. Fine as a reinforcement on the inside of armor, but for a paint able surface it will be too uneven and hold brush marks. I wish you luck, but I don't think this would work well.

If I were you, I would order it from another country. I get stuff from hong kong all the time for projects. If you are going to put the time into a suit, it would not be worth cheaping out on the paint. I saw cans on amazon for 7 bucks. My warmachine used 3 cans. (you can even get red).

Best,

Keith

 

[Klwl]

I've used hot glue on my armor in a pinch but as soon as it heats up in sun or a lot of wear it became, well....unglued.

I assume your coating this on the outside of your armor? You'd be wearing this outdoors and possibly in the sun? I don't use it a lot but wouldn't it be similar even when painted?

 

[Guri]

Very creative solution! Happy accident...

I'd be nervous about the heat factor too. While hot glue does need to be heated pretty hot to melt completely, it wouldn't hurt to do a bit of testing to see how hot it needs to be to get it sticky. And how cold makes it brittle... just so you'll know when traveling and wanting to leave it in your car or take it on a plane where it will go with you or in your luggage.

Well, only if you're putting a lot of time into it... and want it to last. I have craft foam pieces that unexpectedly cracked after being painted because of cold weather.

 

[STEALTH]

When I started to first hot glue foam pieces together from my first foam project last year I mulled the idea of using hot glue from when I had run off that smoothed down onto my white ranger shield. I later opted out as for how tedius and messy a process it would've been.
Too many variables to consider to really get a smooth finish.

I don't see the problem with just using a glue type material that turns clear. It's rather inexpensive. Probably less than wasting a lot of hot glue sticks. I spent $15 dollars sealing my suit in time for halloween and it still looks good enough to me. You're never gonna get the paint 100% crack proof unless you get some kind of specific flexible paint made to flex.

The paint will flex beyond the natural curve but will leave lines when you flex it opoosite to the natural curve/shape of the part. Foam costumes aren't really props. They're for cosplay so they're not going to be flawless.

 

[GlennTech]

When I started to first hot glue foam pieces together from my first foam project last year I mulled the idea of using hot glue from when I had run off that smoothed down onto my white ranger shield. I later opted out as for how tedius and messy a process it would've been.
Too many variables to consider to really get a smooth finish.

I don't see the problem with just using a glue type material that turns clear. It's rather inexpensive. Probably less than wasting a lot of hot glue sticks. I spent $15 dollars sealing my suit in time for halloween and it still looks good enough to me. You're never gonna get the paint 100% crack proof unless you get some kind of specific flexible paint made to flex.

The paint will flex beyond the natural curve but will leave lines when you flex it opoosite to the natural curve/shape of the part. Foam costumes aren't really props. They're for cosplay so they're not going to be flawless.

I used PVA-glue but I could peel the glue off my foam... That doesn't seem right? My foam is just regular old camping mats.


Anyone got a great, cheap, fast webshop for plasti-dip or anything else to seal my foam. If I paint directly onto it then it's also peel able and cracks very quick.

 

[STEALTH]

Camping mats aren't the greatest choice for foam either. I built my mark III out of those. I much prefer the more dense anti-fatigue mats.
I don't have the peeling problem. I did a lot in that suit on halloween.

Plasti-dip is really expensive so I'm like you and try to find other ways around using that.