Questions about Great Stuff spray foam

[Tjauke Zazin]

Okay, today I actually got to go out and get the backer rods and spray foam I need, which is called Great Stuff, as it has been recommended by... Pretty much everyone I ask. But as I got to the spray foam, I realized that there were two different ones. A crack and gap type, and a floor and window type. So I have three questions---

I intend to use this Great Stuff for the bio-helmet. I bought the cracks and gaps type, assuming that since it ended up being harder and could be sanded down, it would work better. Which one would you recommend?

My second question is about tools and safety, all at once. I was told that this stuff smells pretty bad, and I'm assuming that if this is true the stuff could be toxic if you breathe it in, and I also was thinking that it can't be good if you touch it bare-handed. So I was curious as to whether or not you'd need some sort of breath mask and gloves while sculpting the stuff into a mask?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Wizard93]

Okay, today I actually got to go out and get the backer rods and spray foam I need, which is called Great Stuff, as it has been recommended by... Pretty much everyone I ask. But as I got to the spray foam, I realized that there were two different ones. A crack and gap type, and a floor and window type. So I have three questions---

I intend to use this Great Stuff for the bio-helmet. I bought the cracks and gaps type, assuming that since it ended up being harder and could be sanded down, it would work better. Which one would you recommend?

My second question is about tools and safety, all at once. I was told that this stuff smells pretty bad, and I'm assuming that if this is true the stuff could be toxic if you breathe it in, and I also was thinking that it can't be good if you touch it bare-handed. So I was curious as to whether or not you'd need some sort of breath mask and gloves while sculpting the stuff into a mask?

Thanks in advance.

im pretty sure that i used the fillwe gap type- seemed to work pretty good.
as for thw fumes, i didnt really have any problems. i work in an automotive machine shop, so maybe im just used to different types of fumes (cant be good ) i would definitely wear some sort of rubber gloves, as the stuff is stickier than hell, and if it gets on you and has a chance to settle a lil bit, i couldnt find anything that would take it off. just had to wear off on its own.

the stuff is also going to expand a great deal, and i would advise trying to apply as thin coats as you possibly can, while sanding in between. i tried shooting mine in one shot, figuring it expanded so much and i got impatient, and i was left with a lot of nooks and crannys from the air pockets. are you doing it MacGuyver's way?? if so, leave yourself enough room to apply a good layer of the Sculptamold. i used too much Spray foam in my opinion, and after i applied the Sculptamold and went to sanding, i found that i sanded thru the 'Mold into the foam, which looked like hell. a quick fix for those spots was that i used some drywall repair mud stuff for just the small spots. also if youre planning on incorporating lasers into your bio, take that into consideration b4 you begin.

and one last thing that i can think of off the top of my head is a problem i ran into just last night... after i had painted mine and cut the foam out of the eyes, i put the mask on to see how it fit. i dunno if the foam and 'Mold had made the paintball helmet tighter, or if the helmet was just a little tight to begin with, but when i put it on i had to really pry it on my head and the 'Mold/Great Stuff cracked in a few spots.... so im not sure what im going to do now . anyway just take your time and be very PATIENT with it or youll end up regretting it!! take it from me, ive been going through it very recently. hope that helps ya out.

 

[Tjauke Zazin]

That answers my questions, then. So I got the right stuff on the first try, thank god. Taking stuff back and returning it is a real pain. Oh, and no, I'm not MacGuyvering a helmet, I intend to have the face under it. I'm modifying a Rubies mask, actually. Hated the original one, just didn't do it for me. You have to make sure it isn't set under anything or it would bend, it looked like someone forgot to give it a paint job, and it just all around sucked. Which is why I'm making my own, to give it a better look and better fit. Not to mention, you don't have to use a dang strap that just looks darn stupid against a bunch of dreadlocks. And yes, I do intend to install a laser system, which I fail to know how to make right now, but I think that I can do that separately, perhaps with velcro or something, so right now that isn't my main concern. I figure if I have the system in a light-weight housing piece, I can just use velcro and a few wires to make it go down my arm and into a small pouch on my belt. Pretty simple idea so far. But anywho, yeah, I figured I'd have to sand it down to size quite a bit, but I'll probably do it in fractions to avoid this problem for the most part. Thanks for the information, Wizard.

 

[Wizard93]

no problemo Zanin. i agree the Rubies mask is JUNK! BTW when you get ready for lasers there is a good place on eBay you can get em. ordered mine the other day. MacGuyver told be bout em. let me know if you want the link.

 

[Paintninja]

Definatly wear latex gloves during the application process. Acetone takes any foam off your skin and clothes though. To completely steer clear of the "air pocket" issue, have you considered Bondo or an epoxy resin for your biohelm? It's light weight, if done thin enough, sandable, paintable and extremely
durable. No cracking like Great stuff foam. Plus if you use Great stuff, you'll find that you are constantly
having to retouch it, due to it's lack of durability. As I had to on my armour of my first suit. Just smear the Bondo onto a wire frame like paper mache'. I am aware of your dislike for the Rubies head, but I used it for my first Predator suit. If you add dreads, LED's and some foam rubber to the inside, so it fits right. It's not that bad! My issue is it's hard to see through and I don't like the elastic band either. The suit I'm currently working on will have a head of my own sculpt w/ the epoxy resin biohelm. Hope this helps! To see pics of my first suit, see "My first suit.....Critique" in "Bodycount". The feet and all the armour is made from Great Stuff. The feet give me the most fits with touch up! Later

 

[Macguyver]

Glad to see the "MacGuyver Style" method & Great Stuff Foam has been working well for all of u!

Also, I gotta give a shout out & special thanks to WIZARD93, for taking the initiative to help out another member as soon as an opportunity to do so presented itself!!! GREAT JOB!!!
This place cannot exist unless those who have already attempted something, keep passing the proverbial torch of knowledge over to those about to attempt something. All the info WIZARD93 provided about what to expect is good, solid advice.
ALWAYS WEAR GLOVES & EYE PROTECTION WHEN WORKING W/ GREAT STUFF FOAM! Once it gets on fabric, its there for good. If it ever should happen to get on anything it shouldn't & u don't have any acetone handy, the best thing 2 do is just leave it there to fully cure & then try to peel/pull/scrape it off once its changed from a sticky-as-hell liquid goo form into a solid.

Moving on, anyone planning on using Great Stuff Foam for doing any type of costuming purposes, I highly recommend reading through all of the previous threads already posted up here in the Lair, under the Huntorials & Materials areas since there's already been a wide array of questions asked about Great Stuff & u will also find great info on a few other very similar types of products that may work much better for the project ur planning 2 do. It sounds like Tjau'ke Zazin's planning to use it to fill inside a Rubies mask & if thats correct, there's a few other products which other members have used & recommended specifically for that type of application, such as SMOOTH-ON products. I haven't yet used any of it myself, but it sounds like some very cool stuff. I've attached a link to the lair thread w/ some further info about it & more tips on Great Stuff Foam as well.

[URL="http://www.thehunterslair.com/index.php?showtopic=1124"]http://www.thehunterslair.com/index.php?showtopic=1124[/URL]

 

[Wizard93]

yeah PAINTNINJA i thought about bondo. working in an auto parts store it was one of the first things i thought of. i used the drywall patch stuff because it was right handy. ive decided to start over on my bio with knowledge obtained during my first attempt, and am using "pieces" of a rubies mask to help with the basic shape. also thinking about maybe trying some fiberglass instead of the Great Stuff, hoping that perhaps i can get more of a solid, smooth look. ill keep everyone posted.

 

[Tjauke Zazin]

Considered Bondo, yes. But I figured that since Rubies masks are so big and this stuff expands, there shouldn't be much of a problem.

Oh, MacGuyver, not filling a mask. Creating a Bio-Helmet. I'm making a new bio-helmet that will go over my Rubies mask, which will work much better.

 

[majZippo]

i read on the back of one of those GREaT STUFF cans that theres a latex type..? can sum1 explain wat that might b? latex based? latex foam..if it is wats it like....and thats it lol

 

[Macguyver]

i read on the back of one of those GREaT STUFF cans that theres a latex type..? can sum1 explain wat that might b? latex based? latex foam..if it is wats it like....and thats it lol

YEAH, ITS CRAP!!!
DO NOT EVER TRY TO USE THE "LATEX" TYPE OF GREAT STUFF, WHICH IS, I THINK LABELED FOR SEALING GAPS ON WINDOWS & DOORS. I TRIED THIS TYPE OF GREAT STUFF A WHILE BACK & THE BIGGEST PROBLEM W/ THE LATEX STUFF IS THAT IT NEVER CURES INTO MUCH OF A SOLID AT ALL...IT EXPANDS INTO A BLOB THATS NO STRONGER THAN A HOSTESS TWINKIE, WHICH IS PRETTY ACCURATE SINCE THE LATEX STUFF UNDER THE OUTER SHELL STAYS WET, EVEN AFTER CURING FOR SEVERAL DAYS OR EVEN WEEKS!

DO NOT BOTHER W/ THAT CRAP, U SHOULD ONLY USE THE STANDARD REGULAR TYPE OF GREAT STUFF!!!

 

[Wizard93]

"NO STRONGER THAN A HOSTESS TWINKIE"????

 

[Tjauke Zazin]

Whoo, from what you just said Macguyver, that pretty much says I got the right stuff. Thank the gods. If someone wants a helmet that flimsy, they might as well just make it FROM twinkies. Heh, carboard for that matter.