The heavier marker is used for marking the balance points of the pattern. Glue top sideband to helmet. From home gym and exercise flooring to kid play mats and learning mats, there are tons of possible uses for foam flooring. So I decided to use EVA foam to get this job done. To further dimensionalize the dragon I add highlights to the details I want to emphasize. We had a production of "Man of LaMancha" to get ready for shipping. Use the X-acto® Foam Board Cutter for this job. Using traditional patterning and construction methods, you would pattern the piece to have a round or oval tip 23" in circumference and a sideband with a finished length of 23". If using the products in combination, apply the Sculpt-or-Coat® first and then the Mod Podge®. They can be used for lots of places where sealing and cushioning are needed. If you are worried that any markings will be visible in the final piece, use a colored marker in a shade close to the final color of the object. With this method, my painted areas will get an even smooth paint job with sharp edges. I have another article, that goes more into depth about Sealing EVA Foam including a step by step example, but I will give you the short version here. The softness of the surfaces reduce the impact of falls and tumbles, and cushion the body as it moves. Hot melt glue was used to draw on some of the details of the dragon's wings. Applying Glue to a Small Piece of Foam. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'craftknights_com-banner-1','ezslot_8',120,'0','0'])); My favorite Spray Paints are “Professional Spray Paints” from Liquitex. But if your Prop can be bend or twisted (for example a shoulder piece, that is thin enough to be bend) then I would recommend Sealing it with Plasti Dip. The upper edge of the top sideband is cut at a 45° inside bevel so that when the tip is attached the resulting join forms a sharply defined transition between the two planes. There are a lot of different paints out there but my philosophy is, that the easiest paint to use, that gives good results, is the one, that I go with. The photo at the right shows a selection of the tools that we have found to be most useful for marking and cutting EVA foam. If you don´t quite know what the case is for your prop then just use Plasi Dip as it will protect your foam in any case. TIP #3: Always work with the right side of the piece facing up. I used a pencil to trace my pattern and sharp X-acto knife to cut it out. Expanded EVA, the foamed stuff, will be loaded into a mould, which is then put into a heat press. And, of course, my neighborhood armorer was out of the helmet style that I wanted in size 7¾. While Soft and Stable has a little drape to it, this product has a denser structure. WHAT YOU CAN MAKE WITH EVA FOAM. It’s used in footwear – think of the padding in you running shoes, moulded soles or orthotics. Except for the vision screen and tip, all of the pieces are cut x2. Foam play mats, gym mats and rubber floors make great surfaces for exercising, stretching and children's games. EVA foam is easy to work with and comes in a variety of colors and thicknesses. By using these two products together you can have the best properties of both. This gives you an exact line for cutting. They can be thinned with water if necessary. I hope this tutorial has spurred your interest in this product and technique. Some more aggressive oil paints can damage the foam, dissolving, or bending it. As you walk the pieces toward you the joined curve will just pop-up into position. EVA foam is a wonderful medium, but care must be taken. For painting, I like to start with a basecoat but you can also just start applying paint to the sealed foam right away. If you are using oil paint then you have to Seal the paint after you are done painting your project. Then reapply the glue, allow to set-up and make the join again. So I usually stick with acrylic or waterbased spray paint, when I am painting my Props. Brim edges will be thicker. Then remove the paper strips as you work around the sides of the helmet and sideband. Where do you find it? This isn´t always necessary but especially if you are working with a very low-density Foam it is better to Heat Seal the Foam before Sealing it with Plasi Dip or Crafts Glue. Bonding the Foam … This will help tremendously when trying to get angles and better seams. To use a heat gun to seal EVA foam, simply let it heat for a few seconds, and then blow hot air onto your foam from a distance of about 20 centimeters. There were only a few days before we needed to ship the show. You may have heard of EVA Foam used for multiple different flooring types or even Cosplay costumes, sports equipment, crafts and set design. Although it can be obtained in other densities and thicknesses, we have found that the 4lb., ½" EVA is the most versatile for our needs. One of the first things you will notice is the fact that most projects will be slightly larger in scale than the same item built using traditional methods. We began using it for character heads but soon discovered that it had so many possibilities in other aspects of costuming. In some cases, if you want your foam to be water-resistant for example, you can also use varnish to seal your paints. The potential uses for this foam are many. Durability: Due to its cross-linked structure, EVA foam affords exceptionally high durability and … Sometimes the glue is being absorbed by the EVA Foam (depending on the density of your foam). If any of the edges are mis-aligned, it is better that they be on the wrong side of the finished piece. Trace the parts with a whiteboard marker onto a 1 cm thick EVA foam sheet. Where you are and where you've been will then take care of themselves. In order to make the sideband fit completely around the circle you need to add 1.5625" to the length of the band. Mod Podge® on the other hand is thinner and self-leveling as it dries. If this opening had been cut before the vision screen were attached, the edges of would have flared out and distorted the smooth curve of the helmet. Match and attach the CF and CB seams of helmet and band first. EVA Foam is an extremely versatile product suiting a broad range of uses and applications. It’s actually possible to burn your foam by keeping it focused on a single area for too long, so keep it moving! Coat the edges to be bonded with a smooth, even coat of glue. I prefer to move at a rate of approximately 10 centimeters per second. Make sure the place you use is sharp! It is great for anti-fatigue. You sometimes have to apply multiple layers of paint before it completely covers the underlying color. This practice also allows all balance marks and assembly keys to be on the working side of the piece. I use EVA foam in 6mm thickness. Trace and Cut EVA Foam. I use from 2 to 4 coats on the interior surface and 4 to 6 coats on the exterior surface. The two products pictured to the right have solved this problem for me. Epoxy resin is water-resistant, it will dry very hard, it will be hit and scratch-resistant (if you don´t scratch it with something like metal at least) and it will keep almost everything away from the paint job beneath it. Bevel cuts are the most difficult to make cleanly and smoothly. If you want to support me, then you can use the link above to buy the materials. I use it to stand on at my work bench. When you do this, the glue threads and will make a very weak bond when re-joined. EVA is also tear resistant and has fantastic shock absorption properties, just don't go into battle with anyone in your EVA armor! It is a soft, yet durable polymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate. How to use EVA foam to create amazing costumes. Additionally, you can use almost any textured, sturdy material pressed into heated foam to create leather-like pieces. Just as careful cutting is important, so is the choice of adhesive. Remember, "practice makes perfect". The openings in the face guard are cut by using a ½" punch to make the top and bottom curves, then connecting the resulting holes with straight cuts. You can buy Plasit Dip at your local hardware store or car repair store.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'craftknights_com-box-4','ezslot_7',119,'0','0'])); You can move on to painting once you are done with Sealing your EVA Foam. Yesterday, I went down a rabbit hole of EVA cosplay videos on YouTube. This glue for … The most popular is using your scissors. There are several ways to seal EVA Foam (depending on the kind of project) but the most reliable way to Seal Foam is using Plasti Dip. When you are done with painting your EVA Foam Project you can choose to Seal the paint job. This extremely dense foam can be found in many commercial applications from handle grips to flotation safety devices to sports safety equipment. So before you start Painting the EVA Foam you have to Seal it. To separate a glue joint use acetone to break the bond. I usually use a matt color acrylic or waterbased color for that. 2. Its still a good alternative if you don’t have thin EVA foam or don’t want to buy some. Waterbased paints include acrylic paint, some enamels, watercolor (this type of color will probably not stick well and you will need a lot of layers but you can use it for weathering effects), waterbased ink and more. Paint wrong side of face guard and right side of vision screen black, Glue upper and lower supports at CF and CB, Fabricate heraldic crest and attach to top of helmet. This provides a good ground for the painting. I have another article, that goes more into depth about Sealing EVA Foam including a step by step example, including the edges of your foam, are smooth. If you don´t want to use any spray paint or airbrush, then you can also simply use a paintbrush and some acrylic paints. The Link provided above is an affiliate link. Because EVA Foam is used for so many purposes besides costumes, it can be sourced from a lot of convenient places in slightly different forms. When both layers are dry to the touch but still a little tacky its time to press the pieces together. It is always a good idea to flip the pattern when tracing the second of two pieces so that the pair of pieces form a mirror image. However, it tends to produce a more rigid finish. If your project doesn´t have a clear base color, then you can simply use a neutral color as the base color. In short, you can seal your paint job with a simple coat of Acrylic Sealer, Varnish, or even Epoxy Resin. 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