From: Angusson-AT-aol.com Date: Wed, 11 May 2005 11:59:10 EDT Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Finishing Coats To: puptcrit-driftline.org-AT-lists.driftline.org Hi Daniel: I am familiar with the white foam you refer to that is used in kid's surf boards and bean-bag chairs. It is rather soft and is easy to break away pieces from the form. When carved using rasps or rifflers, it tends to produce little beads which cling to everything. Not sure what the material really is. Detail, especially in smaller figures is hard to achieve. In some cases, this material as you suggest, covered in fibreglass or epoxy would certainly stand up. My only concern would be weight. Holding a marionette at arm's length more or less makes on'e consider every way possible to reduce weight. Styrofoam is made of styrene and is a CELLULAR material. That is to say, in manufacture, as the liquid components react, it expands and produces gas which causes the formation of tiny closed cells which hardens. (I am not a chemical engineers so am not sure HOW it really happens.) But a cut section will reveal the cellular nature of the stuff. But this is the same material that you might find in craft shops or florists' supply shops. Sometimes at Christmas or Easter, you may see this material in the form of molded eggs or wreaths. It's firm enough to hold it's shape but soft enough to allow a flower stem or wire to penetrate. It is usually white in color. The blue or orange color I referred in Styrofoam may only be a means of identifying a particular density of material but I have found little difference in either. This stuff in not at all flexible. As I mentioned, it is used primarily as flotation material under docks and inside boats. >>>Im not sure about blue and yellow, which in my foam terms refers to rubber polymer foams...very expensive! Styrofoam does not contain rubber, latex or such. Styrene is the main and perhaps only ingredient. Hope this helps. Fred kismet-AT-bigpond.net.au writes: << Obviously there is a language barrier here as I only know styrofoam as that white stuff you make bean bags out of and kids surf boards, Im not sure about blue and yellow, which in my foam terms refers to rubber polymer foams...very expensive! So the thought I had was have you considered surfboard foam? Comes in blanks from most fibreglass shops can be carved with fine detail with very simple tools, including your fingers >> _______________________________________________ List address: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org Admin interface: http://lists.driftline.org/listinfo.cgi/puptcrit-driftline.org Archives: http://www.driftline.org
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