Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 20:32:01 -0500
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Easy fake coral


  I often use it to stick rod puppet parts into when painting or
glueing.  I sometimes laminate it to carve stuff.  I use it alot with
video for scenary and ground level because you can pop holes into it
after creating a landscape to manipulate puppets through, reinforcing
it underneath for stability.  I make blow guns out of conduit with
nails with card board cones and use it for target practice to blow off
steam in the workshop.

Ok what do you all do with blue styrofoam?

On Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 5:06 PM, Mathieu René <creaturiste-AT-primus.ca> wrote:
> This afternoon I needed a break, so I was procrastinating, but gosh, I never
> can procrastinate properly!
> The work posesses me even then!
>
> So I was fidgeting with a piece of insulation foam (blue styrofoam in my
> case) and some wire while watching television.
>
> My fingers found a way to simulate coral, or swiss cheese.
>
> Basically, you just take a slice of foam of about a quarter inch thick, use
> a straight piece of stiff wire to push a hole through. It needs to be wire
> or rod for it to work, not a needle. On the other surface, from the
> pressure, a cap is broken off. Remove it. Repeat in a random pattern, some
> areas more crowded with holes than others. Some of those holes will thin
> some pre-pierced areas, creating depth.
> When your coral is realistic enough, break off the straight edges.
>
> I made a second piece of that coral to test for the accuracy of the method,
> and it works.
>
> Such a coral can be strenghtened by applying some glue and Pieces of toilet
> paper.
> Or it could be molded and cast in whatever material you choose.
>
> Oh, and the cast off pellets it produces can be kept as a texture material
> to be added underneath paper mache skin, or used as a filler when packaging
> fragile items.
>
>
> I'm all about reusing, especially in this case, since foam is such a nasty
> product for the environment because of manufacuring processes.  I very
> rarely buy my foam. I get scraps from a set and props shop, thanks to a
> collegue who works there. If we don't pick it up, it gets trashed.
>
>
>
>
>
>
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