First Sign in Blue Foam / Polymer

[rcnewcomb]

Blue foam also comes in pink.

Blue for Dow
Pink for Owens Corning

[myxpykalix]

Dave, we know who the boob is...the guy asking the question...(ME!)

Greg when you explain it, it makes perfect sense. When i look at it I thought i could see 4 or 6 varying depths and the sails looked like they had wind behind them and not just a flat representation of a full sail.

It might be because of the light or shadow lines or because of the talent of the painter for sure. All in all a great job.

[gwerner]

Curtis - Industrial Polymers makes Styrospray.

Blue foam came from blue themed home improvement store in 1/2" - 4x8 sheets. To be precise it was on isle 17, about 15 feet from the end cap, near the front of the store.

[gwerner]

Jack - There ARE varying depths. I did the glue up first. It is 2- 4x8 sheets I thought you were asking if I cut it in slices and then assembled the slices. But the sails are definitely full of wind. I just painted what is raised in relief, after we sealed it with primer. It finishes smooth as glass and keep detail. Really cool product.

[gwerner]

Here is the sign covered before I trimmed and painted it.

[mikeacg]

Blue (Lowes) or Pink (HomeDepot) goes under the name EPS (Extruded Polystryrene) insulation. Look in the insulation area of your lumberyard. The pink is Owens Corning F150 (the F stands for Foamular). Lowes doesn't carry it here (must be too warm for insulation...) but 2" x 4' x 8' pink goes for $29 and change.
I just painted a few pieces yesterday with the Styroprime (a thick primer they sell) and hope to try the 2 part StyroSpray later today. It comes out of Houston from a company called Industrial Polymers Inc. http://www.styrospray.com/ $110.10 for a gallon of part A and a gallon of part B (2 gallons total for that price).

[mikeacg]

Boy, you sure have to be quick around here this morning! By the time I finished my reply to the foam question there were already 4 of them!

Greg,

Did you lose detail with the primer? The stuff I have is really thick and some of my fine lines seemed to fill in...

[blackhawk]

Greg - Looks great! What brand and part # cutter did you use on the blue foam? Feeds and Speeds?

Thanks.

[gwerner]

Michael - Didn't loose detail, use a foam brush to "squeeze out" the excess in the cracks and creases.

Brad - Onsrud 1/4" ballnose from BDP turning 14K at 150.

[mikeacg]

Good idea Greg! I will try that on my next piece! I having pretty good results so far but that was an issue on my Navy plaque.
I also like your idea of painting them before you cut them out. I got that stuff all over my hands (gloves) trying to paint finished shapes.