Author Topic: Working with Polystyrene! (Read 3216 times)

Valiant · « **on:** 07 October, 2008, 10:05:58 pm »

So over the past few days I have cut out some polystyrene butterfly wings, both are about 130cm x 60cm. I didn't have a hot wire cutter so I did it the ghetto way of stabbing with a big scapel and sandpapering it to smooth the edges. Job done. Now I have two questions, is there any way to seal it so it doesn't fall apart into snow if anything rubs against it? I realise it's not the best material to use but feck it, I had a large sheet laying around and it's a one use thing so I thought might aswell.

What's the best way to paint it? It's gonna be blues, yellow, oranges, reds and black. I'm guessing acrylic paint of sorts?

Tom M · « **Reply #1 on:** 07 October, 2008, 10:09:46 pm »

I have nothing useful to say, but would like to point out that reading this has really set my teeth on edge.

Damn you polystyrene!

longers · « **Reply #2 on:** 07 October, 2008, 10:11:36 pm »

Watered down PVA glue for sealing the edges?

Acrylic Poster Paint for the colours?

NB:- Not tried any of this myself so test on a small area first.

andygates · « **Reply #3 on:** 07 October, 2008, 10:13:34 pm »

I've made polystyrene props - gravestones mostly. I painted 'em with acrylic poster paint. It makes a decent skin, and has good coverage, and it's fairly weatherproof. I think I got the big bottles of it from Early Learning Centre.

Still broke when a player picked one up and smashed it over a zombie, though

Valiant · « **Reply #4 on:** 07 October, 2008, 10:14:14 pm »

I have a tin of Super PVA Adhesive and sealer which I found on a shelf but the lid has 08.01.07 written on it. Is it still any good?

Valiant · « **Reply #5 on:** 07 October, 2008, 10:15:03 pm »

Will I need to prime it with something before colouring in using acrlyic poster paints?

Maffie · « **Reply #6 on:** 08 October, 2008, 10:09:00 am »

Any solvent based product will start eating into it. You could use a water based primer and then use a latex paint which is more environmentally friendly than say oil based paints and it driess faster and quite hard.

andygates · « **Reply #7 on:** 08 October, 2008, 10:31:50 am »

PVA keeps fine as long as it's not all dried out and gacky.

I don't think I primed mine, just painted it on good 'n' thick.

Both PVA and acrylic are water-based, so they don't eat polystyrene.

Use a spare chunk as a test piece.

Valiant · « **Reply #8 on:** 08 October, 2008, 02:42:58 pm »

I've coated it in poly and it's nice and non flaky now. Gonna go visit Atlantis in a bit.

andygates · « **Reply #9 on:** 08 October, 2008, 03:23:53 pm »

Bring us back a mermaid...

fuzzy · « **Reply #10 on:** 09 October, 2008, 12:34:45 pm »

Quote from: Valiant on 08 October, 2008, 02:42:58 pm

I've coated it in poly and it's nice and non flaky now. Gonna go visit Atlantis in a bit.

Don't forget your speedos'

Valiant · « **Reply #11 on:** 09 October, 2008, 03:30:00 pm »

Feck me paint is expensive.

Biggsy · « **Reply #12 on:** 10 October, 2008, 07:11:05 pm »

andygates · « **Reply #13 on:** 10 October, 2008, 08:09:43 pm »

Is that Mrs Styrene?

Jaded · « **Reply #14 on:** 10 October, 2008, 08:47:25 pm »

Oh Bondage, Up Yours!

Valiant · « **Reply #15 on:** 10 October, 2008, 09:17:18 pm »

So I have at my disposal, 4x wire coathangers, gaffa tape, hot glue gun, 10m of seatbelt and 4 clasp buckles.

What's the best way to secure them? They are going to be worn like this:

andygates · « **Reply #16 on:** 10 October, 2008, 10:22:08 pm »

I'd say make a shoulder loop for each wing. Then join the wings at the top and bottom of the back with a short horizontal strap - kinda like the sketch of a rucksack back.

Valiant · « **Reply #17 on:** 10 October, 2008, 10:29:01 pm »

Would also need to use the coat hangers as a backsupport to stop them flopping about? Trouble is with being 2inch thick expanded poly, would they be able to cope with the stresses of seat belt going through them?

andygates · « **Reply #18 on:** 10 October, 2008, 11:45:33 pm »

I'd probably go with making some big U-shaped staples from coathanger, and sleazing these into the poly a few inches, pinning the strap in place, with lots of hot-glue for luck.

Ish.

Valiant · « **Reply #19 on:** 11 October, 2008, 01:47:23 am »

Done thanks Andy, in the end I used a loop made of wire to go through the poly but with multiple legs so that the straps can be done up tight

The back support is a slightly bent whole coathanger with the neck bent the opposite way and straightend out so it goes through in the middle of the poly.

kyuss · « **Reply #20 on:** 11 October, 2008, 04:03:14 am »

They look fantastic. Good job.

Valiant · « **Reply #21 on:** 11 October, 2008, 04:17:29 am »

Cheers bro

andygates · « **Reply #22 on:** 11 October, 2008, 08:26:05 am »

So bright!

Valiant · « **Reply #23 on:** 11 October, 2008, 03:04:55 pm »

Good thing I didn't go for fluorescent paints then lol

Valiant · « **Reply #24 on:** 14 October, 2008, 03:38:30 am »

The final output

Author Topic: Working with Polystyrene! (Read 3216 times)

fuzzy