Can anyone advise on how to harden styrofoam to a depth of ¼ inch by impregnation with some form of liquid plastic.
I have tried superglue but it etches the styrofoam.
Styrofoam hardening ?
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- Victor VI
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Re: Styrofoam hardening ?
Daithi wrote:Can anyone advise on how to harden styrofoam to a depth of ¼ inch by impregnation with some form of liquid plastic.
I have tried superglue but it etches the styrofoam.
most organic solvents have an extremely deleterious effect on polystyrene causing it to dissolve and break down or as you describe etching it , I can't see how you can harden it in any way , but you could try gluing a thin cardboard or wood section to the surface using a water based glue I think this would work , or maybe a hot glue gun would stick card to it
- Inigo
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Re: Styrofoam hardening ?
The hot gun will also destroy the styrofoam if applied directly...
I'd suggest using Balsa wood instead of styrofoam if what you want is a stiffer but light thick part...
I'd suggest using Balsa wood instead of styrofoam if what you want is a stiffer but light thick part...
Inigo
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- Victor VI
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Re: Styrofoam hardening ?
What a good Idea !Inigo wrote:The hot gun will also destroy the styrofoam if applied directly...
I'd suggest using Balsa wood instead of styrofoam if what you want is a stiffer but light thick part...
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- Victor II
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Re: Styrofoam hardening ?
Thanks both of you.
I already have the styrofoam all carved up and its 18"X13"X6"so its big chunk of styrofoam.
Its not so much that I want it stiffer.
Its that I want it harder so it will not absorb sound.
I'm making a horn inside a box.
I just know you guys are laughing now.
I already have the styrofoam all carved up and its 18"X13"X6"so its big chunk of styrofoam.
Its not so much that I want it stiffer.
Its that I want it harder so it will not absorb sound.
I'm making a horn inside a box.
I just know you guys are laughing now.
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- Victor II
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Re: Styrofoam hardening ?
The plan was to fill the box with hard styrofoam in two parts like a clamshell, then carve a horn out of the middle of the clamshell, and then soak superglue or liquid acrylic into it to a depth of ¼ inch forming the horn while leaving all the rest of the styrofoam as raw styrofoam to absorb any stray sounds and/or leaks.
I know its a bit weird.
I know its a bit weird.
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- Victor II
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Re: Styrofoam hardening ?
But what if I could use some of that white styrofoam glue? See Soundgen's picture above. What if it was immersed in a vat of that stuff and gently heated to push some air out of it. Then allowed to cool so as to draw the glue into it as it cools down.
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- Victor V
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Re: Styrofoam hardening ?
If you go to youtube and search for Hard Coat Styrofoam, you'll find a number of videos describing various procedures, such as this one:
OF
(Double-click the video above or click this link to go to the video on YouTube.)
Maybe one of them would work.OF
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- Victor II
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Re: Styrofoam hardening ?
Up until now I have been searching in terms of impregnating the foam and getting nowhere, but I suppose a thick coating is the next best thing and certainly easier to accomplish.
Finally it has dawned on me that surfboards are made of styrofoam. Do they coat them in fiberglass I wonder and is this the route I should be going down. I have also been looking at a product called Mod Podge.
Thank you all for your help and advice. Any further comments are more than welcome.
Finally it has dawned on me that surfboards are made of styrofoam. Do they coat them in fiberglass I wonder and is this the route I should be going down. I have also been looking at a product called Mod Podge.
Thank you all for your help and advice. Any further comments are more than welcome.
- howardpgh
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Re: Styrofoam hardening ?
You can't use polyester resin and fiberglass on styrofoam as it will dissolve it. Usually you can use epoxy resin on styrofoam.