Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Foam

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Redbeard
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Joined: 4/11/06
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Posted: 4/12/06 at 12:10am

Another quick way to shape rough textures in styrofoam is to use an electric charcoal starter. The one I purcased fifteen years ago is giving up the ghost so I will be buying a new one this summer. It works best on beaded (white) foam but works on the pink and blue stuff as well. It's especially great at creating rock wall textures.

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baydrama
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Posted: 4/18/06 at 6:26pm

Where does one procure this foam you're all talking about?

AND, does anyone know about or has anyone worked with foam board? I need to build a kitchen out of this stuff.

Thanks!

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Redbeard
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Posted: 4/18/06 at 8:10pm

Your larger corporate building supply stores usually carry sheets of half an inch thick. Call your local lumber stores and building supply houses for thicker pieces.

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pdavis69
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Joined: 3/26/06
Location: United States
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Posted: 4/24/06 at 9:46pm

Foam board makes the best rock walls. You have so many choices. It can be broked and wire-brushed into different shapes. Also a great technique is using a wire wheel on a drill to cut "grout" lines into the rocks. I did a full Irish barn for Dancing at Lughnasah (dont spell check that). The barn looked great and has made several appearances in surrounding theatres. One warning is that when using the wire wheel, you end up with styrofoam snow everywhere. If you are carefull, a blowtorch can be used around the edges of the rocks to eliminate the sharp edges. Be very careful, but the walls have a great look.

Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

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jimzmum
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Joined: 5/05/06
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Posted: 5/05/06 at 3:45pm

You can also buy heavy foam up to one foot thick. It is an extruded styrofoam that is very dense. I bought some of this to use to construct set pieces for You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. I wanted something light that the actors could schlep around and manipulate to create set pieces. We covered the puzzle-like pieces with glued on masonite, then used muslin and glue to strengthen. We cut all the pieces with a hot knife, too.

When finished, the actors could even walk and dance on the stuff.

We found the foam at a foam supply place in St. Louis.

Courage does not always roar. Sometimes, it is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow". Anonymous

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Set Design and Construction
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Set Design and Construction

Author	Message
Redbeard Walk-On Joined: 4/11/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 4/12/06 at 12:10am
	Another quick way to shape rough textures in styrofoam is to use an electric charcoal starter. The one I purcased fifteen years ago is giving up the ghost so I will be buying a new one this summer. It works best on beaded (white) foam but works on the pink and blue stuff as well. It's especially great at creating rock wall textures.
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baydrama Walk-On Joined: 4/11/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 4/18/06 at 6:26pm
	Where does one procure this foam you're all talking about? AND, does anyone know about or has anyone worked with foam board? I need to build a kitchen out of this stuff. Thanks!
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Redbeard Walk-On Joined: 4/11/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 4/18/06 at 8:10pm
	Your larger corporate building supply stores usually carry sheets of half an inch thick. Call your local lumber stores and building supply houses for thicker pieces.
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pdavis69 Celebrity Joined: 3/26/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 437	Posted: 4/24/06 at 9:46pm
	Foam board makes the best rock walls. You have so many choices. It can be broked and wire-brushed into different shapes. Also a great technique is using a wire wheel on a drill to cut "grout" lines into the rocks. I did a full Irish barn for Dancing at Lughnasah (dont spell check that). The barn looked great and has made several appearances in surrounding theatres. One warning is that when using the wire wheel, you end up with styrofoam snow everywhere. If you are carefull, a blowtorch can be used around the edges of the rocks to eliminate the sharp edges. Be very careful, but the walls have a great look.
	Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse
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jimzmum Walk-On Joined: 5/05/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 5/05/06 at 3:45pm
	You can also buy heavy foam up to one foot thick. It is an extruded styrofoam that is very dense. I bought some of this to use to construct set pieces for You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. I wanted something light that the actors could schlep around and manipulate to create set pieces. We covered the puzzle-like pieces with glued on masonite, then used muslin and glue to strengthen. We cut all the pieces with a hot knife, too. When finished, the actors could even walk and dance on the stuff. We found the foam at a foam supply place in St. Louis.
	Courage does not always roar. Sometimes, it is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow". Anonymous
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Topic: Foam( Topic Closed)
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