HARD COATING STYROFOAM! Cheap Way To Make Foam Props Strong (Big Halloween Pumpkins)

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Published 2016-10-07

Hard coating styrofoam a cheap way to make foam props strong. We try to hard coat foam sculptures and styrofoam props with this easy method. We have used many hard coating methods like plastic dips, resins, fiberglass, two part epoxies, and several other foam coating sprays but here is a cheap method that can work for things like holiday display props. It's always Halloween at our house and we are hard coating our giant sculpted foam pumpkins props for the October yard display home haunt this year. Its past the time for Halloween decorations and Halloween decorating but we are just getting started in this art of pumpkin carving mania and these are not you average Funkin pumpkins. We had a ton of styrofoam to sculpt and carve these Halloween props with. In this video we finish attaching the foam carved stems to the giant styrofoam pumpkins. After carving the large blocks of styrofoam into huge Halloween pumpkins they need protection and one cheaper choice for hard coating is to use flexible tile mortar as a DIY foam coat. The best thing for these big orange world record size pumpkins would be a flexible epoxy or styro safe resin but that can get pricey. Using casting plaster or flexbond tile mortar can work well too you just need to do it in layers and get it to 3/16" thick or more if you can. we will paint the pumpkins several different shades like you see in real pumpkin patches next. If we have time we will try to build a witches shack or a witch house facade that look like a cute little fairy tale cottage. We hope you enjoy as we take the ultimate pumpkin carving challenge!

amazon links to a few products used in this video
gun - amzn.to/3nVpsX7
spray foam - amzn.to/34MOfFm
foam - amzn.to/38JuRKy
flexbond grey - amzn.to/3aWGkJk
flexbond white - amzn.to/37V13eP
chip brushes - amzn.to/37RrXnU
mortar tub - amzn.to/2WO8bTU
polyacrylic - amzn.to/3aLZIsE
sponge - amzn.to/3aQomIr

Carving Foam Pumpkin Stems
   • Carving Large Styrofoam Pumpkins - Sc...

Carving Giant Foam Pumpkins
   • Carving Giant Halloween Pumpkins | Sc...

Gluing Styrofoam Together With Spray Foam Adhesive
   • BEST GLUE FOR STYROFOAM! Spray Foam A...

Multiple Homemade Hot Wire Foam Cutters & Sculpting Tools
   • DIY Foam Cutter - Make Hot Wire Sculp...

Music: www.purple-planet.com/
song is on the prowl

0:00 Attaching foam pumpkin stem
2:00 Hard coat foam with plaster test
2:14 Foam hard coat material ideas
2:49 Plaster works but isn't waterproof
4:26 Sealing the DIY hard coat
5:05 Deciding to hard coat with mortar
5:23 Why plaster wasn't the best
5:53 Prepping for the flexbond mortar
6:30 One layer of mortar hard coat
6:50 Sanding the foam coat smooth
7:49 How to mix the foam coat mortar
11:33 Apply the hard coat onto foam
12:26 Thin mortar layer can chip
12:40 How to smooth the hard coating
13:21 Finished giant foam pumpkins

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HARD COATING STYROFOAM! Cheap Way To Make Foam Props Strong (Big Halloween Pumpkins)
   • HARD COATING STYROFOAM! Cheap Way To ...

#hollywoodhaunter
#hardcoat
#halloween
#halloweendecorations
#pumpkins
#October
#HappyHalloween

All Comments (21)

@TheMinishKid 6 years ago

I don't why, but this was like my favorite video EVER. Like, not just from you two, but like ever. I love the girl's voice too! So sweet :) Just overall good vibes from this video, thanks 🙏 😁👌🏻
@jenniferdrake2871 5 years ago

What I REALLY love is how you guys treat each other.
@privateaccountuser2333 5 years ago

After working with plaster, mortar or cement, rinse hands with a bit of white (clear) vinegar. Then wash with soap as usual. Restores skin's pH balance & neutralizes the powder's chemical induced dryness. ...unless you wanna leave a Vaseline residue on everything you touch for 20 minutes. I used to shovel & haul concrete slurry. The boss gave me that tip. He always kept a small bottle of it in the restroom - cuz it works great. 👍😎
@maleahlock 5 years ago

My brother bought me an expensive kitchen hand mixer for my birthday and I don't think he understands why I'm so excited. I am not going to tell him I'm using it for mixing my render :-P
@jakeqwaninne8502 3 years ago

that locator trick with the sharpie was brilliant
@ltlbuddha 4 years ago

Cool vid! Thin-set mortar, has latex in it to increase flexibility and adhesion. If one used the white version, I would think that concrete pigments could be used to colour the mortar and save some of the painting time. Though, perhaps not cost.
@dananto4576 7 years ago

I can't wait to see you paint them!!!!! When you first showed us the massive blocks of foam I had no idea what you could do with it, and now it doesn't even look like something you made!!! It looks like something from the store!
@tinastrangway9788 7 years ago

OMG..... they really are beautiful. Such long hours for you both but what an impact they will have in your pumpkin patch. You both truly are artists. Can not wait to see them painted Jeana and awesome work Chris. 😀
@cameronbelt7249 8 months ago

Came here to find what to coat styrofoam in. Kept watching because y’all seem so nice and fun! Plus I did learn a lot!
@manwiththestar2305 7 years ago

You guys put a lot of work and effort in to these fake pumpkins. Not just a little sculpted styrofoam and spray paint... Really nice! Good job!
@jaysonnickols170 7 years ago

Great work! Other alternatives for a hardcoat are Vinyl Concrete patch mixed with wood glue from Home Depot, or the cheapest Mapie tile mortar from Lowes mixed with the Mapie latex adhesive instead of water. I like the Lowes mix. The mortar is only about $7 for a 50lb bag and the adhesive is $20 for 2 gallons. It comes in grey and white.
@jasonargone5993 6 years ago

Good video, nice work...its good to see the way you work with humor, makes the time fly. we do similar work here in upstate NY.
@readhistory2023 5 years ago

Vs doing your initial sanding try using a damp spongue to smooth it out start with instead. There is a limited window of time when it's easier, but it's just as fast as sanding and you don't have all the dust.
@ironhorseranchandboarding3040 5 years ago

Im SO glad I found you! I have carved a rock wall for my "jail" that will be permanent outside in north Idaho. I am about to hard coat!
@asiangoddesscottagelifegar7137 4 years ago

You guys are awesome. Love the cement plaster combined. Thank you so much.
@ThatGuyGabeToo 7 years ago

These have been so much work, but they look amazing!!! Can't wait to see them finished!!!
@TheSentientCloud 5 years ago

Oh MAN! Thanks YouTube algorithm! This is literally the perfect thing I need for my Stakataka cosplay! It will weigh more than me and I'm going to be dead post con, but holy shit it'll be the coolest cosplay.
@rafezetter8003 3 years ago

Just googled about coating polystrene and got your vid - and I have some of the plaster or mortar based stuff left over from a reno (several bags!) - and the info about making fake bricks on plywood gave me some ideas too :)
@rakka1dude184 6 years ago

its fun finally getting there and being an artist.
@MsShannaK 3 years ago

Omg they are so wholesome and adorable together :) refreshing and beautiful to see them interacting. They are oooozing sweetness and love for each other :) great video with lots of info! Thanks for sharing 💖