Welcome to the Foam Carving Forum

[legendofthewood]

Welcome to our Foam Carving Board.  We are concentrating on new ways to use foam to make lightweight and realistic props.  Focusing on tombstones, facades, and new carving tools.  If you have questions or are interested in our work, post a reply.  Check us out at www.legendofthewood.com

[Joko the Clown]

What are some good sources for foam blocks? What type of foam is best for different situations? What are the best kinds of paint to paint them with?

[legendofthewood]

Hey Joko,

Sorry for the delay in posting....Busy time of year.

The type of foam really depends on the application and what you want to accomplish.  I like to use the dense pink insulation foam for a lot of detailed carvings and wall panels.  The foam insulation is dense enough so that you don't have the shredding affect that the white foam has.  Also, the foam insulation is very durable, especially when heated with a heat gun.  I usually use the white block foam for tombstones.  If you use hot wire carvers, be sure to wear a mask and carve in a well ventilated area.

As far as painting, I use typical (cheap) latex paint applied with a brush or a roller.  If you want a distressed look, you can use spray paint, but be careful as the propellants in spray paint will eat foam. 

If you have specific questions, let me know and we can tackle them one at a time.  For example, are you looking a particular project.

Legend