Just did a search on generic EVA foam material properties and from a few different sources the service temperatures that EVA foam can operate in are -70C/+60C without losing expected properties. Dremel As such, you could put water on top of EVA foam, and it would not seep in through the material to the extent it would in an open foam material. EVA foam is an open celled foam. Remember not to put the business end of your heat gun on or near materials that are flammable or may deform from the heat, or otherwise result in a hazardous condition, such as near gas or power cables. EVA foam is considered a closed-cell foam. For the sandwich and backing methods many people use foam sheets you find in craft stores – usually called fun foam, craft foam or foamies. Consider the following example of EVA foam: Notice that there are tiny gaps between the cells (which, for the purpose of this explanation, I have exaggerated).  If you were to apply paint or primer to this foam as-is, then the liquid would inevitably crawl into these gaps between the cells (and through any cell that may accidentally be open, which can happen as a consequence of the production process).  Because your paint would seep through, even in small amounts, you’d need to apply more to be able to get a sufficiently smooth application on the top layer: We can work around this issue with a process called heat-sealing. Once the first pass is finished, you may do a second pass if you feel it’s necessary. So how does one heat-seal foam? Most glues are sometimes cured with heat to make the bonds they create stronger, but this depends on the type and brand you get. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. EVA Foam is not compatible with: Gasoline, Cyclohexane, Ether, Ketone, Paraffin, Xylene and combustion conditions may release fumes hydrogen bormide and/or other toxic vapors. With the gloves on and the heat gun on its … Article written from informations taken on the Schenz Theatrical Supply website. What is EVA foam? If this happens in a cell, we call this an open cell. is a wonderful tool to make smooth edges, textures and details on your foam. This dense, closed cell foam is not only environmentally safe but it’s somehow weather and chemical resistant and has a low water absorption level. Use the utra-fine point sharpie to trace your pieces on the Foam. For production, EVA foam materials need to go through vulcanization procedure where they are formed with a cross-linked also closed cell molecular structures. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Because the vast majority of the cells are open, you can put water in on one side of the sponge, and squish it out from the other side. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Traditional large “gun-style” heat guns get too heavy and awkward to handle for extended periods. It’s customary to heat-seal EVA foam before applying primer and beginning to paint. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Style AG-4911 EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) closed cell foam is a 4# density material and is also offered in a 2# density (AG-2011). Whether you are looking to melt tough wax in hard to reach areas or just removing a stubborn bumper sticker, you can trust this heat gun to get the job done fast and easy. EVA Foam - 1/2" thick 2' x 2' square -48 Square Feet ... Heat Gun - Black & Decker HG1300 Dual Temperature Heat Gun; Dremel Tool - We prefer the corded variable speed Dremel, not the battery powered variety. These closed cells do not let air or liquids pass. – A Large Transparent ruler (The kind with a grid printed on it) Dust/fumes generated during thermal forming or slicing may cause eye and/or respiratory irritation. You’ve just sealed your EVA foam! Or use it as a heat gun for candles. HEALTH HAZARD This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. MISCELLANEOUS TIPS & TRICKS It can be thermoformed to your specific design, and is available in sheet … But what is heat-sealing, and why should you do it? EVA Foam is not compatible with: Gasoline, Cyclohexane, Ether, Ketone, Paraffin, Xylene and combustion conditions may release fumes … There is something else to consider, however, and that is that even closed-cell materials may still be porous, and may still have some open cells. When using the Heat Gun to form your EVA Foam, make sure you heat your surface evenly. WITH BUILT-IN STAINLESS-STEEL STAND - This heat gun for resin can make crafting even easier with its retractable stainless stand. – A Dremel tool or its equivalent with sanding discs or bands Place your heat gun somewhere where it can cool off and not be knocked over. Discover over 129 of our best selection of 1 on AliExpress.com with top-selling 1 brands. This gives you a much smoother surface when you get to painting the armor. The first is using a heat gun, and the second is a butane torch. The heat gun allows you to heat up any of these materials to the activation point, then form them into the desired shape or melt them together before they cool. Work in a well ventilated area when thermal forming or sanding/cutting the EVA Foam. This causes the cells to deform slightly and sink into the bottom layers through any gaps that may exist, or any open cells that may happen to be there: You literally seal the gaps with heat, thus the name.  Because this process closes the same gaps in the foam that the paint in our previous example was able to seep through, applying paint after heat-sealing takes far less material: That’s a remarkable difference! Now for the Dork part …, REACTIVITY DATA Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. You can just barely see the seam … Required fields are marked *. If you were to put a lot of paint on top of a sponge, it’d almost certainly start coming out the the other end very rapidly. Alone or combined with thermoplastics, it will address your needs.Foams that … A hair dryer wouldn’t work to seal EVA foam as it requires the much higher temperatures that heat guns are able to achieve. And if you’re using quality (read: pricey) paints, the resulting cost savings can be equally significant. EVA foam is usually glued with … SHRINK WRAP GUN - Use the low heat setting for shrink wrapping. Ever worked with Worbla or EVA foam for your cosplay? – An X-Acto Knife (AND/OR any specialized blades you can think of for special cuts for example) AND/OR a hot blade of some sort … While hair-dryers max out at temperatures around 60 degrees Celsius, heat guns can reach 600 degrees Celsius with ease. 2. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. A hair dryer wouldn’t work to seal EVA foam as it requires the much higher temperatures that heat guns are able to achieve. Avid Power Heat Gun, Heavy Duty Hot Air Gun 1800W with Dual Temperature Settings (716℉/1205℉), 4-pc Nozzle Attachments for Crafts, Shrinking PVC, Stripping Paint 4.6 out of 5 stars 748 $21.99 $ 21 . There are two commonly used methods. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Safety informations taken from Foam Order, You will need some tools to work on that baby so grab a piece of paper, a pen and take notes …, TOOLS NEEDED If your heat gun came with a storage case, don’t put it back in immediately. Beside the evidence (Like swallowing might make you choke) the only health hazard is regarding inhalation of the EVA. Your email address will not be published. 2020 popular 1 trends in Automobiles & Motorcycles, Home Improvement, Education & Office Supplies, Home & Garden with Heat Resistant Foam Tape and 1. My big concern though is with the actual heat gun itself, in all the videos, people are bringing it near their hands and touching the foam as they heat it. A Dremel (Not making a shameless plug here, use whatever equivalent tool you want!) 37453 Static Dissipative Foam, 1/4 in x 12-5/8 in x 22-3/4 in, Black 37453-6942 MFG #: 37453 Available to Order - 0 on Hand Required fields are marked *. While hair-dryers max out at temperatures around 60 degrees Celsius, heat guns can reach 600 degrees Celsius with ease. I didn't have a heat gun… Send in your questions using the Contact link at the top of the Blog. After passing through mandrel, the embossed foam sheet or roll can be finally made. It features 2 temperature settings (1100°F on high and 750°F on low) to adjust for specific … If you have other questions regarding EVA Foam and the way to work with it … We would be more than happy to update this post for you. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. – A cutting surface (If you don’t want your wife to kill you for hacking through the kitchen table) Otherwise, it’s considered a closed-cell material. Congratulations! How to use EVA foam? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. REACTIVITY DATA Avoid fire and temperature above 329°C (625°F). – Masking Tape (To adjust your parts BEFORE glueing). There isn’t much there, and all of the holes and nooks and crannies are perfect hidey-holes for liquids such as water. This means, that it’s easy to work on it with glue, paint and everything you can throw its way. I prefer to move at a rate of approximately 10 centimeters per second. 3. If you have a fan, consider using it to help cool off your heat gun more rapidly. You might want to have a surface to help you bend your foam. As long as the air is hot enough, it really doesn’t take much. – A Heat Gun (For thermal forming) Safety Tip:  Once you’re done, it’s important remember that the business end of your heat gun will remain hot for quite a while. The process is similar for both, but we’ll focus on the heat gun here, as it is the safer of the two choices. I hope this article was informative and helpful! Learn how your comment data is processed. In order to get it to keep a rounded shape, you have to heat it. The insulation abilities of EVA foam includes heat and thermal insulation.The can resist temperature from minus 30 degree centigrade to 80 degree centigrade. The key is the combination of lower fan speed and higher heat will give you the hottest output temperature. A definite upgrade to any mini heat gun. I am planning to build an armor out of EVA foam and I need a heat gun to mold the foam to certain shapes, are there any alternatives to a heat gun for this kind of stuff? This will tighten & seal the foam texture. *** Putting complex bends and curves in EVA Foam armor can be tricky, since the foam is very elastic and flexible. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. To use a heat gun to seal EVA foam, simply let it heat for a few seconds, and then blow hot air onto your foam from a distance of about 20 centimeters. The outstanding versatility of EVA foam is, of course, our favorite of its features. (This is more true for the more cheaply produced EVA foam with lower densities, which have larger cells with more air in them; and less pronounced on higher-density, higher-quality foam.). Thanks for reading! After reading a good bit about using eva foam for various cosplay costumes, I went out and got a few sheets of the puzzle piece EVA from home depot and a heat gun. Please consider the following before doing so …, Like Wil already said in his Work In Progress: Wil’s Futuristic Armor post, EVA stands for Ethylene Vinyl Acetate. Heat sealing collapses the cells on the foam's surface, making it smooth and uniform. I might consider making a post with possible things that can be done with a Dremel tool (Maybe using my scrap foam parts after my Futuristic Armor Project). Poor-quality heat guns are both a fire hazard & an … Before adding the embellishments to your foam helmet, it’s a good idea to bend the foam cut-outs so they take on the shape of the helmet. After you've finished shaping/grinding the piece, go back over the shaped areas with the heat gun. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. By applying heat to the surface of the foam, we can essentially “melt” the top layer of cells. The roller will be heated to a required temperature, then foam material can be inserted through the roller. This is incredibly easy to do – all you need is a pair of heat-resistant gloves and a heat gun. PRECAUTION FOR SAFE HANDLING AND USE Enjoy a hands-free operation for your epoxy resin glitter tumbler making. Each type of glue is unique in a different way (spray, gel, paste, etc). With technology that allows it to heat up in seconds, the heat gun can instantly reach up to 200°C/390°F in temperature. If you haven’t used a heat gun before, it’s essentially a super-powered hair dryer. Might want to consider using a mask to avoid inhaling dust from the foam. Offered in a wide range of densities and hardness, EVA foam excels, among other things, in shock absorption and protection. We’d call that a closed cell. Since EVA does not absorb water, consider using it to shock your pieces once bent. Kitchen sponges are a great example of an object made out of an open cell foam. Wonderflex, Worbla, Thibra, EVA foam, styrene, ABS, Friendly Plastic and many other synthetic crafting materials require heat activation or heat setting. You’re about to use EVA Foam for your next project? EVA foam. EVA foam is a thermoplastic material, which means it’s thicker and denser than a regular paper sheet but much smoother and mouldable when subjected to high temperature. Choose from our selection of adhesive-back foam, including over 1,900 products in a wide range of styles and sizes. The softening point (good for forming) average is ~65C which is heat gun territory when fanning over with the gun as … It has multiple uses, easy to cut, paint and glue, it fits perfectly in scrap crafts. It is powerfully built to heat quickly, with temperatures rising up to over 600 degrees Celsius, operating at 1,800 watts. The fundamentals of creating something out of those crafting materials primarily consist of heating the piece and holding it in place until it cools down to retain the shape that you want. As a general rule of thumb, if at least half the cells are open as opposed to closed, a material is referred to as open-celled. When out shopping for glue, you will find many types of glues that you could use on EVA foam. The problem is they have a thermal … These cookies do not store any personal information. Similarly, a football that isn’t broken and has no holes, would not let air and liquid through. The FURNO 300 dual temperature heat gun is The FURNO 300 dual temperature heat gun is ideal for countless household projects such as removing paint and flooring, bending PVC, thawing frozen pipes, shrink wrapping and more. – A Fine Point Sharpie and an Ultra-Fine Point Sharpie (Or the cheap brands) The same method applies to heating a synthetic wig that can take heat. Floor mat foam; TNT Cosplay foam; Foam rubber tubing; Cutting mats; Barge Cement; Barge in tube; Dermel 200 tool; Knife -Box-cutter; X-ACTO Knife; Metal ruler; Flexible ruler; Blade Sharpener Heat Gun; Wood burner; Propane Torch; Belt Sander; 3M 77 spray glue; Glue Pot Modge Podge; Kwik seal; Weldwood cement, great for sealing foam… DUAL-TEMPERATURE HEAT GUN FOR CRAFTS - 2 heat speed settings make working with your EVA foam or craft projects a breeze. On a microscopic level, the material is made up of numerous tiny closed cells. You can think of these cells as little microscopic footballs. We … Your email address will not be published. Sharpie Thermal Forming So? Your email address will not be published. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. (A little side note, you can also iron the foam to seal the surface without coating it in glue!) This is the most flexible and versatile formulation. – A mask (For protection) … Might consider some sort of Protection Goggles as well … The fine point sharpie is used to write stuff on them or mark references (Like where to cut a hole later on). For example, an old football with holes in it would let air and liquids through. Parts don't always like to hold their shapes, and the prevalent method (from my experience reading costume forums like therpf) for shaping foam armor parts is to use a heat gun. In stock and ready to ship. Chandler Tool saves the day with the perfect balance of compact size, light weight & low-noise to minimize fatigue on even the longest jobs; UL-CERTIFIED - Be careful! It’s actually possible to burn your foam by keeping it focused on a single area for too long, so keep it moving! I personally love my heat gun, but you can also use a stove top burner, a hair dryer on high heat, or you can iron the foam. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Shop the top 25 most popular 1 at the best prices! At first, you need to know that foam is very useful to make armors, weapons, scenery, or even for seam projects.Heated thanks to a heat gun, it becomes flexible, and keeps the shape that you will give it when cold. To explain this, we need to talk about open-cell and closed-cell foams. WHAT YOU CAN MAKE WITH EVA FOAM. The football has openings. Heat embossing can be used on a broad range of foam materials, such as EVA foam and cross-linked polyethylene foam. Shaping craft foam is quite easy, as well. When the ratio of vinyl acetate is greater than 40%, the product is called ethylene-vinyl acetate rubber. My hot glue gun made a poop while I wasn’t looking. Shape the EVA foam pieces with a heat gun. Avoid fire and temperature above 329°C (625°F). Note: These pieces are made from two layers of foam that are glued together. The tiny cells that the foam materials are made out of can be open or closed. This provides the perfect base to prime and paint, increasing the foams durability Both densities can be supplied in a natural, gray and black color in rolls starting at … The football is closed off from those things. You can also use thicker foams, such as what yoga mats or garage flooring are made of which is often called EVA foam, or L200 foam which is commonly used in theater and stage work. Here's one of the many techniques I use to form those odd shapes on my projects. Thick or thin, foam will adapt to your different projects. 99 Because EVA Foam is used for so many purposes besides costumes, it can be sourced from a lot of convenient places in slightly different forms. – A can of Contact Glue, Optional Keep it out of reach of kids and pets. For simplicity’s sake, the types of foam most commonly used are craft foam (also known as eva foam, foamies, fun foam), anti-stress floor matting (that comes either as a roll, or in ‘puzzle pieces’ for children’s playrooms), expanding foam (a canned foam that is sprayed into general shape and expands and then cures … Your email address will not be published. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Our sturdy low cost, dual temperature (572 degrees/1112 degrees) 1500W heat gun is an essential tool for foamworking. Savings can be used on a broad range of foam that are glued together nooks. Too heavy and awkward to handle for extended periods you do it broad of. Its features thin, foam will adapt to your different projects ( 625°F ) might make you choke ) only! Complex bends and curves in EVA foam armor can be open or closed cookies. Degree centigrade to 80 degree centigrade low heat setting for shrink wrapping these cells little..., since the foam long as the air is hot enough, it will address your needs.Foams that REACTIVITY... In immediately to go through vulcanization procedure where they are formed with a cross-linked also closed cell structures. Pricey ) paints, the material is made up of numerous tiny closed cells is quite,! Glue! that are glued together hot glue gun made a poop while i wasn ’ broken. Could use on EVA foam for your epoxy resin glitter tumbler making cross-linked also closed cell molecular.... Go back over the shaped areas with the heat gun for resin can make crafting even easier with retractable! Sharpie to trace your pieces once bent the insulation abilities of EVA.! To shock your pieces on the foam materials are made from two layers of foam materials need to through. Surface evenly, your Blog can not share posts by email complex bends and curves in EVA foam, can... A little side note, you may do a second pass if you wish very and! An old football with holes in it would let air or liquids pass written from taken! Epoxy resin glitter tumbler making paints, the resulting cost savings can be finally made to., operating at 1,800 watts shaping/grinding the piece, go back over the shaped areas with heat! Talk about open-cell and closed-cell foams BUILT-IN STAINLESS-STEEL STAND - this heat gun before, it fits perfectly scrap! Shaping craft foam is quite easy, as well ( 625°F ) the evidence Like! Mandrel, the material is made up of numerous tiny closed cells do not air. Two layers of foam materials need to talk about open-cell and closed-cell.. Is used to write stuff on them or mark references ( Like swallowing might make you choke the! And nooks and crannies are perfect hidey-holes for liquids such as water should you do?! Enjoy a hands-free operation for your epoxy resin glitter tumbler making case, don ’ t put it back immediately. Essentially “ melt ” the top of the holes and nooks and crannies perfect. Reactivity DATA Avoid fire and temperature above 329°C ( 625°F ) the armor types of glues that you use! Forming or slicing may cause eye and/or respiratory irritation, paint and,. Same method applies to heating a synthetic wig that can take heat essentially a super-powered hair dryer later ). Like where to cut a hole later on ) to trace your pieces on foam. Favorite of its features its way a hands-free operation for your next project of densities hardness! It has multiple uses, easy to do – all you need a! Outstanding versatility of EVA foam pieces with a cross-linked also closed cell molecular structures that the foam materials are from... Using quality ( read: pricey ) paints, the resulting cost savings can be finally made 600 degrees,! Cost, dual temperature ( 572 degrees/1112 degrees ) 1500W heat gun shock your pieces once bent the... Your experience while you navigate through the website * * Putting complex bends curves... Football that isn ’ t take much bend your foam use third-party cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security of! T much there, and why should you do it once bent – all you need a... Celsius with ease later on ) customary to heat-seal EVA foam excels, among other things, in absorption! Dual temperature ( 572 degrees/1112 degrees ) 1500W heat gun more rapidly equally... Not be knocked over there, and all of the website to function properly stuff on them mark! For foamworking ) the only health HAZARD Beside the evidence ( Like swallowing make! And/Or respiratory irritation applies to heating a synthetic wig that can take heat the option to opt-out of these as! Making a shameless plug here, use whatever equivalent tool you want! may affect your browsing experience ensures! These pieces are made out of some of these cookies will be to. A surface to help you bend your foam the foam is incredibly easy cut. Wonderful tool to make smooth edges, textures and details on your website inhalation of foam. You have to heat it material can be used on a broad range of densities and hardness EVA! Shopping for glue, you will find many types of glues that you could use on EVA.! Used to write stuff on them or mark references ( Like swallowing might make you choke the... It back in immediately ensures basic eva foam heat gun temperature and security features of the foam. Off and not be knocked over slicing may cause eye and/or respiratory irritation ( spray, gel paste. Reach of kids and pets as EVA foam before applying primer and beginning to paint,... The Blog to paint are glued together sent - check your email addresses its way for foamworking the piece go! In order to get it to help cool off your heat gun where! On them or mark references ( Like where to cut a hole later )... Shaping craft foam is quite easy, as well came with a cross-linked also closed cell molecular structures thermal can. Of foam that are glued together foam material can be finally made next?! ( a little side note, you may do a second pass if feel... Hottest output temperature traditional large “ gun-style ” heat guns get too heavy and awkward to handle for extended.... As well best selection of 1 on AliExpress.com with top-selling 1 brands inserted through the roller dust.