Hey Bill! i just got your books! they are friggin amazing! thank you so much for signing them i completely forgot! it was a nice surprise, i cant wait to use these to help make armour for my puppet, thank you so very much!
Please do a tutorial that shows how to get correct angles in EVA foam joins. It's always straight cuts and 45 degree angles in every tutorial I've come across. Most builds aren't all 45 and 90 degree angles.
Always great to see a new video from you guys Pro tip: keep your respirator in a sealed Tupperware container, the filters will last longer. Respirator filters continue to filter out vapours even when you're not using it, by keeping them in there they can only filter out the air in the container instead of an entire workshop.
Yes that is definitely a risk! That's part of why we use high temp glue sticks! They have a much higher melting point. It's still a risk, but not as much.
Rabbit hole info. Toluene is the solvent in contact cement. It is readily absorbed through the skin and quite toxic AND incredibly flammable. If your room reeks of toluene and spark or open flame could cause explosive ignition. Contact cement is great stuff but as you pointed out you want to take some precautions. With costumes you probably aren't using enough of it to pose a serious issue but it is a common adhesive for laminating countertops and when you have a lot of square feet drying the fumes can be an issue. And people should remember that Toluene is not like paint thinner, you really do not want to get it on your skin. Don't clean your hands with it or you will very likely end up in the hospital. CA glue solvent is acetone which is also toxic but not nearly as absorbable as toluene. I wouldn't soak in it but I would also not be worried about getting it on your skin. It is the same solvent used in fingernail polish remover and is used as a solvent for some medicines like athletes foot antifungals. A heads up with CA accelerator is that it will generate heat as it speeds up the cure. Generally nobody will notice that but I knew a flamenco guitarist who used CA glue for fingernail strengthening and he used to talk about having to be careful because it could get uncomfortable hot with the excelerator. Personally I have had issues with CA glue if it has to deal with any flexing. Hot glue has gottens so much better over the years. The low temp stuff helps if you are using some non EVA foams like water pipe insulating noodles. The melting point of that foam is way lower than hot glue (it's lower than the low temp glue) so high temp is a real pain with it but low temp is OK. I knew a set designer who would add dimensionality to things with hot glue. Not sure how useful that would be for a costume but on a set where the audience doesn't get to be too close it was great. He would literally paint a picture that was "hanging" on a wall, on the wall and use hot glue to create a dimensional picture frame. You didn't need a lot of thickness just enough to have lighting create a drop shadow. From 10 ft. it looked dead on real. The hot glue as "weld" is apparently not an unused cheat with some cheap import stuff that has garbage welds. They hot glue a weld pattern and then paint it and nobody knows till the pain chips or the garbage weld fails... Epoxy is one you didn't mention, and probably don't use much. It's good for many things where strength is critical, And it can handle flex pretty well. It should work on EVA, though I doubt it would be worth the effort unless you were attaching some load bearing something. It's more useful for non EVA parts of your EVA creation. Styrene is useful sometimes for details and it uses a solvent to weld instead of a glue. Same goes for Acrylic (plexiglass) weld. I'm pretty sure PVC cement is also a weld action with some glue supplement. All of the solvent weld "glues" have lightening fast cure times. None would probably work for for EVA foam but most of us can't make everything from EVA ;~). Though by Foamsmith 10 maybe we will be using nothing but EVA! ** Forgot to mention that canned air. Most but not all cans work that way when you turn them upside down. Some have a kind of safety feature that prevents the liquid (not sure what is in there) from coming out because you can get a pretty nasty frostbite if you get it on your skin. On the plus side it's great for instant freezing that wasp that managed to get in your studio. One good blast and it's an ice cube.
A very thorough rabbit hole! We actually use epoxy quite often - it's a great adhesive! Safety is critical with all materials you use when making something. It always pays to learn about what you're using and how to use it the best way possible!
Great safety info. I can second using hot glue for dimensionality in props and costumes. I've made a nightingale armor set where I did all the detailing (as well as all the seams) in hot glue, and have made an eva foam pistol with raised gold detailing done with hot glue (there are pics at chasma.cos on instagram if anyone wants to take a look at how it turned out)
@@reecehudson5913 That might be what they use in the "less toxic" version here. Naphtha and Toluene used to be easy to get in hardware stores along with all kinds of other fun solvents like Xylene (it evaporates so fast that it gets really cold on a rag to the point your hand will start cramping up!). But alas many of them have disappeared from the shelves (in the US). I'm not sure if it's lower demand since so many paints have moved to water base or regulations/ restrictions. Naphtha is I believe the fuel in lighter fluid. It's great for getting sticky residue from labels and old tape off.
S Koue Yeah I use lighter fluid to thin my CA all the time hah! (Naptha is virtually impossible to acquire in the UK without some sort of license I believe)
If you are wondering what glue gun Bill is using in this video, he is using the Surebonder DT-3100 high temp hot glue gun. It is also called "The Grommet". The one linked in the desription and on the website is the surebonder DT-270 duel temp glue gun. The DT-270 is about a third of the price of the DT-3100, but the 3100 also has an auto-off feature.
contact cement :) that takes me back to when i used to work at a car mechanics shop on the weekends when i was in college. we used contact cement and a plug to plug small holes in tires from the inside. it took exactly one cigarette break for the contact cement to set before you pulled the plug trough. sometimes i miss those days
I have some advice for the hot glue part. I run an ice club on it. This allows me to shape the glue while cooling it down. So i can get a half crescent by using ice cubes. It also safely spreads out the glue right before cooling it off.
Big recommendation for silicone face mask applicators to spread contact cement with - you can peel the glue right off them once you're done so you don't need to keep throwing out brushes.
I personally love fabric hot glue. It seems to have a better Bond, and it seems stronger than normal hot glue. I have used fabric hot glue on EVA foam, before and it work better in my opinion than the regular hot glue did.
I have used the Barge in the blue tube to make a few pieces myself. The lower toxicity keeps my mind at ease and it's worked fine so far! Also I didn't need a huge can of normal Barge and that's the only size I could find.
I love the hot glue tip of rubbing it after it gets on you. Totally works. Luckily for my left hand, I've been playing guitar so long that Those fingertips are all calloused over and stuff and basically I don't feel pain in them anymore unless it's like, a cut.
@@punishedprops Lol exactly. I freaking literally rub the hot glue with my left hand to spread it over the area I need it, or to make it have a lower profile in a seam cuz it just doesn't hurt those fingers.
Hot tip for hot glue: If you ever want to break the bonds of hot glue, try using isopropanol alcohol. I usually keep about 500ml of 90% ISO in a spray bottle that I can use to lightly disperse the alcohol onto rags, cotton swabs, or even directly onto things. If you end up hot gluing things together that weren't supposed to be together, just spray some ISO on there, wait a couple of seconds and apply gentle pressure to release the bonds. Works every time, surprisingly well.
Thanks! I’m just getting into Eva foam and wanted to know more about adhesives. I’ve been using weldwood for ages in my leatherwork so am glad to know I don’t need some fancy EVA foam glue. I was considering hot glue (I got an award at costumecon for my use of hot glue to mimic metal adornment). Thanks and I’ve subscribed to your channel.
Contact Cement softens Contact Cement. I see so many cosplayers say they added a second layer. The first layer has become soft again if you apply fresh stuff on it. I re-use brushes with dried contact cement on it by re-dipping it in to make it soft again [so long as it hasn't been dry for too long]. I learnt that from a carpenter. 'Vertical' application contact cement is also way better because it's a gel, and so much easier to deal with because it's not that runny shit that drips and gives you that annoying spider webbing, as seen after 3:57. Liquid contact cement is really designed to be spread over a large top surface for laminating. I also don't understand why people extend blades out of their knives so much, like at 14:18. Longer blade means it'll flex and wobble. Just extend to the thickness of what you're cutting.
Love the books! Just recently arrived in the mail. Pouring through them. Great info! Especially since I'm just getting ready to start down this path. Thanks so much!
I have zero ambition to create anything I see in these videos but man do I love watching these! Something so enjoyable able watching someone create who seems very passionate about there craft. Who know though maybe my kid will need a crazy cool Halloween costume someday and thanks to these vids I won’t be lost.
Note on squeeze bottle: not good for long term storage, as even sealed, it will dry out over time. Contact cement is in either a metal can, or brown glass; so my guess is light is what drys it out.
Excelent!!! I live in Chile, I bought the super glue on website in USA, and this glue is incredibly strong ... very very strong ... thanks for your advice !!!!
Hi Bill, Hope you and Brit and the family are safe and well. No matter what videos and content you release, we'll all stick by you through thick and thin. Take care!
I like the acid brushes, but I usually just use a scrap of foam, or I use a popsicle stick. I do prefer to take scissors or a razor knife and cut the popsicle stick at an angle so that its more like a spatula
Remember folks.... *BUY HIS BOOKS!* (I think I have been hanging around Kamui Cosplay too long lol). Cannot seem to get Barge in the UK but I can highly recommend EVO-Stik impact adhesive. Only downside they don't seem to come with their own brush in the can which is a shame.
Bit of an old video, but, a safer alternative to barge, is elmer's rubber cement, it isn't as strong, but it's strong enough under most circumstances, as long as you use at least two layers you should be fine, and as long as the foam isn't put under too much strain, and you can back the seams with just a line of hot glue, or a strip of thinner foam to really make sure it stays together, heat forming is incredibly useful with this, as it helps put less strain on seams, which is a great thing
Im glad you guys are back! Not to take a deep dive into your personal situation, but you seemed to be burned out through work (not the mental diagnosis, but rather the metaphore that comes with it) . How did you deal with it? I would be very interested in this.
We took some time to work on our new book and get it published for you guys to enjoy! We're slowly working our way back into our normal scheduling and posting. Everyone deals with something like that differently. For me it's been about adding structure back into my life and seeking the help it felt like I needed. Listen to yourself and your needs!
quite interesting.......... I have been using Barge for a relatively short time (2 to 2.5 years) and haven't worn a respirator. but, I don't know what any symptoms would be for whatever ill effects might be caused by not using a respirator. I have worn a dust mask from time to time, but not real respirator. also, with the Barge thinner, I have put some on a paper towel and used it to clean my hands. I am not downplaying what is said in this video in any way, just giving my experience. as a side note, when I was a teenager, I worked at a car wash that had a detail rack in the back and from time when it was time to go home, I would often wash my hands with straight paint thinner direct from the 10 gallon drum. I'm 71 now and there may be things that I experience now that may be related to that practice. and, I fully agree with photoshopdiva that posted about hot glue failing in the heat of summer. especially in AZ where I live now.
Respirator cartridges are active and filter the air weather you are using it or not. I wouldn’t use the cartridge for more then a few days after opening them.
I’m about to start a new project for Halloween and I’m so hyped because it’s my first full suit of armor. It’s going to be a Batman suit inspired by the games and the new movie. Wish me luck!!!
Great video but wondering what's the best adhesive for gluing vinyl, like velcro strips, or metal washers to eva foam for a industrial strength bond that will not break
When working with heat glue you can keep some aluminum foil around. When you get glue on you, touch it to the foil. It should act like a heat sync and cool quicker. I mean, you're glued to foil, but it doesn't hurt as long (it comes off easy too).
Black hot glue is a nifty material. Very opaque, and just like regular hot glue otherwise. Of course, the isopropyl alcohol as a hot glue remover is an important trick I'm surprised was skipped
Very helpful video. I keep hearing nasty things about Barge in terms of its toxicity and the need for ventilation. Living in a colder climate, where keeping the window open during the winter may not be feasible it seems that Barge wouldn't be an option. Is there any other way to stay ventilated, wear a respirator and use Barge in a more closed environment? I was even thinking that working in the garage, even if the temps go down to 40F would work, but I'm guessing Barge needs to be warmer to be effective. Is hot glue pretty much the only fallback for indoor winter work?
I have worked with cardboard and hotglue a lot, and it holds up pretty well. Is that the same with foam? Or will you need to go back and re glue it every now and then? Thank you so much for this video, this is going to help so much when i make my custom mandalorian helmet using the templates from your video as well!!
So happy to help! Hot glue works great with foam, but you do have to be careful as it can weaken if it gets too warm. Body heat alone can cause seams to come apart, so you'll want to be choosy where and how you apply it.
Bought that water based contact cement by mistake. It works but it’s not great. Nowhere near as quick or strong as the solvent based. But I will say it is much easier to work with, reuse brushes after rinsing with water
Punished Props Academy man that’s the least I can do, I’ve learned so much from your channel the last year. My Halloween decorations are soooooo much better thanks to you and Evil Ted
Hooray for bloopers. :D I haven't made anything out of foam in years. I really need to get back into it. Maybe some stunt props. I always wanted to build a replica wrench from Super.
How long does the smell of barge linger inside helmets? When is it at a safe level to wear? Or is there a safer alternative to contact cement for inside helmets? I've just started making 3D printed helmets and need to line them with EVA, and was just wondering about the toxicity.
I need to glue pieces of EVA puzzle mat together edge to edge, i.e. making the interlocks permanent. It also needs to be slightly flexible, not much, but a little bit flexible. For my application It doesn't need to be super strong. Moderately strong is good enough. Is there a glue and technique that can be used? For example, could I use contact cement and slide the interlocks together before the contact cement air-dries? I realize that this bond would not be as strong as if the proper technique is used, but I don't need it to develop full strength. I just need it to stabilize the interlocks and hold them together with moderate strength. What about just plain old fashioned rubber cement?
Hmm, when you get back into doing projects and showing the build process to us, might I suggest a helmet with a peaked top? Think like a Norman helmet or a Morion under the comb. I see plenty for simple bowls and other styles, but I've yet to see a build process vid for a peaked top. Cheers!
My brother used to have a drinking game him and his buddies would play called "wizard staffing". After you finish a beer you duct tape the old can to the bottom of your new can. After a night of drinking some guys staffs were almost as tall as they were. It was amusing watching them try to drink a 4 foot tall beer can wizard staff.
Hypothetically, would you say there’s any chance of permanent injury from using DAP weldwood contact cement for several hours over the course of 2 days with no respirator or gloves in a room with several open windows and a ceiling fan?
Just curious, have you tried using the Barge Infinity cement product line on EVA? it's supposedly toluene free and has no VOCs, I'm just having no luck finding any of the cosplay creators talking about it. Is it in the same boat as your opinion on the less toxic weldwood product you briefly mention in this video?
I got a 2nd degree burn from a standard hot glue gun with a high and low setting. Classic case of horrible spacial awareness and an accidental brush against a fresh laid bead of hot glue on high temp.
Thanks for all the great information. You a Inspired my son to start making foam costumes I am starting to buy him all stuff what glue do you recommend for kids 11 up.
Question regarding the hot glue, is there a way to make it survive being in heat better? I'm trying to build a custom proton pack, and I can't afford most contact cements, but obviously I have to wear that thing outside in Alabama summer.
I need help. I was advised to stop using contact cement. For health reasons. What else can I do to make the decorations for the top of my eva foam. I need it keep my cosplay flexible
Is contact cement still toxic when it's cured? I want to make a eva foam mask but I'm worried about breathing in fumes. I could use hot glue, But I'm worried that hot glue might not be as durable or flexible. Are there any other nontoxic durable, flexible, waterproof glues that you've used?
I've been using the barge glue in the little blue bottle for several years (studidly without wearing a mask, but usually just for small applications on stop-motion puppets) Even though it's toluene-free, do you still recommend using a mask and gloves with the blue version?
can you use camp mat eva foam its softer and spongier than the usual foam you normally use i made a hammer out of it while watching your hammer tutorial, its soft and i can hit myself without loosing conciousness
Thanks for this! Was working trying to glue some velcro straps on foam armor with a low temp hot glue gun and clear Gorilla glue, and it wasn't working. Thankfully I saw this video at the perfect time 😂
I was wondering if you could help me! I’m trying to glue foam to clear tubing, ive been struggling to get the foam to bond to it. What method do you recommend? I tried regular Super glue and dap contact cement. Thanks!!
It depends on the size of the piece - if it's large you can use Barge, just make sure you rough up the surface of the plastic first. For small pieces super glue should work just fine!
Hmmm I haven't used that type of foam but I think a contact cement like Barge could work just fine? It depends on how absorbent the wood is. I'd recommend doing some tests and seeing what works best
@@punishedprops will that be skin-safe once cured? Also, what happens to contact cement when subjected to the flexing or movement of a stretchy suit? I'm in the UK currently, so it's a bit of a process finding domestic substitutes. 🤦♀️
Check out the full list of tools & materials shown in this video at www.punishedprops.com/2020/08/31/foam-glue/
Hey Bill! i just got your books! they are friggin amazing! thank you so much for signing them i completely forgot! it was a nice surprise, i cant wait to use these to help make armour for my puppet, thank you so very much!
Please do a tutorial that shows how to get correct angles in EVA foam joins. It's always straight cuts and 45 degree angles in every tutorial I've come across. Most builds aren't all 45 and 90 degree angles.
Do you happen to have a link for the accelerant applicator?
@@rndm9087 You're welcome! Glad you like the books!
best place for eva foam?
Always great to see a new video from you guys
Pro tip: keep your respirator in a sealed Tupperware container, the filters will last longer. Respirator filters continue to filter out vapours even when you're not using it, by keeping them in there they can only filter out the air in the container instead of an entire workshop.
That's a great tip, thanks!
You are not concerned that the tupperware would release phthalates over time that might saturate the filters and contain estrogen like compounds?
One year I was at a con where it reached 103F and practically everyone’s hot glue started re-melting in the heat. Just an FYI.
Yes that is definitely a risk! That's part of why we use high temp glue sticks! They have a much higher melting point. It's still a risk, but not as much.
So youre saying if this is for a sled seat then hot glue that isn't high temp is ok?
@@nateb4543 until you store it in a shed or garage that gets up over 100 in the summer
..i never even considered that...omg and my group frequent texas cons at the height of summer a lot thx for this
Rabbit hole info. Toluene is the solvent in contact cement. It is readily absorbed through the skin and quite toxic AND incredibly flammable. If your room reeks of toluene and spark or open flame could cause explosive ignition. Contact cement is great stuff but as you pointed out you want to take some precautions. With costumes you probably aren't using enough of it to pose a serious issue but it is a common adhesive for laminating countertops and when you have a lot of square feet drying the fumes can be an issue. And people should remember that Toluene is not like paint thinner, you really do not want to get it on your skin. Don't clean your hands with it or you will very likely end up in the hospital.
CA glue solvent is acetone which is also toxic but not nearly as absorbable as toluene. I wouldn't soak in it but I would also not be worried about getting it on your skin. It is the same solvent used in fingernail polish remover and is used as a solvent for some medicines like athletes foot antifungals. A heads up with CA accelerator is that it will generate heat as it speeds up the cure. Generally nobody will notice that but I knew a flamenco guitarist who used CA glue for fingernail strengthening and he used to talk about having to be careful because it could get uncomfortable hot with the excelerator. Personally I have had issues with CA glue if it has to deal with any flexing.
Hot glue has gottens so much better over the years. The low temp stuff helps if you are using some non EVA foams like water pipe insulating noodles. The melting point of that foam is way lower than hot glue (it's lower than the low temp glue) so high temp is a real pain with it but low temp is OK. I knew a set designer who would add dimensionality to things with hot glue. Not sure how useful that would be for a costume but on a set where the audience doesn't get to be too close it was great. He would literally paint a picture that was "hanging" on a wall, on the wall and use hot glue to create a dimensional picture frame. You didn't need a lot of thickness just enough to have lighting create a drop shadow. From 10 ft. it looked dead on real. The hot glue as "weld" is apparently not an unused cheat with some cheap import stuff that has garbage welds. They hot glue a weld pattern and then paint it and nobody knows till the pain chips or the garbage weld fails...
Epoxy is one you didn't mention, and probably don't use much. It's good for many things where strength is critical, And it can handle flex pretty well. It should work on EVA, though I doubt it would be worth the effort unless you were attaching some load bearing something. It's more useful for non EVA parts of your EVA creation.
Styrene is useful sometimes for details and it uses a solvent to weld instead of a glue. Same goes for Acrylic (plexiglass) weld. I'm pretty sure PVC cement is also a weld action with some glue supplement. All of the solvent weld "glues" have lightening fast cure times. None would probably work for for EVA foam but most of us can't make everything from EVA ;~). Though by Foamsmith 10 maybe we will be using nothing but EVA!
** Forgot to mention that canned air. Most but not all cans work that way when you turn them upside down. Some have a kind of safety feature that prevents the liquid (not sure what is in there) from coming out because you can get a pretty nasty frostbite if you get it on your skin. On the plus side it's great for instant freezing that wasp that managed to get in your studio. One good blast and it's an ice cube.
A very thorough rabbit hole! We actually use epoxy quite often - it's a great adhesive! Safety is critical with all materials you use when making something. It always pays to learn about what you're using and how to use it the best way possible!
Great safety info.
I can second using hot glue for dimensionality in props and costumes. I've made a nightingale armor set where I did all the detailing (as well as all the seams) in hot glue, and have made an eva foam pistol with raised gold detailing done with hot glue (there are pics at chasma.cos on instagram if anyone wants to take a look at how it turned out)
In my experience most contact cements in the UK are Naptha based, not Toluene
@@reecehudson5913 That might be what they use in the "less toxic" version here. Naphtha and Toluene used to be easy to get in hardware stores along with all kinds of other fun solvents like Xylene (it evaporates so fast that it gets really cold on a rag to the point your hand will start cramping up!). But alas many of them have disappeared from the shelves (in the US). I'm not sure if it's lower demand since so many paints have moved to water base or regulations/ restrictions. Naphtha is I believe the fuel in lighter fluid. It's great for getting sticky residue from labels and old tape off.
S Koue Yeah I use lighter fluid to thin my CA all the time hah! (Naptha is virtually impossible to acquire in the UK without some sort of license I believe)
If you are wondering what glue gun Bill is using in this video, he is using the Surebonder DT-3100 high temp hot glue gun. It is also called "The Grommet". The one linked in the desription and on the website is the surebonder DT-270 duel temp glue gun. The DT-270 is about a third of the price of the DT-3100, but the 3100 also has an auto-off feature.
My favorite glue to use in Europe (and less toxic than barge) is Bison tix gel! Very good stuff. Unfortunately unavailable in the americas
Ooh that's great for our makers outside the US though!
I agree.... used it lots... dollar store had it... worked very well...
contact cement :) that takes me back to when i used to work at a car mechanics shop on the weekends when i was in college.
we used contact cement and a plug to plug small holes in tires from the inside.
it took exactly one cigarette break for the contact cement to set before you pulled the plug trough.
sometimes i miss those days
It's nice having a rhythm!
I have some advice for the hot glue part. I run an ice club on it. This allows me to shape the glue while cooling it down. So i can get a half crescent by using ice cubes. It also safely spreads out the glue right before cooling it off.
Super clever!
Big recommendation for silicone face mask applicators to spread contact cement with - you can peel the glue right off them once you're done so you don't need to keep throwing out brushes.
That's an EXCELLENT suggestion!
Can’t wait for Bill & his wife to do more projects around the shop
Woo! More stuff more stuff!
@@punishedprops is S-18 all purpose cement the same as contact cement or the Barge stuff?
I personally love fabric hot glue. It seems to have a better Bond, and it seems stronger than normal hot glue. I have used fabric hot glue on EVA foam, before and it work better in my opinion than the regular hot glue did.
Yeah! We used fabric hot glue in our Halloween video last year. It woked great!
Bill, hello I have new content to show you,
Everyone: glued to there screens .
HAH I see what you did there :P
Glad to see you back in the saddle. looking forward to new projects.
Us too!
I have used the Barge in the blue tube to make a few pieces myself. The lower toxicity keeps my mind at ease and it's worked fine so far! Also I didn't need a huge can of normal Barge and that's the only size I could find.
That's great that it works well!
I love the hot glue tip of rubbing it after it gets on you. Totally works. Luckily for my left hand, I've been playing guitar so long that Those fingertips are all calloused over and stuff and basically I don't feel pain in them anymore unless it's like, a cut.
Calluses to the rescue!
@@punishedprops Lol exactly. I freaking literally rub the hot glue with my left hand to spread it over the area I need it, or to make it have a lower profile in a seam cuz it just doesn't hurt those fingers.
Hot tip for hot glue:
If you ever want to break the bonds of hot glue, try using isopropanol alcohol.
I usually keep about 500ml of 90% ISO in a spray bottle that I can use to lightly disperse the alcohol onto rags, cotton swabs, or even directly onto things.
If you end up hot gluing things together that weren't supposed to be together, just spray some ISO on there, wait a couple of seconds and apply gentle pressure to release the bonds.
Works every time, surprisingly well.
Thanks for the tips!
Thanks! I’m just getting into Eva foam and wanted to know more about adhesives. I’ve been using weldwood for ages in my leatherwork so am glad to know I don’t need some fancy EVA foam glue. I was considering hot glue (I got an award at costumecon for my use of hot glue to mimic metal adornment). Thanks and I’ve subscribed to your channel.
Contact Cement softens Contact Cement. I see so many cosplayers say they added a second layer. The first layer has become soft again if you apply fresh stuff on it. I re-use brushes with dried contact cement on it by re-dipping it in to make it soft again [so long as it hasn't been dry for too long]. I learnt that from a carpenter. 'Vertical' application contact cement is also way better because it's a gel, and so much easier to deal with because it's not that runny shit that drips and gives you that annoying spider webbing, as seen after 3:57. Liquid contact cement is really designed to be spread over a large top surface for laminating.
I also don't understand why people extend blades out of their knives so much, like at 14:18. Longer blade means it'll flex and wobble. Just extend to the thickness of what you're cutting.
Interesting tips!
Love the books! Just recently arrived in the mail. Pouring through them. Great info! Especially since I'm just getting ready to start down this path. Thanks so much!
Always glad to see a new video from the team at PPA, just wondering when the next build video will be up
Not sure just yet! We're working our way back into our regular scheduling after taking time to release our new book!
Loved your tips including how to not burn yourself with hotglue.
We want to save your fingers!
always happy to hear that notification bell letting me know you guys posted a video...
Tah-dah!!
good to see you're back!
I like those projects most where we learn together with you
Thank you so much! Feels good to be back :)
I am going into a full on EVA foam rabbit hole for my Daft Punk halloween costume (doing the silver robot). Thank you so much for the advice!
I have zero ambition to create anything I see in these videos but man do I love watching these! Something so enjoyable able watching someone create who seems very passionate about there craft. Who know though maybe my kid will need a crazy cool Halloween costume someday and thanks to these vids I won’t be lost.
Thank you so much for your kind words!
Note on squeeze bottle: not good for long term storage, as even sealed, it will dry out over time. Contact cement is in either a metal can, or brown glass; so my guess is light is what drys it out.
Great tip, thanks!
Thanks for great info and especially for stressing needing proper PPE while using the products.
Thanks so much for watching! We really appreciate your support :)
"The foam will rip before the glue does"
This kinda made me want to see an experiment of how much it'll take to pull two glued pieces of foam apart :0
Excelent!!! I live in Chile, I bought the super glue on website in USA, and this glue is incredibly strong ... very very strong ... thanks for your advice !!!!
You're so welcome!
Hi Bill, Hope you and Brit and the family are safe and well. No matter what videos and content you release, we'll all stick by you through thick and thin. Take care!
Much appreciated! Thank you so much!
Thanks for this. I've started a project and didn't know what kind of glue to use.
Happy to help!
Awesome video I just got EVA today and can't wait to use it on my whiplash costume
Heck yeah!! Have fun!
@@punishedprops thanks your channel has been great keep up the great work
I like the acid brushes, but I usually just use a scrap of foam, or I use a popsicle stick. I do prefer to take scissors or a razor knife and cut the popsicle stick at an angle so that its more like a spatula
Remember folks.... *BUY HIS BOOKS!* (I think I have been hanging around Kamui Cosplay too long lol). Cannot seem to get Barge in the UK but I can highly recommend EVO-Stik impact adhesive. Only downside they don't seem to come with their own brush in the can which is a shame.
Thanks so much for the support and for the helpful tip :)
Bit of an old video, but, a safer alternative to barge, is elmer's rubber cement, it isn't as strong, but it's strong enough under most circumstances, as long as you use at least two layers you should be fine, and as long as the foam isn't put under too much strain, and you can back the seams with just a line of hot glue, or a strip of thinner foam to really make sure it stays together, heat forming is incredibly useful with this, as it helps put less strain on seams, which is a great thing
Thank you guys for making this video! It’s so informative and really helpful. You guys have helped me so much in my costuming adventures!
That makes us really happy to hear :)
Congratulations on book 3! :)
Thank you so much!
I like Foam-tac for my foam airplanes. It is my favorite. Have you ever tried Foam-tac? It is costly but really good.
0:13 KamuiCosplay: *NANI!?*
Hah!
Im glad you guys are back! Not to take a deep dive into your personal situation, but you seemed to be burned out through work (not the mental diagnosis, but rather the metaphore that comes with it) . How did you deal with it? I would be very interested in this.
We took some time to work on our new book and get it published for you guys to enjoy! We're slowly working our way back into our normal scheduling and posting.
Everyone deals with something like that differently. For me it's been about adding structure back into my life and seeking the help it felt like I needed. Listen to yourself and your needs!
@@punishedprops Thank you very much for thst detailed answer!
quite interesting..........
I have been using Barge for a relatively short time (2 to 2.5 years) and haven't worn a respirator. but, I don't know what any symptoms would be for whatever ill effects might be caused by not using a respirator. I have worn a dust mask from time to time, but not real respirator.
also, with the Barge thinner, I have put some on a paper towel and used it to clean my hands. I am not downplaying what is said in this video in any way, just giving my experience.
as a side note, when I was a teenager, I worked at a car wash that had a detail rack in the back and from time when it was time to go home, I would often wash my hands with straight paint thinner direct from the 10 gallon drum. I'm 71 now and there may be things that I experience now that may be related to that practice.
and, I fully agree with photoshopdiva that posted about hot glue failing in the heat of summer. especially in AZ where I live now.
Respirator cartridges are active and filter the air weather you are using it or not. I wouldn’t use the cartridge for more then a few days after opening them.
Awesome as always Bill! You taught me how to use my precious contact cement which freaked my parents out at first!
Fantastic!!
Was really disappointed that the smooth-on seminar was postponed. Was looking forward to meeting you.
Yeah we were bummed too but we're glad people are staying safe. We can all get back to business as usual once it's safe!
Indeed!
Cool! Thanks for the mention. Always love glue tips and tricks.
Thanks for helping cosplayers out with your work!
@@punishedprops Same with your work!
I’m about to start a new project for Halloween and I’m so hyped because it’s my first full suit of armor. It’s going to be a Batman suit inspired by the games and the new movie. Wish me luck!!!
Heck yeah! You got this, and have fun!
Great video but wondering what's the best adhesive for gluing vinyl, like velcro strips, or metal washers to eva foam for a industrial strength bond that will not break
Oh Bill and Britt how we missed you!
❤😀
When working with heat glue you can keep some aluminum foil around. When you get glue on you, touch it to the foil. It should act like a heat sync and cool quicker. I mean, you're glued to foil, but it doesn't hurt as long (it comes off easy too).
What an interesting idea! That makes a lot of sense.
A cup of ice water is what I was taught to use. Have it right next to your project.
Bill's channeling Svetlana today, "Buy my books!" :)
Always!
@@punishedprops should we expect to see you wearing one of her "buy my books" dresses any time soon? :)
He really said "hello there" while wearing a Star Wars shirt 😂
Sometimes ya just gotta
I've never gotten the superglue solvent to work properly on my projects, I've even seen it melt styrene. it does help unstick your fingers though.
Oh wow!
I could smell that contact cement from here! pfew!!!
(gonna buy your books soon!)
It sure is stinky! Thanks so much for your support!
Black hot glue is a nifty material. Very opaque, and just like regular hot glue otherwise.
Of course, the isopropyl alcohol as a hot glue remover is an important trick I'm surprised was skipped
I haven't tried that! It's a new tip to me!
With hot gule to cool it down quickly I actually find droping a bit of water on it works
Handy!
Very helpful video. I keep hearing nasty things about Barge in terms of its toxicity and the need for ventilation. Living in a colder climate, where keeping the window open during the winter may not be feasible it seems that Barge wouldn't be an option. Is there any other way to stay ventilated, wear a respirator and use Barge in a more closed environment? I was even thinking that working in the garage, even if the temps go down to 40F would work, but I'm guessing Barge needs to be warmer to be effective. Is hot glue pretty much the only fallback for indoor winter work?
A garage works fine! Just keep the barge indoors and take it out when you need to use it.
I have worked with cardboard and hotglue a lot, and it holds up pretty well. Is that the same with foam? Or will you need to go back and re glue it every now and then?
Thank you so much for this video, this is going to help so much when i make my custom mandalorian helmet using the templates from your video as well!!
So happy to help! Hot glue works great with foam, but you do have to be careful as it can weaken if it gets too warm. Body heat alone can cause seams to come apart, so you'll want to be choosy where and how you apply it.
Bought that water based contact cement by mistake. It works but it’s not great. Nowhere near as quick or strong as the solvent based. But I will say it is much easier to work with, reuse brushes after rinsing with water
Good to know, thanks for sharing your experience!
Punished Props Academy man that’s the least I can do, I’ve learned so much from your channel the last year. My Halloween decorations are soooooo much better thanks to you and Evil Ted
Miss you guys! Look forward to the new videos... a bit longer maybe😛. Stay healthy!
Thanks so much for your support!
I've also had success using lighter fluid to de-bond super glue
Oh interesting!
Hooray for bloopers. :D
I haven't made anything out of foam in years. I really need to get back into it. Maybe some stunt props. I always wanted to build a replica wrench from Super.
Heck yeah, make it happen! That sounds like a fun project!
Fingers crossed for the foam smith trilogy for xmas🤞☃️
Glad you're excited!!
How long does the smell of barge linger inside helmets? When is it at a safe level to wear? Or is there a safer alternative to contact cement for inside helmets? I've just started making 3D printed helmets and need to line them with EVA, and was just wondering about the toxicity.
The red Weldwood is pretty decent, I've used it to apply tolex to a speaker cabinet.
Good to know!
You mention writing the date that you open the package on you respirator cartridges. How long do they last? How often do you change them?
Every couple of months or so
I need to glue pieces of EVA puzzle mat together edge to edge, i.e. making the interlocks permanent. It also needs to be slightly flexible, not much, but a little bit flexible. For my application It doesn't need to be super strong. Moderately strong is good enough.
Is there a glue and technique that can be used? For example, could I use contact cement and slide the interlocks together before the contact cement air-dries? I realize that this bond would not be as strong as if the proper technique is used, but I don't need it to develop full strength. I just need it to stabilize the interlocks and hold them together with moderate strength.
What about just plain old fashioned rubber cement?
Hmm, when you get back into doing projects and showing the build process to us, might I suggest a helmet with a peaked top? Think like a Norman helmet or a Morion under the comb. I see plenty for simple bowls and other styles, but I've yet to see a build process vid for a peaked top. Cheers!
Thanks so much for the suggestion!
can you do a wizard staff tutorial?
Here's one! th-cam.com/video/Rz-rQQDxXtg/w-d-xo.html
My brother used to have a drinking game him and his buddies would play called "wizard staffing". After you finish a beer you duct tape the old can to the bottom of your new can. After a night of drinking some guys staffs were almost as tall as they were. It was amusing watching them try to drink a 4 foot tall beer can wizard staff.
Hypothetically, would you say there’s any chance of permanent injury from using DAP weldwood contact cement for several hours over the course of 2 days with no respirator or gloves in a room with several open windows and a ceiling fan?
What would you suggest as a completely nontoxic way to bind two large surfaces of foam together for constructing a wedge pillow to sleep on?
What is that little bottle called that you have the super glue accelerator in
Just curious, have you tried using the Barge Infinity cement product line on EVA? it's supposedly toluene free and has no VOCs, I'm just having no luck finding any of the cosplay creators talking about it. Is it in the same boat as your opinion on the less toxic weldwood product you briefly mention in this video?
Do I need the 6001 filters like is it absolutely necessary or can I use the usual common filter on respiratos?
I got a 2nd degree burn from a standard hot glue gun with a high and low setting. Classic case of horrible spacial awareness and an accidental brush against a fresh laid bead of hot glue on high temp.
Do you have an "easy" way of putting barge in the squeeze bottle?
Michaels has started carrying Barge Contact Cement.
That's fantastic!
I got so excited when I saw their small cosplay section with EVA foam, el wire, worbla, and more!
Thanks for all the great information. You a Inspired my son to start making foam costumes I am starting to buy him all stuff what glue do you recommend for kids 11 up.
That's fantastic!! Hot glue works well, and you can apply Barge for them in places where it's needed. It's never too early to learn about PPE!
Awesome thanks what do you recommend we can't get Barge in California.
Question regarding the hot glue, is there a way to make it survive being in heat better? I'm trying to build a custom proton pack, and I can't afford most contact cements, but obviously I have to wear that thing outside in Alabama summer.
I have barge cement but the can is blue, is it the right one?
Have you had any experience of the EvoStik Impact adhesive? What are your thoughts compared to alternative contact cements?
We have not
Thanks for the great video, and thanks for sharing your carefully accumulated knowledge. :)
Thank YOU so much for watching!
I need help. I was advised to stop using contact cement. For health reasons. What else can I do to make the decorations for the top of my eva foam. I need it keep my cosplay flexible
Nice video! It's good to know these things.
Thanks very much for watching!
Is contact cement still toxic when it's cured? I want to make a eva foam mask but I'm worried about breathing in fumes. I could use hot glue, But I'm worried that hot glue might not be as durable or flexible. Are there any other nontoxic durable, flexible, waterproof glues that you've used?
I was wondering the same thing. Making a costume for my 6 year old.
I've been using the barge glue in the little blue bottle for several years (studidly without wearing a mask, but usually just for small applications on stop-motion puppets) Even though it's toluene-free, do you still recommend using a mask and gloves with the blue version?
Whenever you can, it's always best to wear PPE when using adhesives like that
can you use camp mat eva foam its softer and spongier than the usual foam you normally use i made a hammer out of it while watching your hammer tutorial, its soft and i can hit myself without loosing conciousness
Interesting, I've never tried it!
@@punishedprops oh and camp mat foam does a weird thing when you add super glue I'll let you be the judge😁
Are there any spray adhesives that work on EVA foam? For something like adhering pleather to the foam, rather than for construction?
I would still use Barge because it's so strong, but you may have luck with something like Super77 spray - worth doing some tests!
Thanks for this! Was working trying to glue some velcro straps on foam armor with a low temp hot glue gun and clear Gorilla glue, and it wasn't working. Thankfully I saw this video at the perfect time 😂
sure thing!
so what should i use for a mask if most are toxic?
I was wondering if you could help me! I’m trying to glue foam to clear tubing, ive been struggling to get the foam to bond to it. What method do you recommend? I tried regular
Super glue and dap contact cement. Thanks!!
What chemicals will melt or ruin the Eva if in contact with it ?
I love you guys and you inspired me to do my first project wich was a 3D printed fallout 4 Pip-Boy
Hey Bill! Would Barge also work if you want to connect a foam piece with an latex piece?
I have had experience with Barge working on Latex but it's ALWAYS worth doing small scale tests to figure something like that out :)
@@punishedprops thanks guys! Definitely will make a small test piece
Thanks for the great tips, Bill! Can you tell me if superglue or contact cement would be best for gluing foam to plastic? Thanks!
It depends on the size of the piece - if it's large you can use Barge, just make sure you rough up the surface of the plastic first. For small pieces super glue should work just fine!
Thanks, Bill! Super glue will work for this small piece.@@punishedprops
what do you think of the Barge All-Purpose toluene-free Cement?
I haven't really used it but I've heard it's not quite as effective
@@punishedprops that's too bad but thank you
As someone with a beard do you worry about the respirator not sealing correctly?
Not usually. I keep my beard pretty reasonably groomed and not too big. If you have a much larger beard, that could be a concern.
Hey pal, what glue do you suggest to glue 7mm EVA yoga foam matting to plywood please?
Hmmm I haven't used that type of foam but I think a contact cement like Barge could work just fine? It depends on how absorbent the wood is. I'd recommend doing some tests and seeing what works best
'Bout to embark on my first foam project. Wish me luck!
You got this!!
How would you suggest adhering an Eva foam hero emblem to the chest of a spandex suit? Is Smooth-On's Silpoxy the only way?
I think Barge would work
@@punishedprops will that be skin-safe once cured?
Also, what happens to contact cement when subjected to the flexing or movement of a stretchy suit? I'm in the UK currently, so it's a bit of a process finding domestic substitutes. 🤦♀️
Barge is pretty flexible. The part that's glued won't stretch but everything around it will. It's totally safe once fully dried :)
do you think a thin canvas leather will stick to EVA foam using the same adhesive?
With Barge Cement, absolutely!