I made amy entire cemetery like this with cut vinyl years ago. Krylon spray paint worked the best, at the time, and etched in about 3/8". Another method is 2 spray bottles 1 with lacquer thinner in 1 and water in the other. The thinner does the etching and the water stops the process, takes practice, and you have to be quick. In the end the Krylon worked best for me foloed up by a light mist with the lacquer thinner after the masks were removed to distress/texture the stones.
I used a similar technique back in the early ‘90s using carburetor cleaner and metal stencils. I had a lot of tombstones with the same lettering to do. The carburetor cleaner worked on the bead foam rapidly.
If you're looking to get slight deeper or more defined edges and overall depth, you can use either an exacto knife or a small sharp pointed tool to perforate the edges and infill of the letters or design which allows the solvents to soak in a little bit more and you'll get more foam dissolving. Also good for making it appear a bit more hand chiseled into the "stone" I have seen this same technique done by using a laser cut template made from thin 2-4mm plywood acetone sprayed from an old airbrush as well. Turn down the PSI and spray away in several passes with time in between to prevent drips or seeping between template and foam. This method doesn't deposit a paint layer on the foam so any depth of relief is possible (within reason of course)
I love this idea and I've done this idea before but took it to its extreme. I find the closer you do it in some spots the more it eats away giving you a even more weathered look. Great for corners too if you're going for a broken tombstone look.
I tried finger nail polish remover and that worked similarly to this. I coated the whole thing to make it look like old stone. I liked the filler idea. Not everyone needs to be perfect. Thanks for the demo.
When we moved into our house, I was thrilled to live in a neighborhood that celebrates halloween for the first time in my adult life. I decided to take big blocks of packing foam and make tombstones. I didn't know any better and used grey spray paint to paint them. Of course, they started to melt. I went with it and really hit the edges hard. They look amazing (except for the lettering which I used regular black paint?) I still use them as filler stones.
Awesome video!! I'm always looking for ways to change up tombstones. Diversity with tombstone construction techniques defiantly gives a more realistic feel to rhe cemetery IMO.
Spray Acetone will work the same way... EXCELLENT VIDEO... You should do Voice Overs... Beautiful voice for TV or FILM Thank you for sharing this great video
I found out about this technique a couple years back. It is indeed quicker and easier two things you might like to think about one using black paint so the letters are predefined and the other is pressurized air instead of heat, this will pop the bubbles better allowing more depth the the chemical reaction to the foam
Ive used paint thinner in a spray bottle to do something similar in the past, also to add wear marks on my tombstones. It will make a deeper impression than spray paint
That’s a great idea, you make it look so easy, I think I will try doing that for my next tomb stones. Thank you so much for sharing from Australia 🇦🇺🦘🇺🇸
I think the top is a great demonstration for having textured vs flat stone. Almost makes me think about experimenting with straight or watered down acetone.
Great fast soloution to carve out a tombstone, I wonder what effect or texture it would leave if you use a water spray bottles before appying the paint and heat? 🤔I need to try this, thank you for this quick tip video, Derek!
Your channel is blowing my mind! I can’t wait to make one of these. I would also like to make a request for a video on how to make a stormtrooper blaster from the original trilogy I can’t find one anywhere. Thanks for the amazing videos!
This is an excellent technique! I’m looking forward to trying this. I’m thinking that maybe with a light coat of spray paint, and then carefully sanding the lettering and it’s edges down. Perhaps that could help simulate those ooooold tombstones, where the lettering is worn down to near illegibility. Thanks for the great video!
Actually years ago a friend and I found that we could use spray paint on styrofoam tombstones as long as we sprayed it with a water based primer first. This allowed us to use the 'Stone - look' spray paints with great success.
I've wondered how that would look. How would you paint the background color though? Either you spray painted and now have to carefully cut in around your carving or you're going to have another layer of paint over the bare foam preventing the reaction.
You could paint it with exterior latex paint and weather it like in my other tombstone videos with a spray bottle filled with black, brown, and green acrylic paint.
Hey Derek, nice video! I usually use this technique with bead foam instead of the extruded foam board, it tends to work much better and use less paint, thus is much easier to control, is much more consistent and gets better definition. If I was going to use the extruded (blue or pink) board, I would sand the surface first (it tends to have an inconsistent coating due to the way it's made).
Two thoughts: Would using grey or black spray paint then leave the letters “filled” for contrast? That way you could paint the tombstone the color you want for the end and then mask and paint the letters? Thought 2: Would applying the stencil then using a stencil brush with acetate carve the letters deeper and maybe more cleanly?
Hi Derek, where do you get your foam board? I looked at home depot and this stuff is kind of expensive, so I wondered if you have another source? Thanks for all your great videos that keep me creatively inspired!
I learned this was a Bad Idea by trying to spray paint a foam HEAD. As you can imagine, the results were disastrous, but now that leaves me wondering if the same technique could be used to turn more sculptural foam pieces into something more gruesome...
Is that XPS or EPS foam? It looks like the blue XPS, but it's so light in color, I can't be certain. Also, did the paint pigment remain in the etched areas? If you had used black spray paint, would the lettering have been darkened as well as etched? That could give a nice headstart on painting for the quick and dirty filler stones.
Did he later paint / glaze /antique it ? I would paint it light gray then use a dark gray / black glaze over that then wipe off the glaze. Then a little Krylon marble spray. Paint the letters metallic gold or something.
Wonder if a gel paint stripper would be too harsh to do the same thing. Also wouldn't the heat do nearly the same thing? Just wondering. Thanks for Sharing!
@@VanOaksProps I used acetone on a styrofoam filled craft pumpkin. I cut a face into the skin and sprayed acetone on the exposed foam. Once I got close to the depth I wanted I used spray paint. The acetone in the paint ate it a little more and then halted the process, while also giving me the color I wanted in the cuts I made.
Sure thing! Check out this video: th-cam.com/video/IEAAqlxw0IQ/w-d-xo.html If you used the spray paint carving technique, I'd skip the torch aging and Drylok (since both would make the lettering harder to read), and would use exterior latex house paint or acrylic craft paint for the base coat, followed by the weathering technique from the video.
I cringe this idea better than the laverage cuter stencils. This looks more aged era since they carved out with hand tools not a lazer printer stencils cut outs
What a great idea! Wish you'd do more things like this that don't require a 3-D printer.
I made amy entire cemetery like this with cut vinyl years ago. Krylon spray paint worked the best, at the time, and etched in about 3/8". Another method is 2 spray bottles 1 with lacquer thinner in 1 and water in the other. The thinner does the etching and the water stops the process, takes practice, and you have to be quick. In the end the Krylon worked best for me foloed up by a light mist with the lacquer thinner after the masks were removed to distress/texture the stones.
I used a similar technique back in the early ‘90s using carburetor cleaner and metal stencils. I had a lot of tombstones with the same lettering to do. The carburetor cleaner worked on the bead foam rapidly.
If you're looking to get slight deeper or more defined edges and overall depth, you can use either an exacto knife or a small sharp pointed tool to perforate the edges and infill of the letters or design which allows the solvents to soak in a little bit more and you'll get more foam dissolving. Also good for making it appear a bit more hand chiseled into the "stone" I have seen this same technique done by using a laser cut template made from thin 2-4mm plywood acetone sprayed from an old airbrush as well. Turn down the PSI and spray away in several passes with time in between to prevent drips or seeping between template and foam. This method doesn't deposit a paint layer on the foam so any depth of relief is possible (within reason of course)
Technique Level = Jedi Master
I love this idea and I've done this idea before but took it to its extreme. I find the closer you do it in some spots the more it eats away giving you a even more weathered look. Great for corners too if you're going for a broken tombstone look.
OOOOO look at those pretty freehand arcs! Someone has done this before. 🥰
Once or twice 🤣
I tried finger nail polish remover and that worked similarly to this. I coated the whole thing to make it look like old stone. I liked the filler idea. Not everyone needs to be perfect. Thanks for the demo.
You’re absolutely right! I’m all for imperfect things.
Ahhhh new video! I just found your channel recently and I love it! Been binging literally all the videos ❤️ keep up the amazing work friend!
This may be a quick way to create a quick "two-tone" stone surface. Similar to H.P. Lovecraft's stone.
Too bad he was such a racist.
Love the time worn effect!
Game changer!!! This and the tips from the comments are spectacular!! 👻
I have used SP for texture on foam but never thought of using it with an stencil for carving. Neat idea.
When we moved into our house, I was thrilled to live in a neighborhood that celebrates halloween for the first time in my adult life. I decided to take big blocks of packing foam and make tombstones. I didn't know any better and used grey spray paint to paint them. Of course, they started to melt. I went with it and really hit the edges hard. They look amazing (except for the lettering which I used regular black paint?) I still use them as filler stones.
I've never seen anyone else do this method. I stumbled on it by accident some years back. Cool to see a video done on it.🎃
I've been using the spray paint etching technique for the past 15 years and love how it works.
Very intriguing technique!
Great job Derek!
Awesome video!! I'm always looking for ways to change up tombstones. Diversity with tombstone construction techniques defiantly gives a more realistic feel to rhe cemetery IMO.
Spray Acetone will work the same way...
EXCELLENT VIDEO...
You should do Voice Overs... Beautiful voice for TV or FILM
Thank you for sharing this great video
What a great idea! Thanks!
You are exactly right... This is a perfect technique to use for all those background filler tombstones we all have! Thank you.
I found out about this technique a couple years back. It is indeed quicker and easier two things you might like to think about one using black paint so the letters are predefined and the other is pressurized air instead of heat, this will pop the bubbles better allowing more depth the the chemical reaction to the foam
Sweet tip! We’re lighting our party tonight with 3D printed gobos, thanks to you. ❤️
Ive used paint thinner in a spray bottle to do something similar in the past, also to add wear marks on my tombstones. It will make a deeper impression than spray paint
Good to know!
That’s a great idea, you make it look so easy, I think I will try doing that for my next tomb stones. Thank you so much for sharing from Australia 🇦🇺🦘🇺🇸
Very cool...I'm going to try this method. I want to add more tombstones this year 😊 Thanks
Great quick and easy solution ... Well done!!
Great tip!
Thanks for another awesome video, love your channel.
Great video man! I'm all about taking Easy Street when it gets me where I need to go.
That’s a fantastic idea 💀🎃thank you so much for sharing
Super cool technique!
Some days you are just Brilliant!!!!
Clever, as always!
Awesome technique sir thanks for the videos !!
I used a similar technique years ago. If you use the white foam and spray with black or dark gray it does great broken corners
This is awesome! And so easy! Thank you!
wow- genius idea!!!!!
I think the top is a great demonstration for having textured vs flat stone. Almost makes me think about experimenting with straight or watered down acetone.
Definitely works. See my comment above
Great fast soloution to carve out a tombstone, I wonder what effect or texture it would leave if you use a water spray bottles before appying the paint and heat? 🤔I need to try this, thank you for this quick tip video, Derek!
Your channel is blowing my mind! I can’t wait to make one of these. I would also like to make a request for a video on how to make a stormtrooper blaster from the original trilogy I can’t find one anywhere. Thanks for the amazing videos!
Gonna have to try this!
Great idea! I might cut mine out on adhesive vinyl with my vinyl cutter and try this trick.
I think the results may be better with vinyl because the paint won’t soak into it.
This is really interesting. Thank you!
Brilliant!!
Huh, pretty nifty idea👍
Glad you think so!
This is an excellent technique! I’m looking forward to trying this. I’m thinking that maybe with a light coat of spray paint, and then carefully sanding the lettering and it’s edges down. Perhaps that could help simulate those ooooold tombstones, where the lettering is worn down to near illegibility. Thanks for the great video!
I bet you could reverse this method and do raised letters on a worn stone.
Genius!
Thank you for this!
Actually years ago a friend and I found that we could use spray paint on styrofoam tombstones as long as we sprayed it with a water based primer first. This allowed us to use the 'Stone - look' spray paints with great success.
I've wondered how that would look. How would you paint the background color though? Either you spray painted and now have to carefully cut in around your carving or you're going to have another layer of paint over the bare foam preventing the reaction.
You could paint it with exterior latex paint and weather it like in my other tombstone videos with a spray bottle filled with black, brown, and green acrylic paint.
Cool!!!! Thank You!!!! 👍😎🎃🤘
Hey Derek, nice video! I usually use this technique with bead foam instead of the extruded foam board, it tends to work much better and use less paint, thus is much easier to control, is much more consistent and gets better definition. If I was going to use the extruded (blue or pink) board, I would sand the surface first (it tends to have an inconsistent coating due to the way it's made).
Thanks for the tips, Brian!!
Cool. I usually use my foam heating tools. They cut through like butter.
Hey this is a great idea!👍
Really cool idea! What sort of foam board did you use?
Xps insulation foam.
@@VanOaksProps Thank you!
Two thoughts:
Would using grey or black spray paint then leave the letters “filled” for contrast? That way you could paint the tombstone the color you want for the end and then mask and paint the letters?
Thought 2:
Would applying the stencil then using a stencil brush with acetate carve the letters deeper and maybe more cleanly?
Yes and possibly yes, although I think it may bleed under your stencil causing your letters to lose shape.
Or how bout in reverse? Paint the stone with all the detail to the way you want then try this technique?
Hi Derek, where do you get your foam board? I looked at home depot and this stuff is kind of expensive, so I wondered if you have another source?
Thanks for all your great videos that keep me creatively inspired!
Home Depot/Lowe’s. It’s usually between $45-65 for a 4x8x2” sheet.
I learned this was a Bad Idea by trying to spray paint a foam HEAD. As you can imagine, the results were disastrous, but now that leaves me wondering if the same technique could be used to turn more sculptural foam pieces into something more gruesome...
Is that XPS or EPS foam? It looks like the blue XPS, but it's so light in color, I can't be certain. Also, did the paint pigment remain in the etched areas? If you had used black spray paint, would the lettering have been darkened as well as etched? That could give a nice headstart on painting for the quick and dirty filler stones.
It's XPS. Yes, the paint stays behind, so black would have definitely been a better choice. I just didn't have any on hand.
Did he later paint / glaze /antique it ? I would paint it light gray then use a dark gray / black glaze over that then wipe off the glaze. Then a little Krylon marble spray. Paint the letters metallic gold or something.
I have a few other tombstone videos where I go into the painting process.
Self-etching primer spray paint has a similar, but greater effect
Good to know!!
Wonder if a gel paint stripper would be too harsh to do the same thing.
Also wouldn't the heat do nearly the same thing?
Just wondering. Thanks for Sharing!
Not sure, although I imagine the amount of clean up necessary to paint the tombstone afterward would be a huge time investment.
Wonder if you could just do these with a cheap brush and some acetone. Just brush over a vinyl stencil, and do a few passes to deepen the effect.
I think the liquid acetone would creep under the stencil and would blow out the definition of the lettering.
Cool
Maybe hit it with a fine mist of acetone and then spray paint for deeper etching?
Possibly.
@@VanOaksProps
I used acetone on a styrofoam filled craft pumpkin.
I cut a face into the skin and sprayed acetone on the exposed foam. Once I got close to the depth I wanted I used spray paint. The acetone in the paint ate it a little more and then halted the process, while also giving me the color I wanted in the cuts I made.
ever make a sitting up animatronic? i see fright props sells a MECH for this but was curious if there is a cheaper route
I haven’t, but I’m sure there’s a way.
Avoid FP at all costs! They are the most outrageous because they have the market cornered
What about acetone and a brush instead of the spray paint? Or a small sandblaster?
Possibly
Now show us how to paint it please love your channel and content
Sure thing! Check out this video: th-cam.com/video/IEAAqlxw0IQ/w-d-xo.html
If you used the spray paint carving technique, I'd skip the torch aging and Drylok (since both would make the lettering harder to read), and would use exterior latex house paint or acrylic craft paint for the base coat, followed by the weathering technique from the video.
Wonder if using acetone in a spray bottle or airbrush would work? May have t try that
Possibly. Just be sure to wear protective gear. You don't want to be breathing in aerosolized acetone.
Has anyone tried this with black spray paint?
Black paint would probably be the better approach so that you don't have to fill in the letters. I just didn't have any on hand at the time.
👏👏👏👏💜💚🧡
Metalics work best! They eat hella foam!!! Lol
I thought that would be the case. That's why the guys who huff paint like the silver spray paint - more propellants. lol
I cringe this idea better than the laverage cuter stencils. This looks more aged era since they carved out with hand tools not a lazer printer stencils cut outs
Brilliant!!!!