EVA Foam Basics 

Hi! Yes! EVA foam is awesome. I buy all my foam from TNTCOSPLAYSUPPLY in Texas. They have everything from 2MM all the way up to 48MM (2") - they are THE best! And all their foam is smooth on both sides. In case you haven’t been to our channel before, we have a bunch of other tips videos and full builds - here’s the link : ru-vid.com

Black Sheep Props I just discovered this channel, so thank you so much for the link 😊 I'll make sure to watch some more stuff!

If you are interested I also recommend the channels, Punished Props, SKS Props, Much Props and Odin Makes.

Same, this Helps A TON with my springtrap costume im about to build.

I want to ask you a question what is high and low grade of Eva

Hi Vicky! Thanks! Glad it was helpful. When I started building I had to learn from scratch about foam so I really like sharing the basics with other builders. In case you haven’t seen our other tips videos and builds, here’s the link to our home page in case you would like to check them out : ru-vid.com Just look under VIDEOS and PLAYLISTS at the top left of the page. Thanks for watching! Good luck!

Thanks a lot Phillip!! When I started the channel I promised myself to try to answer every comment. If someone takes the time to leave a comment I have to try to give them the same time.

Thank you so much WarBear! I’m glad it meant something to you.

Hi Sarthius! Thank you so much, I am so glad I am helping people build!! New episodes are posted every Tuesday and Friday nights @ 7pm!! Enjoy!

Yep! Very cool. TNT Cosplay in Texas has round, square and triangle dowels. Plus tons of other versions of foam - rolls, sheets, ultra thick sheets.... someone told me about them and I buy everything from them now. Glad the video helped. Here’s the link to our home page in case you missed any of our other tips videos : ru-vid.com

Awesome! I am glad it was helpful. There are a lot of informative videos on the channel so please enjoy them all!

Thanks Robert! Glad it helped. The learning curve in making foam props is very fast. If you are even a little bit crafty you can be up and running in no time. There’s also a lot more tips videos and a jillion cool build videos on the channel that show every tool and step involved in all the builds. Hope they help!! Good luck and have fun!!

Thank you very much! Glad it was helpful.

Hi! Yeah, it is TOTALLY FANTASTIC to work with. Super forgiving, you can stretch it a bit if it doesn’t fit, you can shape it, bend it, contract it to fit if it’s a bit too large - awesome material. And super strong. And the learning curve is really fast too!

@@BlackSheepProps Thank you. You've ruined my budget for this month 🤣🤣

Ha! I know the feeling!!

Thanks VL! I am glad it was helpful.

Hi Samzirra! Awesome!! Go for it!! Hey, I have a bunch of templates if you’re interested. Here’s the link to our store : www.etsy.com/shop/BlackSheepProps

Awesome!! I am so glad you are going to try to build with foam. Please watch all of the step by step videos on my channel to help you start building.

Niiice! It is such a great material to build with. Super easy to work with, and if you are even a little but crafty the learning curve is super fast - it’s the best!

No problem! Glad it was helpful!

Hi Angel! Awesome! Glad you like it. Have fun building!

You are welcome!! :)

Hi Samantha! No problem, glad you like it! In case you didn’t know we have a bunch of tips videos and builds on our channels’s home page if you want to check them out : ru-vid.com Just look under VIDEOS near the upper left for a complete list. Thanks for watching!

Hi Nanashi! Great! Thanks!

No problem! Glad it was helpful!

Awesome!!

Hi! I am glad my videos are helping you! I use contact cement for most of the work, but I also use super glue for the really small things. You can see me use the contact cement in all of the videos. And here is a link to my contact cement basics video, it should help. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LyF134qG_ys.html

Thanks! Yes, you can heat after it is glued - but do not hold the heat gun on a place for too much time. Wave it around so you can heat it - but do not hold the heat on an area for too long or the glue can separate.

Hi Ave! Thank you. That is great that you will be making a costume. We have a lot of videos on our channel’s home page if you would like to watch any of them to get helpful tips and examples of using foam. Here is the link : ru-vid.com Just look under the VIDEOS tab near the upper left for a complete list of helpful tips and building videos. Maybe they will give you help. Have fun!

Hi General! Hmm, if you are building them from several pieces then maybe 6 or 8MM for the thicker pieces and maybe 4MM for the thinner details? They need to be thick enough but not too thick. Thats just a guess though.

Hi CA, I don’t think a dryer can get hot enough for what you need. I started right off the bat using a heat gun so I don’t really know of an alternative? I have heard of people warming up their oven and setting their foam inside for a bit to heat it up to soften it - then yank it out and shape it. Seems like a load of work though. I have heard of people getting the oven warmed up and getting together all the pieces they will be shaping and doing them one at a time. Put one in, pull it out, shape it - and so on. That way they’re only using the oven once. But I have never done that so I can’t be sure.

I don’t think so, it’s more for making the surface of the foam a bit smoother and less porous.

Hi, A lot of my foam comes rolled too. When I need to use it I just roll it the opposite way and hold it that way for a minute and then it will lay flat. Hope that helps.

Thanks! I mostly use contact cement - and a little superglue for small parts. Check out all the videos on my channel, I have a video on CONTACT CEMENT BASICS. Also, every one of my build videos shows the step by step details in how to glue pieces together. Enjoy!

Hi Nomadx83! I have never used hot wires before, but I have heard of foam builders using it. Sorry I can not be more help.

I am so sorry but I don not know the answer to that question. Thanks for watching though!

Hi Peachie! Glad you’re digging us! Hey, we have a bunch of other tips videos and builds in case you didn’t know. Here’s the link if you missed any : ru-vid.com Just look under VIDEOS near the upper left for a complete list. Enjoy!

Hi Triple S! I use mostly contact cement. But I use super glue for some of the really small parts. I use spray paint and acrylic arts & crafts paints. You can watch my video on contact cement at my channel’s home page. You can also watch all of my builds to see the painting process. Enjoy! ru-vid.comvideos

@@BlackSheepProps thank you I appreciate the quick reply. Working on my first real Eva foam cosplay project

Wow, Cool! I can only do props, doing a costume scares me. Costume makers are super talented. Good luck!

Hi! I use contact cement almost every time I glue. Sometimes I use super glue for smaller pieces. All of our prop build videos show using contact cement if you would like to check them out. Below is the link to our home page so you can check out all of our builds and tips videos. We have an episode on contact cement too! Thanks for watching! ru-vid.com

Hi! I am not sure what type of vinyl is used for yoga mats? If it is EVA foam then yes, you should be able to. I am not sure though. I think yoga mats might be PVC?If you can purchase online from TNT Cosplay in the U.S. that would be the best solution. They have everything. They are awesome.

The yoga mats are mostly made in PVC, but I found some in Amazon which are made in EVA foam...

Hi! Hmm, that is a good question. I have spilled some water on it before and it didn’t absorb - but I have never really soaked it. I would think that once you build your prop and seal it with Plasti-Dip it would be sort of waterproof since Plasti-Dip is a spray rubber coating. But I am not positive, sorry I couldn’t be more help. Thanks for watching though!

Hi Gerald, I’m by no means not an expert on the differences in brands. I use BARGE because some very trusted foam builders use it and I just followed them. It’s been great for me.

Hi! Thanks for watching! You can totally paint with acrylic. I paint all of my props with acrylic - it works great! Every one of the builds on our channel show painting with acrylic. Here is the link to our channels home page so you can watch each prop get painted. Have fun! ru-vid.com

Hard to say. In the photo the pecs look like they’re about 2 or 3 inches thick - but if you are building them in separate pieces to create the shape ( bottom of pec, top of pec, sides, etc ) then I’m guessing something like 6MM could be good?

Hi Volitan! I have no experience with EPP, I will have to look into it. Thanks for the tip!

Hi Sasasmile! Nope. Heat sealing just causes the outer skin of the foam to “tighten up” and get sort of glossy looking. It turns the surface from very dry and porous looking to smooth and semi glossy. It helps for when it’s time to seal with plasti-dip and paint. When you dust the foam quickly with heat it isn’t enough to cause any shrinking but if you hold the heat on it and bake it it can shrink at the edges just a bit.

@@BlackSheepProps Thank you !!

Hi Rebecca, I use contact cement for almost every part of my builds. Sometimes I will use super glue for small very detailed areas. But mostly it’s contact cement. If you haven’t been to our channels home page we have a bunch of great tips videos including one on contact cement. Here’s the link to our home page in case you want to check out our tips videos or other builds : ru-vid.com Thanks for watching!

Contact cement is the best glue for making a mask from foam. And I think once it dries it is fine to wear. But I am not an expert on the health issues concerning contact cement. I hope that helps.

Hi! I do mostly weapons - blasters, ray guns, shields, grenades, knives, hammers, axes, etc. But I do know a lot of helmet builders will go to the fabric store and buy the foam used in upholstery for inner helmet padding. And they just hot glue it in place. It’s softer and more “squishy” than eva foam and probably helps contour and fit to a persons head. Since it’s only for the forehead though, you could buy some of the thinner eva foam, 8MM or 12MM and layer up as many strips as you need for the forehead support.

Not sure if it dampers sound? I know the 12mm (.5") foam is used for gym, garage and daycare floors for the cushion, but not sure if it dampens sound.

Hi SB! Thanks!! Unfortunately a hair dryer isn’t hot enough. You probably should go ahead and get a heat gun because you will use it on every build. Not only to shape foam but to heat seal it - which makes the surface tighten up and get a slightly shiny surface. You can totally shape foam around a surface but there are also times when you have to cut patterns and shape them separately and then attach the. Check out my video on heat shaping basics, heat gun basics and check out the latest video that just went up - Samurai Helmet Part 1, because that shows forming pieces of foam into a dome. Also check out Viking shield because that shows another bit of foam shaping using a mold and the heat gun. ENJOY!!

Hi! Yes, you can glue thinner foam together to make thicker pieces. It will take a lot of foam though. But it can be done.

Hi! I mostly use only black foam. But even if I did use colored foam I would be sealing it with plasti-dip before I paint it. Plastidip can fill in some of the seams so they aren’t as noticable once you paint. And I also sometimes use something called quick-seal to fill any seams before I paint. But if you are using color foam and not planning on sealing and painting it then you might see some seams where two pieces attach. Watch some of the builds on my channel and see what it looks like when I seal a prop and paint it. It might give you a better idea of what I’m talking about. Watching the builds might also show you how to attach two pieces and not get a noticable seam.

@@BlackSheepProps alright thank you so much :D

Hi Martin, I have been buying all my foam from TNTCOSPLAYSUPPLY in texas so all my foam is the same density. I buy thin stuff there - 2MM, 4MM, 6MM, etc. I buy my 3MM form Hobby Lobby since it’s the only thickness TNT doesn’t carry. It happens to be the same density as t he stuff I buy from TNT.

@@BlackSheepProps Ah ok. Do you know wheter its eva 50 or eva30? or maybe something even denser?

Pretty sure TNT’s foam is eva 38.

I have never noticed my foam expanding as it cools.

Hi! I will see if I can help. What is your question?

Hi! I use silver markers. You can buy silver sharpies and other brands of silver marker. But My absolute favorite brand is called RECOLLECTIONS from Michaels Arts & Crafts. THE BEST! I get the MEDIUM POINT and they‘re awesome.

@@BlackSheepProps Thank you so much for replying so quickly.

Hi Keshav! I’m sorry I can’t help, but I don’t know what that is?

Hi Mom! I mostly use contact cement and sometimes use superglue for smaller details. We have a great video on the basics of contact cement on our home page. In case you haven’t seen it here is the link to our home page. Just check under the playlist tab at the top and look under ”Tips, tools and techniques”. Thanks for watching! ru-vid.com

Thank you! God Bless!

Hey! I’m no expert but if you watch my video on the Valkyrie Helmet it has tons of feathers on it. Maybe it might give you some insight that you can spring off of?

Hi Tushar, I only use xacto knives, box cutters and the bandsaw to cut my foam. I am not familiar with Nichrome wire or it’s ability to cut foam. I do know hot wire cutters are sold that can be used to cut foam but I do not have experience with them.

Hi! Yep the good ole' bandsaw - love it!! I also have a scroll saw for tighter corners and stuff. I show using both in my videos. Both great tools!!

Hi! I use sharpened brass tubes to cut perfect holes. Check out my videos ”EVA Foam Prop Making Tools”. And I use contact cement to bind pieces together. Check out my video ”Contact cement basics”. Sometimes I use a drill press to cut a perfect holes in really thick foam. Check out all the videos on my channel, I have a lot of tips to share.

@@BlackSheepProps duly noted and thank you sir for sharing those infos. i'll check out your other videos too. have a great day sir.

Hi! Yeah, tons of cool tips in all the vids! Enjoy, hope they help!

​@@BlackSheepProps Hey can I use scissors for my eva foam And what mask should I make?

Hi Patricio! Sometimes you can use a heat gun to heat it up and the creases will smooth out a bit.

Hi Armando! I use contact cement for most of my builds, but I also use super glue for some of the small pieces. I have a video on contact cement basics you can watch. And you can also watch every build to see when I use contact cement and when I use super glue. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LyF134qG_ys.html ru-vid.comvideos

HI Justin, I don’t know if you can dye it, but you can paint it with acrylics and spray paint.

Hey Jason, Well, I’m not an expert on the chemical question but I do know that when heating foam it can produce fumes that you don’t want to inhale so I keep a big shop fan off the the side that keeps any fumes away from my face. And I periodically open my garage door to air out so the fumes don’t hang around. When mildly heating foam with a heat gun in order to shape it it gives off a smell but no smoke. And when I actually burn lines into the foam with a wood burner it will create smoke. So either way - just mildly heating or actually burning I always use the fan to keep anything out of my face, but when burning I add wearing a mask. I talk about that in every one of my build videos on my channel just to warn everyone to pay attention to it if possible. Like I said though, I’m no expert but I try to be as smart and safe as possible.

Hi! I have only used foam for props that are indoors, I do not know if it will deteriorate outside. Sorry.

It will go brittle in the sun over time

Hi, It’s a standard cutting mat. They sell them at a lot of places. You can buy them online or at your local arts and crafts store. The brand I use is OLFA. One side has grid lines on it and once it gets worn I turn it over and use the other side.

@@BlackSheepProps It seems obvious once you said mat. I was googling green cutting board. Thanks! Lol

No problem. Those mats are fantastic. They are self healing so when you make an xacto cut, or a box cutter cut, you can’t really even see the line due to the dense material. Eventually they will start to get cuts, nicks and gauges, etc and when it gets real bad you can flip it over and use the other side. So they last a long time.

I am not sure if it is fire retardant? Sorry I can not be more help.

Hi LeeMayMoh, Yes, you can. I show painting in every one of my builds. Here’s the link to all the buiulds if you would like to watch the painting process : ru-vid.comvideos

Hi Cohleen, I think so. They make thicker foams like 18MM (.75"), 24MM (1") and 36MM (1.5") which are thick enough to be very stiff, but still super light.

@@BlackSheepProps ooh thank you so much I'll keep that in mind : )

Hi Nina! I use contact cement for most of the glue, but I also use super glue for some of the really small parts. Here’s my video on contact cement: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LyF134qG_ys.html Also, all of my videos show the process of sticking two pieces together, check some of them out: ru-vid.comvideos

I've used hot glue and it works, but you have to hold it in place for a while, you have to use a lot, and it can look messy. I wouldn't recommend it as a good alternative to contact cement, but if it's all you have, it does the job.

Glad you’ve found the foam world! It’s a great place to be. Do you mean, heating an embossing tool in order to brand your foam?

@@BlackSheepProps yeah, in lieu of a heat gun. 😊 and if I can do other things like branding- well that’s peachy!

Hi Jack! I don’t really know, sorry?

Hey Danny! That’s soo cool!! That’s like some twilight zone stuff!

Hi JB, You can’t see through the foam, you won’t be able to see light through it.

@@BlackSheepProps u just saved me money. There was an online seller that said 1mm foam can allow light

Cool! I buy a lot of foam and I have never seen 1MM before. 2MM is the thinnest I have ever seen.

Ooh, that sounds like something I will look into - thanks!! I do hate how fast blades go dull on the foam.

Hi! I bought all my foam from TNTCOSPLAYSUPPLY.COM They are located in Texas.

@@BlackSheepProps ty

Hi Akuto, I am sorry but I don’t know? I have never made crocs before.

Probably not since it’s porus

Hmm, not sure. I have no idea what a yoga mat is made of? Sorry I can’t be more help.

Hi Ella, No problem. The rotary tool I use is the Dremel 100-N/7. But any of the Dremel models will work fine on foam. Thanks for watching! In case you haven’t seen all our other tips videos and prop builds, here’s the link to our channels home page so you can check them out! ru-vid.com

Hi, I am sorry but I do not know where to buy foam in Vietnam. I buy all of my foam from TNTCOSPLAYSUPPLY in Texas in the UNited States.

Hey Porkchop! I have never tried it, but my heat gun is scorching red hot - I don’t think a hair dryer is near hot enough to do the trick.

it can but it’s tedious

Wow! I never thought of printing on it. I only cut it, glue it, bend it and paint on it - I am not sure if you can print on it? Good question though!

Hi Christopher! Yeah, it will usually lay flat if you roll it up the other way for a few minutes. Put a big rubber band around it, or a velcro strip - or you can just hold it for a few minutes with your hands. It doesn’t take too long and it lays pretty flat. That should help. Thanks for watching! In case you haven’t seen all our other videos here’s the link to our channel’s home page : ru-vid.com Just look under the VIDEOS tab near the upper left for a complete list of our tips videos and builds. Thanks!

Hi Bianka! For helmet you want to be a bit thicker to hold the shape and have it feel stiffer. I used 12MM for most of the main bodies of my helmets and then add thinner stuff to it for details. You might be able to go somewhere in between - like maybe 8MM.

@@BlackSheepProps dang! Next time then! This was our first attempt with Eva foam & our son is only 5 so I think it should hold, hopefully, for trick or treating 😭 thank you for the tips! 😊

Anytime!!

Don’t know. Sorry.

Hi, Not sure, I don’t really know anything about planes. I mostly use foam to build prop weapons from sci-fi and video games. Sorry.

Hi Salam!