How to spray paint Styrofoam without melting (Non foam safe) 

It's NOT the cold; it's the solvents in the propellant and the acetone that melts the foam :)

Another method is to first brush PVA glue over the foam and leave to dry. This will create a barrier between the foam and the paint, which can be brushed on or sprayed.

After ruining one Styrofoam piece I went online and found this video. I put my Styrofoam on the ground and I tried again and sprayed the same paint from 2 feet away and it worked beautifully. Thank you very much!

That happy face is now Styrofoam Two Face. And that makes you Styrofoam Batman! :{

All you need to do is apply a coat of PVA glue to your project first... (elmer's glue) -let dry and spray paint as much as you like with any paint.. -provides a nice smooth barrier so the "acetone" in the spray paint will not dissolve the foam. -OR.. find paint with no acetone

You just saved me from buying new styrofoams. Thanks to your video! ^__^

I kinda wish I watch this video BEFORE i ruined my Uhura earpeice prop....sigh

I found out the reason the spray can works at 30cm is because the acetone (or similar) in the paint evaporates by the time it hits the foam so you are left with the paint which dries and leaves a decent finish. It is recommended you primmer the foam first to make sure the paint stays on, you can then gloss the paint for a finishing touch. I hope that info also helps

Spraying from a distance has nothing to do with the temperature of the paint, it's the solvents that melt the foam. No matter the distance from the surface, the wetter it gets the higher the likelihood of it melting. Spray very light coats, just a mist, and let them dry between. Starting the spray before sweeping onto the target and passing by before releasing helps minimize spatter that will increase the chance of melt spots, this is good practice for anything you're painting to minimize spots. Warm dry air and a fan help reduce the time it takes to make it work. Spray it then immediately put it in front of a fan, be patient and it'll work.

Best to start spraying multiple very fine layers of paint at approx 10 min intervals until touch dry (Building up thickness and color slowly) Does not always work as he shows multiple squirts of paint because of different brand paints (the solvents) and humidity (dry air better) and air temperature (hotter is best) Spraying very fine mist in small amounts and quickly fan dry (by moving or fan) can help with aggressive paint solvents. Some spray can nozzles and paints don't produce as fine a mist so test on any styrene scraps (normal packing styrene foam is eaten more easily than the skin coating on Depron so it's a good test)

2:00 to skip all the bullshit and get on with it! We obviously know spray paint eats foam if we are watching the video, NO NEED TO OVER EXPLAIN IT!

It's probably not the temperature of the paint, it's probably the solvent that the paint is dissolved in that is also dissolving the foam... spraying it from far away is letting most of the solvent evaporate before it gets to the foam (since it's such small little droplets). Extra benefit of this method is that the paint should also dry quicker this way.

I am Asian, we never go wrong... Good luck!

So basically you're telling us to read the back of the can and use it the way it was intended? Btw, if you hold your can 3 inches away and blast the hell out of your project, you'll ruin it no matter what. Good distance and quick light sprays with time to dry between coats is how you're SUPPOSED to use spray paint.

Which is why the instructions on the can say "8 to 12 inches away from the surface you wish to paint."

it's not because it's "too cold for the foam to handle" it's because the propellant used in most spray paints reacts with the foam. By spraying further away you're allowing the propellant to evaporate before coming into contact with the foam

Very helpful video!! Thank you so much. Wish I had known this before I destroyed our styrofoam props at our local theatre!! lol By the way, please ignore the naysayers. The video was wonderful and so are you. God bless.

Your video was well made. I enjoyed listening to your narration because I said to myself the same thing. So after your teaching,, I used spray mist from a distance. I love the result because my project did not melt.

To COLD 🤣 .... It's the solvents in the paint that melts the foam .

good tip. maybe hit it with a hairdryer on cool for a few passes to be extra safe and careful, idk?

I've been sitting here for hours trying to work out how to paint polystyrene! Now I now, thank you for putting your tip on video and thank you for saving me money. X

Congratz, you learned everyone how to paint on EVERY material. With spray cans you should always spray from approximately 30cm

Very helpful thanks, I was using spray lacquer.

Thanks so much, I can't find the water soluble paints anymore. I need to start my Halloween village made from Styrofoam.

I think common sense says, you're supposed to spray on a distance further than 20cm

I have some projects I've been working on, Styrofoam paints at just so expensive, THANK you so much. Looking for more from you🙄🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

He did not mention whether the paint was lacquer or enamel. That's another discussion, but it makes a world of difference. Anyway, it's not about the distance. It's about the amount of paint in contact with the foam. Just mist many coats on, with sufficient dry time between coats. Done.

Coat it with epoxy first, makes it more rigid and paint safe

Thank you so much; definitely doing this :)

🤣🤣🤣🤣 It's the Solvents used as the propellant not the actual paint that melts the styrofoam .

Good info...I couldn't even find that H20 paint anywhere.

Clever, I had better show this to a crafter I know... Great video by the way.

Wow, just change the distance when you spray, and the effect is so different o__o this is amazing! Thanks!

Ah i was doing that but sometimes misses a certain spot so I sprayed closely :(

over time, won't the spray paint still eat away at the styrofoam?

Thank you so much for sharing how you can do it without buying all those extra stuff ! Love and kisses from me from the Netherlands

Have to test it out my self but looks like I'll be successful, awesome work!

OMG, my women's group is making 12 cat shelters out of coolers and we needed to paint them camouflage. It would have cost a fortune with H2O spray paint. Now we can use the regular paint we already have and save a bundle. The kitties will be snug and warm in their camo kitty coolers. All we need to do is hold the can far enough away for the propellant to dispel before it hits the foam. Great!.

You save my projecttt

Wtf this is what normal poeple do whit spray paint read the back side of the. spray paint and you know it .....

You are using "EPOXY" paint. Epoxy won't react with foam.. If you use regular spray paint, like Rustoleum or Krylon. They will melt foam in a blink. It's the propellant in the can, that causing the melting on your piece.. Not the paint.. The Propellant boils at room temperature and pressure.. 1 foot away is enough time for it to boil off into the atmosphere. .

Hi, why when I used spray paint to p.e foam, it will scratch off the paint when it dries.

sand with super fine like 1000 grit or more to get smoother finish. try lightweight spackling if you want...

Wow!... It's videos like this that make RU-vid... "awesome"! Thanks for taking the time to share this video.

Video starts at 1:50

GENIUS and to believe i nearly had to scrap my foam rc plane because i couldn't get some rc paint. ......THANKS!!....

just add a layer of white glue to protect it and it wont melt

So glad I watched this before ruining my project...

Didn't work

Bless you (':

I bought some 6 inch foam balls today that I am going to spray paint and make some Christmas ornaments balls with, hope this works.

In spite of the negative comments and the fact that you could have chosen not to do this video, thanks for sharing!! You have helped a least a few. Thanks again!!

Whilst useful, you could have said that apply the 1st coat thin and from a distant, let it dry and wait for about 10 mins and then a 2nd coat etc. It will take about a min to make that video and also it is the solvent that melts the foam buddy

too bad you don't have much views i will recommend this video to all my friends

Hi! It depends on how much corrosive paint you have on the foam. If it's really dense, it can possibly dissolve everything. If not, it'll just melt partially.

You can use engine ceramic enamel if you've got some laying around

That's just common sense. People should've learned that growing up. Like I say it's just common sense .

*Hears To Lay Down Newspapers* Opens Google And Searches Newspapers And Puts Styrofoam Onto My Phone

Its the propellant in the can that reacts with the foam. Thats why moving further back helps resolve the problem.

Well now I know what I did wrong , smiling. thx

Simple fix. just either brush or airbrush some water based polyurethane like floor wax or minwax. You can use almost any paint over the top of it.

can you use plain paint like Asian paints on styrofoam?

Thanks it works for me on my airplane Rc models

Can you teach foam making project

🤪. You have to be nuts , COLD ? Solvents evaporate more at a further distance from that foam .

I read to use acrylic paint and it won’t melt

Its not the "cold" that melts the foam, its purely the solvent inside the can which is volatile and evaporates when you spray it from a distance because of 1) the surface area of the mist and 2) the time it takes for the paint particles to hit the foam. Try it from 1.5ft or 1ft and vertical so it lands on the foam.....

You just saved my science project, thank you!!!

Thanks! All the best to painting whatever you need to paint! It will save you a lot of money and time :)

Only problem is it wipes right off if you rub it. Forgot to mention that lol

This works dude, but it's the propellant (solvent) in the can that attacks the foam, not the temperature of the paint. Aside from that this is good advice. :¬)

I'm sorry I don't understand what you mean. In anycase, never spray it close. The only foam you can do it with is the almighty EPO or it's cousin, EPP. Spraying close is bad painting though, always try to mist several layers of it.

What? It has nothing do with distance and everything to do with chemical reaction.

Thats the classic and proper way to evenly spray any models from such distance, thanks for the tips though!

Thank you for the video! It was very informative : )

Very helpful. Tqvm.

Wanted to say thanks! You saved my daughters meatball costume for school spirit week!

Thank you very much , you just saved my speaker stands ☺️

Just us Acrylic spray.

ty much!

impressive i always need 2 buy a latexbased spray paint,but its hard to get here.thanks this will realy help

this video could be 30seconds long: "hey, I'm Asian and i never go wrong. Let me show U how to paint styrofoam w/o melting it - spray from a bigger distance, just like manufacturer's instruction says" then U spray to show it and you are DONE.

does the spray paint dissolve the styrofoam all the way through or does it stop half way or so.interesting. artist.

I did not know this! Thank you SO much for this info!

You can also use packing tape over the foam before painting ,i will at least double the strength of the foam as well. good tip though

De mi se derritio

use latex paints instead, water based super cheap :-)

Wat if u wanted to make a creator outta foam would that work like spray painting close

you sir,are a god! we're not worthy!...we're not worthy! honestly, thank you! this will keep me from buying so much colred tape!

is that just spray on 30cm distance???

thank you so much!! wish I knew this before I painted my styrofoam replica of sting from LOTR... RIP

Should have watch this before I painted my foam xd

hello! im planning to use the DIP Anchor brand black spray paint on my foam board. do you know if this paint eats the foam even if i follow your method?:)

can do this to epp foam to aircraft rc planes

tanks ....im going to try it right away ....

Very informative video. THANKS!

Thanks for posting this video. I plan on repainting my P-51 Mustang in the next few months, and you just saved me a little money. :-D

The actual instructions start at 1:55, your welcome

Thanks lots

I am doing a science project on an animal cell and thanks for giving me the idea on this spray painting thing.