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[Manny McArthur]

Hi everyone,

I just got my first delivery of Foamex (a supposed UK version of Sintra) but I've discovered that it is a lot softer than I was expecting, a nail can dent and score it easily. Is it meant to be that soft or have I bought the wrong product?

By the way I have both 3mm and 5mm. Both very soft.

Thanks

[Kerricane]

Is it soft enough you can bend it without heading it? Like, just crease or fold it with your bare hands?

[Sto-Las Amari]

Like are you making big dents with your finger or just scoring it? I've found that depending on the brand i.e. Sintra/Komatex and thickness really messes with how rigid the plastic is.

[OriKad]

All the sintra I've worked with, from multiple brands, has been easy to score/scratch/dent.  In fact, I've used that intentionally to add detail to my plates.

[Manny McArthur]

Thanks for the responses.

I'm afraid I don't know what it means to "header" something, but when I bent it it starts to crack before it will hold the shape (thankfully I have a heat gun for when I do it properly).

I can't dent it with my bare fingers, but I can score it easily with a nail.

I do plan on using it to my advantage for weathering my first suit, I was just concerned that this was softer than it was meant to be. I certainly won't be able to sit down with a butt plate, I better look into something more solid for that.

[grantaire]

Sintra/Foamex isn't very strong of a material. It's better than ABS suits for Stormtroopers, but if you step or sit on a curved piece of sintra you will break it in half (I've done this twice and it was horrible). There are some makers that cast parts in rubber, like rubber knees for people who like kneeling. Maybe that's something that you can look into.

[Manny McArthur]

That's a great idea. Most parts will definitely be fairly safe, but kneepads I should definitely make with something else. While I'm still asking has anyone got a good adhesive for fixing foamex to foamex? I've got plenty myself but I'm wondering if there's more of a bonding agent that melts them together.

[OriKad]

Anything meant for PVC will do the job, since it is in fact PVC.

[Kerricane]

for parts like knees, you could use PVC piping. it's a bit sturdier than sintra, and it's already curved fairly close to what you need