Styrofoam Head Advice

[Paul McKee]

I'm Looking for some advice on making styrofoam heads safe for the collection...as well as more attractive.

The styro heads are cheap & have the advantage of holding the headgear in shape without putting pressure on the visor etc. But I know that styrofoam heads are harmful due to the chemical makeup of the material. I have seen comments in past threads about covering the heads in cotton cloth to keep the headgear from coming in contact with the styrofoam. But in doing so, asthetically the result looks like some wild-west bandit in a face mask!

What I'm wondering is if there is any type of material (paint, polyurethane, etc.) that can be used to safely seal the styrofoam for use in display...and at the same time provide a more interesting finish than raw styrofoam?

Paul

[allybino]

Instead of the covering the whole head with cloth, just cover what's needed. There may be some hanging down, but its better than destroying the piece!

Adam

[Paul McKee]

Instead of the covering the whole head with cloth, just cover what's needed. There may be some hanging down, but its better than destroying the piece!

Adam

Thanks for the suggestion, Adam.

I was rather hoping an applied finish might improve the look of virgin styrofoam & provide protection for the headgear. Heads are cheap...headgear, not so cheap!

What I'm imagining is applying white or a neutral color...maybe even a dark bronze color...and then top coat with a polyurethane or some other clear coat. Visually, I want to draw the eye to the headgear...not the cheap hunk of styro its sitting on.

Paul

[Lee Ragan]

Some paints & chemicals make styrofoam do weird things. Be forwarned that things can get messy when applying a finish to styrofoam & experiment in a well ventilated area. Good luck & please let the rest of us know how you made out with this project.

[Paul McKee]

Some paints & chemicals make styrofoam do weird things. .

Yeah, no kidding. Many years ago, I used to work in an electronics factory where the standing prank to play on newcomers was to send them to get a styrofoam cup of sonic cleaner. The poor unfortunate would only make it halfway back before the cup suddenly dissolved into a handful of goo!

Paul

[Chap15]

If you paint the styro you need to use a water base paint. Oil base has paint thinner which will eat the styro. Water base will also smooth the "form". I painted tiger stripes on mine and it looked ok. I also cut the top of the head off, so it would not touch the inside of the hat.

[Paul McKee]

If you paint the styro you need to use a water base paint. Oil base has paint thinner which will eat the styro. Water base will also smooth the "form". I painted tiger stripes on mine and it looked ok. I also cut the top of the head off, so it would not touch the inside of the hat.

Excellent comment. On another forum, I've seen advice to avoid oil base and polyurethanes...but that latex and epoxy finishes are better when used in display materials. I wonder if there is an epoxy clear-coat on the market?

Paul

[Jos L C]

" The styro heads are cheap"..

True,but when I see what trouble they can give..
Why not a decent mannequin head ?

Caps range between $ 250.- to $ 7000,- or more and then are displayed on a $ 15.- head..,nothing wrong with $ 15.- ,but $50.- or $ 75.- will give you a nice realistic plastic/polyester head..
I've had several styro heads but I didn't like them at all ,all are replaced by "real" heads this moment..
Also,the styro heads all have the same size..which,in many cases,is too big..

Jos.

[Paul McKee]

Caps range between $ 250.- to $ 7000,- or more and then are displayed on a $ 15.- head..,nothing wrong with $ 15.- ,but $50.- or $ 75.- will give you a nice realistic plastic/polyester head..Jos.

That is a very valid point. The problem is...I really don't particularly care for the look of realistic manequins. It's just a matter of taste. It makes the war room look like a wax museum. Glass heads are interesting...but are heavy, come in one size, and look rather hermaphroditic.

Years ago, I visited the museum at Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. This museum has a number of artifacts belonging to US President Theodore Roosevelt when he was a cowboy in the 1880's...among them is his complete horse saddle and tack as well as clothing he wore in the badlands. If this was displayed on a realistic fibreglass horse with a Teddy Roosevelt figure on board, the effect would distract from the historic artifacts. Instead, they created a somewhat abstract and featureless form in the shape of horse and rider, finished it in a neutral color. The end result was quite pleasing...the eye focuses on the artifacts, not the life-like (or life-less) manequins.

This is the effect I'd like to try. Being a graphic artist by profession as well as a chronic tinkerer, I'm not afraid to experiment...but not at the expense of my collection, of course!

Paul