[SML] Dissolving foam

[Paul G.]

I have etched, engraved, and otherwise messed with more “Styrofoam” than I care to remember. Mostly my experience has been with white “bead foam” (expanded polyethylene?). The biggest issue I faced was control. I found that when using a solvent (lacquer thinner was my first choice), I had almost no control over the depth of the cut... some, but not much. I had the most depth control using a heat gun, following that, a propane torch. If I needed a “flat bottom” cut, like for your gravestone lettering, I would opt for a router.

As far as resists for the solvent technique, I found that dry latex paint was quite effective.. it was also pretty good for heat guns and torches. If I needed to treat the surrounding areas with solvent etching after heat gun work, I would use plain water as the resist.

All this having been said, you pretty much have to play with the stuff to get the look you want.

Someone mentioned using an electric charcoal fire starter to engrave the foam. They work really well for making mortar lines in brickwork. You can also make wire shapes for carving using a high wattage soldering iron. I remember “extruding” molding using a stick welder attached to a profile made from a piece of electrician’s fish tape bent into the appropriate shape.

Laters,

Paul 1

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