DIY Pirate Treasure Chest Prop

Halloween decorations come in many flavors, and in this video, I'm breaking away from my cemetery aesthetic and building a treasure chest fit for a pirate-themed haunt or party. And the best part is it's made of foam and assembled with hot glue!
**CORRECTION: The plank color I use in this video is BURNT sienna, not raw sienna. It was late when I recorded the voiceover and I misspoke.
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MATERIALS:
(Please note: Amazon sellers may change the products sold via these links without notice)
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• Surebonder Cosplay Stik Hot Glue - www.youtube.co...
• 1" XPS Insulation Foam
• 3mm EVA Craft Foam - amzn.to/3rnZ9A2
• 10mm Self-Adhesive Rubber Bumpers - amzn.to/4638eNB
• Spray Bottle - amzn.to/4544H0l
• Wire Brush - amzn.to/3qPx18I
PAINTS:
----------------------
• BURNT Sienna Acrylic Paint - amzn.to/3LvEYa4
• Black Acrylic Paint - amzn.to/3rnU0rx
• Dark Metallic (PlaidFX gauntlet) Acrylic Paint - amzn.to/46jSzcw
• Light Grey Acrylic Paint - amzn.to/3Ryumey
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[@susanowen1709]

This turned out great! It's amazing how such simple techniques like rasping & dry brushing can completely transform the foam. The gaps in the lid planks really make it look like an old, dried-out wooden chest.

[@VanOaksProps]

Thanks so much!

[@Vro-]

That turned out awesome! I'm envisioning some eerie green light peeking out from between the slats on top, maybe a windshield motor that opens and closes the lid with a hand that pops out, ooh my imagination lol.

[@Justforthefoodofit]

ThT would be cool

[@progrocker3]

That’s so good! A project that’s been on my “to do” list is a similar crate with spacing between the planks and a green light inside so it glows, maybe some monster claws under the lid. Maybe with your techniques I’ll be able to do it soon

[@susanowen1709]

You can do it!!

[@cem1838]

What a great project. It look fantastic. ( Especially since last Monday was National Talk Like a Pirate Day) Congrats!

[@kurtkyre]

Aw crap. I totally forgot about International Talk Like A Pirate Day...

[@Craftlngo]

I would consider putting a flickering light in the Treasure Chest glowing through the gaps in the lid.

[@VanOaksProps]

There was an idea for a lighting effect, which is why it didn't have a bottom, but time got away from me this week. I may tackle it in a future video.

[@vickiemullen660]

You make things look so easy. Thank you for another great tutorial!

[@travisgeurin6950]

I got some thermal plastic for another project and it didn't work out, it does however make a nice quick handle on a razor knife blade! Sometimes a bare blade is the best tool - having a little more girth is a finger saver!

[@virtualbown]

Really cool! Have you tried beveling the top pieces at 15 degrees to get them to fit closer together?

[@VanOaksProps]

I haven’t, although that would definitely get you the best fit.

[@asmarteru]

Great looking treasure chest. I'm partial to pirate props so I could be biased but this is a a favorite theme. 😂 I've made a couple similar but used cardboard boxes as my base with foamcore and craft foam for the details.

[@horses2by]

That foam chest turned into something amazing, well done 👏👏 ☠️☠️☠️💀🎃🎈🦇Thank you so much for sharing

[@wrendellajoens3984]

I made a treasure chest that was used as a prop for the door prizes table at an Expo held on International Talk Like a Pirate Day four days ago! I bought a styrofoam cooler ($5 at dollar store, so not huge but big enough). Since it was styrofoam ball based, I diluted spackling compound with matte black acrylic paint to fill in the gaps between the balls and produce a uniform base coat. I carved grooves in the sides and top to emulate wood planks. I added baking soda to matte black acrylic paint to thicken it, and applied this mixture with a chip brush to create a wood grain. I purposely did not use a rasp or wire brush, since this type of foam will not withstand such abuse with anything resembling tact, much less grace. I sealed the painted surfaces with modpodge for durability. I used cardboard strips for the iron straps (filled in the corrugated sides with spackle), and used upholstery tacks for the nails in the boards and straps. I loosely wrapped a 100-light strand of fairy lights (~16 ft) with red and gold sparkling tulle (~20 ft), and pinned that to the inside walls of the cooler with thumbtacks that I painted gold. I wanted to add shells to the lid, but I was initially stumped on how to get them to stay put reliably without using gobs of hot glue. I finally decided to soak some paper towel in modpodge, wadded it into a ball so that a good surface area was in contact with the underside of the shell and squished it down onto the lid with books. Then I decided to be a bit fancy, and stenciled on some swoops and swirls with a silver sharpie, then painted over the silver with teal acrylic paint, letting some of the silver show through to make it look gilded. I was ecstatic with the result, and received myriad compliments. :-)

[@PMichaels]

Awesome! Such a cool project, and the end result is terrific. Question: Could you finish paint the wood and bands separately and then glue it all together? I was thinking it might be easier to paint first but I didn’t know if that would negatively affect the glue up. BTW, I live this channel! Thanks, Derek. 👍🏼

[@VanOaksProps]

Yes, absolutely

[@shannondh83]

you could even put this over a light or have some fog come through the gaps.

[@FabWorks80]

That came out fantastic Derek!! The gaps made it look used and broken...Love it man!! Thank you for sharing!

[@VanOaksProps]

Thanks 👍

[@kurtkyre]

I bet you could make a neat looking latch for the front.

[@TheTomar33]

Love it, easy to follow and simple to do.

[@allen3776]

Looks ĝood, but how can you add a hasp and lock? Solid EVA foam?

[@VanOaksProps]

Thicker foam would definitely get the job done.

[@jrcjr65]

This turned up just in time. 👍🏻

[@KerriGilpin]

Looks pretty perfect!

[@gunnarbiker]

Never cease to amaze! Awesome!

[@Justforthefoodofit]

I did my version of your treasure chest. I think it turned out great! Wish i could post a picture. Thank you for the inspiration!

[@goatelope7539]

Love it. Super cool, and pretty easy decor/prop

[@elizabethross-mckee9016]

great template! I am making boxes them out of various reclaimed wood. now I will try pirate chests! Thanks!!

[@VanOaksProps]

Good luck!

[@NightmareFoundry]

Time to go buy some Surebonder... Gonna try to make a wood chipper out of foam. Lord help me. LOL

[@VanOaksProps]

You got this!

[@capnskustomworks]

That turned out so awesome! I love how much ease of approach there is, being a box that looks cool with simple materials. That’d be a a craft for someone just starting out or younger kids even to handle, and is still lots of fun for experienced builders. Amazingly enough, I literally just minutes ago took a tray of Sculpey bolt heads out of the oven for another project, and of course I made extras, so I may be making another chest soon… 😆

[@stephannieschapiro1816]

as always, great to watch. love your builds. I think if one was to cut the plank edges at an angle you could reduce the gaps between the planks on the lid. I have just bought a new house and there are old wine barrels downstairs and I was checking out they were built. Same method. I also found 3 old trunks that will be treasure chests in future halloween haunts. Almost spooky season. Counting the days

[@VanOaksProps]

You’re absolutely right.

[@christinabrown2533]

I’m a DM for a homebrew DND game and your inexpensive treasure chest has given me a great idea to help make my game more interactive for my players 😊

[@VanOaksProps]

That's awesome!

[@rickhager7684]

Superb! Add some flickering or fading LEDs on the inside to shine through the gaps in the lid planks. Maybe even a shot of fog from the inside every so often.

[@reddogterrain]

That came out great, VOP.

[@Keeshunna]

This is awesome. I'm going to make it for an under the sea themed party. Thanks for the great work.

[@VanOaksProps]

Thanks so much!!

[@TheTechHaunter]

Nice!!!

[@VanOaksProps]

Thanks!

[@beaverc2884]

This would also make for a nice childs toy box. 😊😊

[@GregoryHaynes]

Derek, loved the chest but, it's got no handles!

[@VanOaksProps]

Indeed it doesn’t. It also doesn’t have treasure. 🤣🤣

[@ashleya8532]

Using the rubber feet was genius! I love how you used them as something completely differently than what they're intended for. THAT'S creative genius, there! Once again, a great creation. I never get tired of seeing the stuff you come up with!

[@VanOaksProps]

Thank you! 😊

[@chezg806]

Can the lid be opened? Is the inside finished?

[@VanOaksProps]

It can. The inside is painted black, but could be finished if you needed it to be.

[@peterheynen]

As always I'm fascinated by the simple techniques and materials you use to create such convincing and realistic decorations. It looks fantastic. 🙂

[@VanOaksProps]

Thank you very much!

[@scaresandsparks]

Very nice indeed me hearties.

[@VanOaksProps]

Yo ho!

[@rcbran]

Hope you make a cool padlock!

[@VanOaksProps]

I did! kzbin.info/www/bejne/f33WdIGmlpuXhKM

[@nickelplateroad63]

Very Nice!

[@VanOaksProps]

Thanks!

[@herbveitenhans3285]

Mimic!!!

[@VanOaksProps]

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