EASY Smoldering Log Effect using a Foam Pool Noodle!

If you've ever needed to create the look of a smoldering fire as it starts to burn out then look no further. This video will show you how to recreate the look with some low-cost items, many of which you can find at the local dollar store.
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MATERIALS:
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Orange or red foam pool noodles - amzn.to/3UizFxP
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PAINTS:
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Black acrylic paint - amzn.to/3nZ2yD5
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#VanOaksProps

[@deathsythelui]

Related tip: I've found using Christmas spray snow makes a pretty convincing ash coating. I usually dust it lightly, and give it multiple passes until I reach a good final look. And if it's too much once it dries, you can just brush it off (which creates lots of fine particles that'll float off and stick in really realistic ways, also).

[@VanOaksProps]

Interesting! I’ll have to test that out

[@rach_just_rach]

Awesome tip! I wonder if you could secure it with watered down PVA. Thanks.

[@deathsythelui]

@@rach_just_rach Probably could, but I've used this trick a few times now, and have never needed to, it adheres just fine. Besides, it being loose and particle-y is what really helps sell the ashen look. Gluing it into place may dampen that effect, literally and figuratively.

[@dreamer91763]

Great idea !

[@David-mp6vc]

Like this. It can be paired up with a witches cooking cauldron or a base under a tortured skeleton! Great idea!

[@pysankar]

I was just thinking the same thing about the witches' cauldron. Was gonna comment on it but you beat me to it!

[@smokey6034]

I could use this prop in my RV in my fake fireplace! No worries about burning it down. Thanks.

[@VanOaksProps]

That's right!

[@nathanrussell-raby5460]

I paused your lightsaber video, then came back and hit play on this and was enthralled wondering when the pool noodle was gonna start resembling something from Star Wars. Took me way too long to realise.

[@rtmsound1877]

Great idea. I'm going to use that for the logs under the witches calderon.

[@pamr3230]

Bobby pin scrapes the noodle pretty good too.

[@memecats5698]

I love this project it looks real and it’s something anybody can do and you really don’t need any special tools. Few more pool noodles and you could have a fire pit

[@LordHog]

Nice! Adding the flickering module plus a very small smoke machine would be a fantastic prop

[@Tser]

So easy and so fun. I might need to make a set to photograph my lizards on....

[@KrazeeKraftZ]

Looks awesome, great job. I may need to make some for my witches cauldron.

[@PMichaels]

Unreal! I will never get tired of watching you make complex, visually stunning projects out of simple materials. When I saw the thumbnail, I thought "This is going to be WAY too difficult for me to do." Nope -- you showed how easy it can be. (Although you are still the master of the dry brush!) Thanks for sharing another great project! 👍🏼

[@judichristopher4604]

This man is a GENIUS... Thank you for sharing this... SOOOOOOO COOOOLLL

[@bitchenboutique6953]

Making my first pool noodle fire logs right now and I’m discovering this year that my favorite tool for foam (noodle and styro) is the mini-saw type knife that comes with pumpkin carving kits. I keep it in my kitchen knife drawer because it’s good for any hard squash but DANG when you need a little bitty saw in a pinch, it’s the BEST.

[@norenemorrow6362]

Thanks for this! I need to made a somewhat realistic looking campfire for a play. This is easy, cheap, and looks great.

[@VanOaksProps]

Glad you like it!

[@beckymurphy4714]

Cool effect! I bet this could be scaled down for a tabletop diorama by using the scraps and a tealight.

[@durandalroland7335]

If you use a heat gun, you can apply some slight bends and deformities into the shape of the noodle to make it a little more organic looking before you use the sculpting tool.

[@pikachen]

Very cool! This gives me an idea for something like Top 10 Uses of Pool Noodles for Halloween! If you create that, I'll be the first to watch! lol

[@VanOaksProps]

Great idea!

[@rcredmon]

I guess I need to start stockpiling pool noodles when they're readily available. There's a bunch of Halloween and Christmas crafts that call for them, but by that time of the year you can't find them unless you're willing to pay through the nose online.

[@AIM54A]

Great idea. I might miter cut and re-glue a few at different angles to get various non linear shapes. Different flicker lights in each log would really pop.. Thanks for sharing.

[@VanOaksProps]

Great idea

[@bitchenboutique6953]

Excellent!!! I had decided to “go easy on myself” this year by just having my skellie friends enjoy a simple picnic in my front yard cemetery on Halloween, but now I’m thinking a couple of them will be having a weenie roast off in a dark corner!

[@vickiemullen660]

Thank you for always posting videos of things that regular people can do. I might try this this year.

[@judichristopher4604]

I have an idea... Paint the ORANGE with NEON Yellow paint is some of the places... Then put on the Black and then the highlight white/gray.

[@costumesforalloccasions]

Good job Derek!

[@FabWorks80]

How did I miss this video!! I love this idea and technique!!! Thank you Derek!!!

[@waltersworx]

Thanx for sharing this Derek! I love using scraps from the garage workshop and always have odd bits of foam lying around so this was a fun way to use them up and get a little crafty in the process. Glad you were able to try it out for yourself.

[@VanOaksProps]

Thanks for sharing it with me!

[@cindydavis1443]

Excellent! I have smoldering embers made with spray foam, I am definitely going to try this technique to take it up a notch.

[@JD144-]

That looks pretty dang good! Great project, gonna have to make some.

[@brianlawson5044]

Thank you. Always enjoy and are applying what you teach to the projects for my haunt.

[@arthurp4857]

I wasn’t too sure about the look at the beginning of the video, but like most projects, once paint is applied it really comes together!. Nicely done!

[@OjaiHaunt]

Can’t wait to try this for the haunt this year. Thanks again 🔥

[@M6Props]

Thanks for the simple, but awesome prop! I am always amazed at the items you make!

[@VanOaksProps]

Thank you very much!

[@LtRee96se]

I absolutely love this. Right now, I can't think what I can use this for, but I am going to find something! I've got to try this!!!!

[@IvyGirl501]

I love this idea, Im going to add these to my fake fires I've built before ( I use spray foam, black spray paint, & orange lights for those, sometimes I add fake bones depending on the scene Im doing)!

[@sketchyguynv]

Wow that was simple and realistic! I’m gonna find a way to use this!!!!

[@TwoWheeledHepkat]

I can’t believe how cool and simple this is. Why didn’t I ever think of doing this?

[@susanowen1709]

OK, last comment I promise! Spray paint absolutely works on a pool noodle if you can't find orange ones, and unlike styrofoam the noodles don't melt from it. The only issue I had was finding flat orange; both places I went to only had gloss or neon. I went with neon since we often have blacklights in our haunt. Lightly spraying wasn't an option as it wasn't getting in the carved grooves, but holding the can closer & spraying normally did the trick. Just waiting for the black acrylic to dry so I can get the grey onto it. I'm also playing around with adding/removing wedges from the noodles so there will be some variety in size and shape among the logs. I'm so excited I can hardly stand it :-)

[@VanOaksProps]

Good to know! Thanks for the update!!

[@603VIL]

Awesome technique! Would love to see the flickering or breathing module applied to it and how you do it. It truly is amazing how many different applications pool noodles serve for haunts and prop building. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@Pippi-Longstocking]

This is awesome. I need to know how you keep your nails so nice? Mine are a mess with all the crafts I do.

[@VanOaksProps]

I’m a little obsessive about keeping my hands clean. Especially under my fingernails.

[@munkustrap2]

I love any pool noodle project!! Thank you 😊

[@Halloween_Enthusiast]

This is great! I've been trying to make a witch cauldron and needed some logs underneath!

[@lilpudd1]

That’s pretty cool thanks for sharing

[@susanowen1709]

We just happened to have an orange pool noodle kicking around, and I'm already working on the first log. Currently waiting for the black paint to dry (always a diffiicult part of any project, LOL) before adding in the grey. It's looking pretty darn good already if I do say so myself. Thank you for the great video, Mr Van Oaks :-)

[@Peter_Herrman]

So simple and effective, great one, thanks! But I miss the old music. :(

[@VanOaksProps]

All good things must change 😃

[@LionTree]

I love this! I literally needed it for my escape room.

[@jimadams4086]

As always, thank you! I think we all look forward to the time when you post your latest video! It may be Spring but it can always be Halloween Season!

[@GHILLIESARCADEANDMORE]

Cool I have to try that one

[@jane.c.c]

Amazing.. Thanks so much for sharing..

[@VanOaksProps]

My pleasure!

[@Jekyll-Labs]

That log looks great. You totally nailed the look. I’ve been working on a flickering circuit that uses a mosfet and a couple resistors to amplify the signal from one of those flicker LEDs. It keeps everything low voltage and would work really nicely with that LED strip you have in the video.

[@horses2by]

That’s a fantastic prop idea, thank you for sharing 💀🧟‍♂️🎃

[@VanOaksProps]

You are so welcome!

[@leighdurrant9116]

Another Grate (pun intended) tutorial

[@susanowen1709]

Second comment: I've made four of these so far; two using an orange noodle & two using red. The red looks good, and I'd be super happy with them if I didn't have the orange ones, which look soooo much better. I've got a bunch more of the red noodles (of course) so I'm going to try *lightly* spraying one with yellow or orange rattle can paint after carving but before using the black. Will keep y'all posted :-)

[@chrisnupp7097]

can use this method to make the tip for like a fire staff for a wizard whose staff is always slightly burning/smoldering!

[@VanOaksProps]

That's a great idea!

[@cwjonesII]

Wow, that’s really great. Very realistic.

[@DroooooopDead]

That’s awesome

[@kathleenswanson5750]

Mind "blown!"

[@Luke-pc3nj]

Great tip!

[@VanOaksProps]

Glad you think so!

[@maplegrovecemetery8883]

What a great easy prop! Thanks for sharing! One question, tho…how does the black acrylic paint hold up outside? Does it need some sort of protective coating? I’m in Michigan and there will be wind/rain and maybe snow in October!

[@VanOaksProps]

Acrylic paints are weather resistant, so they should be fine without any additional coating.

[@katsumotoamaya6540]

🖤🖤🖤

[@judichristopher4604]

Can these "LIGHTS" go inside the candles too (The PVC Candles)

[@VanOaksProps]

Absolutely

[@lawnmut81woo]

Love all your work. I'm just starting this years Halloween project. Can you elaborate on the LED Flicker Module you mentioned? I need to create a fire effect. Thanks in advance!

[@VanOaksProps]

Sure! I talk about it more in this video and there’s a link to it in the video description. Improving LED Candle Halloween Props kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3SViI2ViZ2Nr7M

[@lawnmut81woo]

@@VanOaksProps you are the man! I have 30 or so candles lining my roof along with Jack o lanterns so I remember that video well. I’ll go back and check it out. Thank you for responding.

[@soledude]

👌👌👌

[@DARWINZOO]

❤❤❤

[@kurtkyre]

Love this idea... I think I remember another video you did with spray foam over a PVC pipe to make a different sort of charred effect? These two combined will look fantastic 😍 edit: Dangit, all I have are blue and green pool noodles 😂

[@user-yf9ro6yr3n]

Poseidon’s fire!

[@kurtkyre]

@@user-yf9ro6yr3n Hmmm... That could be interesting!

[@kurtkyre]

I got orange pool noodles!!

[@user-bi7yy9xc3q]

I'm in Australia and our family does Halloween in June so the kids can have the experience in the dark.....I'm always looking for easy ways to create effects.....thanks so much for your great do-able ideas

[@carltd72]

I made these for a project last Halloween and they looked amazing! I do have 1 question though, if possible. I ised the acrylic paint, however found that we had some light rain (which became heavy soon after) on Halloween Night, and when I went to move these, I found the paint was coming off. Do you know of an alternative to acrylic that would be waterproof, or of a way i could waterproof what I had done? Thanks in advance

[@VanOaksProps]

Not sure what happened in your case, since acrylic paints are water resistant when dry. You can always apply something like Mod Podge or PVA glue (white school glue) as an additional protective later, but it shouldn't need it.

[@carltd72]

@@VanOaksProps Thanks for getting back! That's what I thought, and then assumed I'd done something wrong. Guess it may have been a bad batch

[@DARWINZOO]

LIKES HELP!