Glassing Foam

A simple and quick test showing how to strengthen foam. Some people refer to this technique as "glassing." The purpose is to be able to strengthen the weaker parts (e.g., nose) of certain rc plane models. The piece of styrofoam that I used in this video would flex but not break very easily after I brushed it with a mixture of epoxy and 91% isopropryl. I let it cure for 24 hours.

[@wdave6944]

Hey! Thanks. Isopropyl alcohol... I didn't think it'd mix with epoxy. Thanks for showing its application and the result. Too many times, I hear those folk "you're doing it wrong" "you should have used acme products" etc etc etc. All that negative crap gets in the way of experimentation. I especially like the simple brush-on method AND the finish. I'm glad I found this!

[@johnfraser8158]

That is nice, but you should try using fiberglass cloth in addition to the epoxy! Glassing foam I think refers to using fiberglass cloth and a resin whether it be epoxy or polyester (most surfboards are polyester but epoxy is stronger/lighter). It was very interesting to the the results of glassing without fiberglass cloth and is very flexible. If you used fiberglass cloth though, I think that the foam will be much stiffer, stronger, and possibly lighter because fiberglass cloth is light, the resin is the heavy part (using cloth means you use less resin). I would just use the same technique as surfboard builders use with a squeegee. Thanks for the video! I would love to see another one with using the cloth.

[@mikewhite4628]

John. Maybe the stiffer it is the easier it would be to snap off, even with the glass cloth. Being flexy it would bend appreciably before it broke. Wouldn`t polyester melt the foam from which the board is carved?? I used .6 oz glass cloth and polyurethane varnish which is very good.

[@taylorpearce5007]

@@mikewhite4628 Polyester resin would melt right through the styrene foam and you'd have a mess. Epoxy resins are compatible with styrofoam. The glass reinforcement would create greater stiffness but also much greater strength and toughness.

[@johnnimrodaustria8356]

It would add weight brother

[@aliposhtpazan2625]

God bless you very useful method to glaze foam

[@lee_brooks]

Nice video, the ratio of epoxy to isopropryl was quite high though. I'm going to conduct some tests with less epoxy. Thanks for sharing.

[@MHassib]

Man, big thanks from sunny Egypt and from me for your idea , thats freaking smart , you can almost isolate and waterproof all your scratchbuild plans or even your ready made epos , hell you can even seal floats with possibility are endless, also im gona try also with epoxy resin and polyester

[@edstimator1]

didn't work did it

[@Patrick_Springer]

Thanks! Going to make some interior for my scale RC rock crawler!

[@formbuild1088]

Great stuff ..

[@explorster]

Great job Jeff 👏👍

[@morayjames92]

have you experimented with different types of alcohol's? Methanol, Methyl-hydrate Ethanol etc? I am wondering also if you have found a type of epoxy which sets hard when diluted like this? The epoxy you used and diluted sets to be very flexible almost rubber like. I am looking for a laminating adhesive which is as easy to apply as this is but which sets much harder. thanks.

[@danbixler8297]

It would cost a fortune for a big project....use latex paint..not toxic and you can find mismatched paint for sometimes better than half of new gallon in the box stores. If it needs to be strong, tear straps of material, paint, lay the strips in the paint and paint over it

[@Bags2723]

Im sure it makes it a little stronger and more flexible but that's not fibreglassing. If you really want to strengthen the foam I'd suggest using the same method but with some actual fibreglass cloth.

[@wattwaster5936]

Indeed, some sort of cloth material is needed for actual fiberglass and the fabric is available in super thin, lightweight sheets. I got some from Hobbyking that was so thin and lightweight you could almost see through it.

[@dunsemarang6970]

cool dude! i have an idea making fishing kayak based on foam. this trick should solve the major problem. thanks for sharing xD

[@wattwaster5936]

You will want to look into other options for a Kayak.

[@cadillacescalade5428]

Hi is this just regular 5 min. Epoxy ? I really need to do the nose of my plane. This is a very smart idea I just wished I came across it sooner. Thanks for sharing this truely saves on damages.

[@wattwaster5936]

He doesn't seem to be one to respond to comments. From what he showed I would bet it was a 5 min epoxy and he added almost an equal amount of alcohol. If you don't mind working quickly to give the foam a skin with no reinforcement at a higher cost then other methods, this is useful. If you want to do the same thing with other lower cost products and add less weight, you will want to look into water based furniture varnishes and thin handi-wipes, coffee filters, and a host of other options.

[@cadillacescalade5428]

@@wattwaster5936 Thank You for that reply and info: These people put up videos an thousands of people ask questions but these folks don't wanna respond and help out their followers SMH. it's a bunch of great Video's on here an Allot of the ones I enjoy is foreign about Motors an R/C boats but never posted in English subtitles. This would help also when posting.

[@wattwaster5936]

@@cadillacescalade5428 It is a common problem when wanting more details and the older the video, the worse it gets. Some don't speak, or read English, and they don't spend the time to respond since it isn't easy for them to read the comments in some cases. It just so happens I have played with this application and found other options more useful and less expensive.

[@leonardcooper99]

Does it add much weight? I'm thinking foam gliders. Thanks for the tip.

[@wattwaster5936]

It has been around 5 years since you made this video. Have you tried other ways to do the same thing since?

[@l.r.designstudioslauriesul8993]

The epoxy didn’t shrink or eat at the styrofoam ?

[@wattwaster5936]

There is a small amount of shrinkage, but mostly due to the addition of the alcohol as a thinner.

[@tuyo_adventures.2185]

What kind of epoxy did you use?

[@danielmanchi9084]

Please I would to ask if you I can use polyster resin for carbon or only epoxy and if i want to fibreglass a styrofoam do I have to tape the foam or I can just go and do it, coz I don't if it will end up melting or not.

[@4funrc11]

Very cool! Thx! And please upload some more vids! :)

[@johnmarktamano8834]

by applying glass(epoxy) does it affect the overall weight of the plane?

[@wattwaster5936]

Yes, much heavier.

[@FatGuyFliesRC]

Thanks for the info video!

[@mukhdi80]

Ive got the isopropyl but i havent got the epoxy because the chemical store asking me what kind of epoxy and there is a wide span of epoxy ... could you tell me the brand or the spesific description of epoxy? .. will strlyrofoam glue be the same as epoxy? ... thanks

[@edmundooliver7584]

looks like a glue maybe 5 min epoxy.

[@wattwaster5936]

Yes, there are a lot of epoxy types, but he is using one that is common to the stores he visits and as long as the epoxy doesn't have a petroleum thinner in it, the cheap stuff works fine.

[@TheWarboys]

Hi, great job, please what kind of epoxy is it? Thanks & greetings!Mike

[@DaybirdAviaries]

This is very clever.

[@vikassitap6096]

Thank you very very much

[@cartmanrlsusall]

What's the purpose of the alcohol,?is it to thin the epoxy?

[@rickarda9232]

will the foam melt without the use of alcohol? how much parts of alcohol should be used?

[@wattwaster5936]

Yes, but be sparing with the alcohol.

[@newventure4639]

have you tried using a water based varnish?

[@wattwaster5936]

He doesn't seem to be one to respond to comments.

[@JOEGGGJOE]

Mixing alcohol with epoxy resin? Interesting. Will the epoxy resin lose its strength properties though?

[@wattwaster5936]

Yes since epoxy is thick for a reason, to make it a better binder for reinforcement, which is the primary source of strength in projects it is used for. It is also an expensive option.

[@jessesifuma7900]

Yes alcohol - n-Butanol or isopropanol is an ingredient in epoxy solvents.

[@mallarysangel]

Hey top, can you tell me how this has held up over the last couple of years? -- Or can you elaborate on the longevity based on other experiences? -- And thank-you for the video. I did not know this solution mix was possible.

[@wattwaster5936]

Epoxy is a plastic and like most plastics, it is harmed by expose to various chemicals and sunlight. The more expensive brands offer additives to get around some of the problems to some degree.

[@edstimator1]

@@wattwaster5936 it does fine with paint

[@wattwaster5936]

@@edstimator1 True, a light sanding of the epoxy with a grit of around 160, or a tad higher normally removes the epoxy shine and a lot of paints will adhere to it. The catch is any paints with petroleum products, or thinners can eat the foam if they can.

[@jdsrealisticreviewsrants4482]

Why the alcohol?

[@firmankrisnadi7248]

fantastic......

[@josephdupont]

I want to make a sleeping platform on top of my pickup truck. How think should the foam be?

[@sli1777]

Lol great question I would say 29-1/7” should be a nice sleep with great aero dynamics while driving

[@HartlandOrchard]

Nice ... thanks!

[@md.shamshulanwar143]

Sir, pls inform me after glassing the styrofoam is it waterproof?

[@edstimator1]

If it's done right it is definitely waterproof

[@CMoneyFickyFicky]

What is the point of adding the isopropyl?

[@wattwaster5936]

To make it easier to spread a thin coat that will remain flexible for a period of time before it starts to stiffen and break down.

[@CMoneyFickyFicky]

@@wattwaster5936 thanks!

[@crystalarchibald8625]

@@wattwaster5936 it doesn't melt the foam?

[@wattwaster5936]

@@crystalarchibald8625 No, alcohol doesn't melt foam for those I have tested. Epoxy normally won't either unless you have used acetone, or some other product based on petroleum and normally used as a thinner. The key to thinning epoxy with a high percentage alcohol is to use very little, or the epoxy tends to lose strength and other problems.

[@crystalarchibald8625]

@@wattwaster5936 thank you so much. Watching this video has just really helped me. I did exactly what you explained in your video and my resin is blue because I'm using it for the inside of my fish tank decorations. I wish there was a way that I could show you a picture of how it turned out it was great. I'm not finished yet. Do you have any other information that you could share with me on styrofoam? I work with it a lot and I make fish tank decorations and backgrounds and any information would be greatly appreciated.

[@RickySupriyadi]

fyi graphene can strengthen things, but problem is how to mix it into styrofoam :/

[@rebeccasuzannerustigian1257]

How toxic is the epoxy?

[@wattwaster5936]

Depends on the brand. There have been safety rated epoxy in the past, but it is hard to find. Must have been some issues with the product.

[@edstimator1]

@@wattwaster5936 It is much less toxic than polyester resin.

[@wattwaster5936]

@@edstimator1 Normally that is true. I have used the water based varnish for wood furniture, normally a polycrylic product. It does require over-night curing, or a hair dryer set on low for more than a few hours. You don't want to chance harming the foam, or the varnish.

[@rebeccasuzannerustigian1257]

Are using the styrofoam as insulation in a vehicle, does the epoxy increase the toxicity of the foam board, or lower it. Could you test it with a monitor, or check with the supplier of the brand you are using. Many of us are building out vehicles to live in and would like to use styrofoam or foam board to insulate. Is the epoxy covering the foam board lessens the off-gassing, we would be interested in your application. Will you please provide the name of your product. Thank you.

[@wattwaster5936]

Most of us don't have the equipment, or the skills to be able to give advice about how toxic something is.

[@EngineeringFun]

Kraft paper and Elmer's for much better results.

[@b3poj2d2]

can you do the same with polyester resin?

[@remkojerphanion4686]

No. Polyester will dissolve the foam.

[@gta-6837]

Paint it with (pva) aka....elmers glue or wood glue first. It won't melt then.

[@alpaykasal2902]

no fiberglass used. this is a resin coating... like doing a tabletop.

[@iforce2d]

That's not glass. The video title should be "Epoxying foam". I think you would want something other than 5 minute epoxy if you were covering anything larger than that tiny piece.

[@ghazalsaghatchi8871]

DIY concrete densifier

[@Hwoman1123]

no gloves 😱

[@Farsmezan]

Gloves are cheap.

[@dale3858]

You're asking for major health problems if you handle epoxy without gloves. Also, this is not "glass" or "fiberglass", he is simply putting resin on the foam, I'm sure it's fine for RC airplanes but there is no "real" strength in this method.