RE: Toroids from Foam

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Malcolm Watts by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <m.j.watts-at-massey.ac.nz>

Hi Mike and foam toroid makers,

On 2 Sep 2002, at 18:42, Tesla list wrote:

> Original poster: "Mike Wood by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
<mike.wood-at-opennw-dot-com>
> 
> 
> Hi Steve
> 
> following on from this sound advice about testing adhesives and paints and
> stuff - if you're using anything like PVA glue (white woodworking
> glue/Elmers(?)) then it won't attack the foam because it's water-based, but
> you do need to make sure it's completely dry before covering the toroid.
> The water can sometimes eat your covering - I rushed one of mine once when
> trying to cover the form with aluminium foil, and ended up with little holes
> in the foil after a while where the water had eaten its way through.  You
> might be safer with foil tape but it would still be a shame if it made it
> lift or bubble.

I once tried PVA and found it to be hopeless - it stays wet in places 
not exposed to air or a wooden surface. The stuff I use is a contact 
adhesive known as "Styrobond" and specially formulated for the 
purpose.

Regards,
malcolm
 
> I've tried painting shaped foam toroids before covering as well - just with
> plain acrylic undercoat or something, and it seemed to work quite well in
> flattening the fuzz caused by sanding, and gives a smoother surface for
> sticking the covering on.
> 
> cheers
> 
> Mike
> Wellington, NZ
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Original poster: "Terry Fritz" <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>
> 
> Hi Steve,
> 
> Just a tip.
> 
> Be sure to test any paints, glues, or other chemicals first on a scrape
> piece of foam.  Many such chemicals will attack and melt Styrofoam into a
> gooey blob!
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> 	Terry
> 
> 
> >
> 
> 
> 
>