Can anyone lead me to a source for something to paint/coat over styrofoam to make it rock hard like?
I know there's a liquid formula that you can paint over carved styrofoam sculpture to make it really hard for outdoor use.
Thanks

http://www.filmandvideolighting.com/rofocoforsta.html

You can get Rosco products from many dealers, here is one of them. This is made for theater and is non toxic

Thanks Illusiontech.That is a very useful information.Looks like a greta product.Have you used it outdoors before? I am looking for a more permanent installation.

This guy runs a shop in Salt Lake City..

I've bought from him.. his customer service is second to none.. and his foamcoat is cheaper and in my opinon, better than the Rosco stuff..

he also has some other GREAT products he makes..

http://www.fxsupply.com/steves/steves.html

Thanks Makeup guy.I've ordered from him before and he's a great guy.Thanks for reminding me.

Whatever happened to "Fleckstone" spray paint? didn't this product used to come in approx 100 different varieties? Now I can't find it anywhere...

Not sure what you are trying to do but you could use fiber-glass or carbon fiber to make it rock hard. they also sell Kevlar in a cloth that can be placed over the styro foam to make it rock hard. (all three applications are very similar to firberglass application just cloth and resin) if you have a vacum packer you can actualy vacum seal the carbon cloth onto the styrofoam

I suggested the rosco for interior theater applications because of the fire safety concerns. If you are outside, I would go cheaper.

check this video out as well....there are many like this online from the coating companies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W194pYqU4l0

Thanks for the link.There are three things that I am looking into.
1) I am a puppet maker and want to find ways to make my marionettes parts lighter and tougher.
2) I want to make some outdoor display props that I can leave in the sun and the rain.Children and adults will want to pose and take pictures so it has to be tough and durable.
3) I am also wanting light and tough props for my shows

Since styrofoam is cheap and easy to carve and is light,I thought coating it will be a logical solution unless someone can point me to alternative materials and methods.

I always wanted to try this. I have used concrete toppings with acrylic binders for floors/walls that you can trowel on very thin (1/8" - 3/4"). Waterproof and suitable for your outside projects. You can texture it to make fake stone walls. It is used a lot in the casinos in Las Vegas. The big pond at Belliago is made with it. It's called SEMCO x-bond and X-bond liquid (www.semcomfg.com)
There is also a product call spraytop that is a spray applied concrete topping that would be perfect. I have used this with the Semco X-bond liquid (arcylic binder) and it worked well and sticks to everything and doesn't disolve styrofoam (solvent free).
These are flexible to a point and easy to repair. The spray is a real speciality thing that requires special equipment. X-bond is pretty simple.
Most of these products are readily available in Vegas and CA. Less so in the rest of the country.

PM me if you live near Maryland, I have some Semco X-bond toppping/liquid you can test.

Tom Paxton

Hey, depending on your use, ther is something called plaster Cloth from Woodland Scenics. It's used to make mountains in train displays. It is acatuslly plaster impregnated gauze and the final product is very strong and rock like. Here's a link: http://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.c......ormation

You can also paint it with just about any kind of paint. Not sure if will work for your use but I thought I'd mention it.

Thanks Guys,That is really very useful informations.Thanks Tom,I sure wish I live in Vegas or CA! I am halfway around the world!
I've never heard of concrete topping.I've go check it out.
Plaster Cloth is great for some of the stuff I do.

Joseph Gabriel makes his own marionettes, and I know he uses products from "Smooth on"

http://www.smooth-on.com/

Maps you might want to look into my suggestion of carbon fiber. I am a Canoe Racer. I race carbon fiber canoes these canoes are 18 foot 6 inches long made of carbon fiber and only weigh 20 lbs. our paddles which are also carbon fiber are only 7 ounces in weight. the Blade of the paddle is Styrofoam wrapped in carbon and they are very strong. The gunwales of the boat are also Styrofoam wrapped in carbon fiber. very light weigh and very durable. The problem you might have is getting paint to adhere to it. but it is worth a look.

I did try to contact Smooth On to purchase silicon molding and urethane casting products a couple of times but they didn't reply.So I am looking for more information for other suppliers.
I wanted to work with carbon fiber but they are very expensive here and limited supplies.
Do you apply carbon fiber and resin as you would normal fiberglass? I tied fiberglass and they are so heavy!
Thank you everyone for your kind responses! You have been very helpful.