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slicksister
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bullet Topic: Anyone heard of gatorfoam?
    Posted: 10/06/08 at 12:53am

I was told by someone in the Chicago area that they use it to cut and carve for set pieces to achieve dimension.  Like a relief.  Apparently it's 1/2 inch thick and pink in color. Then  they paint it.  They said they got it at Home Depot but I called around and no one here in California has a clue what it is.  They've directed me to the insulation type foam with the silver on both sides but I don't think that's it.  Can anyone steer me in the right direction?  By the way I googled it and the product I got is what I would call foam core so...perhaps the foam in the middle is what I'm looking for but how/where to find it?

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TonyDi
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bullet Posted: 10/06/08 at 7:19am
Originally posted by slicksister

I was told by someone in the Chicago area that they use it to cut and carve for set pieces to achieve dimension.  Like a relief.  Apparently it's 1/2 inch thick and pink in color. Then  they paint it.  They said they got it at Home Depot but I called around and no one here in California has a clue what it is.  They've directed me to the insulation type foam with the silver on both sides but I don't think that's it.  Can anyone steer me in the right direction?  By the way I googled it and the product I got is what I would call foam core so...perhaps the foam in the middle is what I'm looking for but how/where to find it?

 
Yeah, it's just another version of the BLUE insulation foam - really more dense than the white styrofoam that goes everywhere when you cut it or do anything with it.  AVOID that stuff.  The BLUE or PINK foam sheets (about 4' X 8' sheets) can be gotten at LOWES, HOME DEPOT or any other larger home supply store like that.  The pink is harder to find but the blue is about the same thing.  We've used it a lot for creating woodwork rather than buying actual lumber for crown moldings, baseboards, 3/4 round, door and window framing trim, etc.,  PLUS I even used it cut in 1" strips (on a table saw [but be prepared the dust it creates] for flutes on 12" round columns made from concrete form tubes stacked).  We had a guy who had a router table with the bits that would cut the more ornate shapes for crown molding and baseboards and such.  SO it's a VERY useful product.  DON'T know the reason some call it gator foam - sounds like a name it's been given.  It's just another version of the blue insulation foam and is manufactured for the same purpose.  Check to see if you have a company locally that deals in supply for insulation companies.  I think the blue and pink might be slightly different densities - but the blue works just as well as the pink for this purpose.  Has TONS and TONS of uses.  Can be milled, carved, textured (carefully as pressing on it will leave impression) and cut with a razor knife or a hot wire foam cutter - though have good ventilation - stuff stinks when cut with a hot wire foam cutter.  You can glue sheets together to create really thick pieces - though again be aware of the kinds of glue as some might destroy the foam.  Spray adhesives may be ok - certain brands, certain kinds.  Rubber cement has a strong solvent in it that would melt the foam - but things like plain white Elmers or other wood glue brushed on thinly would allow to stack pieces together for a really thick piece of foam (it's 1" to begin with).  And that way you can have larger pieces made from thicker pieces.  Just be aware the solvents in the glue and how they can potentially melt the foam away.  HOT glue works but even the heat from that can make it melt away.  Low temperature glue might be ok but again TEST to be sure.
 
LOOK for the BLUE insulation foam as well in Lowes, Home Depot or other large store like those.  Works as well as the pink.  PLUS when you cut to shape - you can coat it with a variety of things to have a hard surface that won't easily indent.  BUT be careful what you use as many paints, solvents or other kinds of coatings will have stuff in them that can literally melt the foam.  But things like Apoxy Sculpt, plaster (specifically drywall mud), or some other coatings created specifically for coating foam will not break down the foam.  Just be aware and try on a small disposable piece if you intend to try to use something you're unsure of.
 
Good luck.
 
 
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bullet Posted: 10/06/08 at 7:21am

Gatorfoam is a type of foam core, but it has a wood-fiber veneer on the outside instead of the posterboard covering. 

Try printing out the information you found on the product and taking it to your local Home Depot-type store.  Ask if they can order it for you, or if their warehouse carries it.  You may, however, need to order it from a company that sells the product.
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bullet Posted: 10/07/08 at 12:18am
TonyDi - that's gotta be it!  Thanks for the info. 
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bullet Posted: 10/07/08 at 7:02am
Meant to also tell you that there is a thin plastic layer on the sheets of foam - both sides - that they print on.  That can be peeled off (and should) before painting it.  The printing usually does bleed through the plastic and leave a ghost of whatever is printed on the foam but a couple coats of paint and it vanishes.  Plus you can use a primer on it if you want which will add a coat of paint before you paint it the color you want it to be.  But it's great stuff to work with and has as many uses as you can think of. NOT sturdy necessarily - you can poke a hole in it easily. We've used it for baseboards and trim and such and people HAVE poked holes in it by being too rambunctious!  But under normal conditions (unless you hard coat it with something) it should be fine though you have to treat it carefully.
 
Good luck
 
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bullet Posted: 10/10/08 at 1:03am
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bullet Posted: 10/10/08 at 1:51pm
Uh, did you look at the price of this stuff?  YIKES!!! WHO on earth could afford that compared to the relatively CHEAP blue or pink foam insulation?  FAR FAR cheaper and actually the only thing missing is the paper on the front and back like standard foam-core board.  WAY too expensive for theater use unless the budgets are huge!! ANYway it's an alternative link and good to know there is such a thing called that.  I thought that was someone's coined name - but I stand corrected.  STILL think the pink or blue insulation foam even if you had to have 2" thick sheets (double layer the stuff) would be FAR cheaper though.  Good find however.
 
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bullet Posted: 10/10/08 at 3:53pm
The thing about Gator board is this - it does not destroy easily (like the pink or blue) and is very lightweight. So if you need it for a "longtime" application, Gatorboard can work. And you're right - it IS expensive.  Also, it's outer "skin" is more like a wood veneer as opposed to paper of foamcore.
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bullet Posted: 10/24/08 at 4:51pm
Just wanted to let ya'll know I did find "the pink stuff'  haven't tried it yet but I'm sure it's the right stuff.  Got it at Home Depot.  Thanks for your help.  I'll let you know how it works. 
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