Damaging the dio with Floquil........

[fhvn4d]

So, I was all excited to try my first ever use of Floquil paints. I had some aged concrete that looked too appealing NOT to try on my current project......



unfortunately for me, thats styrofoam under casting plaster..... For those of you who know floquil products, can you now teach me why it ate the styrofoam like gasoline!!!?



This is what it does to styrofoam in a more graphic picture.



Fortunately, I still had some plaster powder not mixed... I quickly soaked the areas that were eaten away (mostly in the corners and edges)and spread dry powder onto the water. It seems to have stopped the melting process the floquil was causing as it contacted the styrofoam, and SOFAR actually seems to have filled in quickly.

[TRM]

Hey Brian! Things are looking great!! Nice base piece and looking forward to seeing more of your progress!!

When it comes to the EPS (Expanded Polystyrene and XPS - Extruded Polystyrene...blue or pink foam board) Floquil will act pretty much the same as gasoline as it is solvent based. Polystyrene, ESP and XPS especially will go through a chemical reaction changing the properties of the polystyrene. Lacquer thinner, paint thinner, Xylene, Lemon Juice and a list of other powerful solvents will do the trick. Contact cement is one of these...found out from experience years ago trying to attach veneer over the EPS.

Apparently there might have been a pin hole or two in the plaster base allowing the Floquil to do what it does best...flow. A good sealer should prevent future mishaps but it might be best to switch to an acrylic when working with EPS and XPS.

[John Everett]

There are a couple of things you might try. First, if it's not too late, or for future builds, switch to the blue or pink insulation foam sold at home centers. It will still melt if exposed to powerful solvents, but is much more resistant to things like minerals spirits and oil based hobby paint. Second, if you're committed to the styrofoam, try covering it in a thin later of acrylic caulk from the bathroom/ paint section of the home center. Use a damp sponge to smooth the caulk when it's new and then sprinkle in the concrete/plaster dust when the surface is still sticky. The caulk provides a protective layer if you then want to go back and use oil paint. (Avoid the silicone based caulk. You want acrylic based. DAP is one common brand name.)

Sorry about the damage. But it looks like you caught it before things went too far.

[fhvn4d]

excellent advice gents!!!
Im goin to have to try all of those suggestions.... maybe just build another base for the sake of comparison!

[kostas]

It looks as if the Alien spilled some blood on your base   . You should always paint the styrofoam
and everything like that with a couple of acrylic based colors layers so you can proceed with colors
that use thinners like the Floquils.