Jenny, I always buy bulk Insulfoam from Foam dealers in order to have them cut to specifications. While shooting this video, which you should buy and see the whole display come together, I ordered the insulfoam from Styro Material Co. in Denver Colorado. I have a similar company here in Albuquerque which I use. Hope this helps. Ken
You can usually get large sheets at your local home improvement store and then cut them down and stack pieces into blocks/chunks as needed. A great way to acquire foam and be "green" in the process is to check with local appliance and computer stores, which may normally throw away the EPS foam they accumulate from packaging. Let us know if you have any other questions. Good luck with your display!!
Here is display artist Ken Shirley's reply: The question from BDASabrina was what I was using to cut the thin styro. I used Hot Wire Foam Factory tools exclusively. The thin pieces were cut with the sculpting tool most often and highlighted with the engraving tool. Your question concerning "thin pieces" is open ended on exactly which technique you are referring. Hope this helps. Get back to me with better specifics if I can add anything. Ken
Look for EPS insulation foam in the insulation department of your local hardware supplier. It comes in big 4ft x 8ft sheets. It is usually 1 or 2 inches thick - perfect for terracing your village display. You will have to remove the Mylar coating. The DOW Blueboard or Owens Corning Pinkboard insulation will also work. It is denser and doesn't have the little white beads. It is much tougher to cut with hot wire tools, but cuts very cleanly. Be sure to sand the factory surfaces before gluing. Never cut other kinds of foams without asking the manufacturer of the foam if there are any health or safety when cutting their foam with a hot wire.
looking for some lighting advice as well. Tryting to figure a way to have the lighting color in houses and on streets to change colors (RGBW) and move to music. Preferably LED bulbs
Thank you soo much for sharing your wisdom.I have shared this video on a facebook page called OUR ALL YEAR AROUND CHRISTMAS.As the groups name says,it's all about christmas,villaging ect.Feel free to join and share with lots and lots of fun people,From Australia to Norway.And for all of you reading this,come join the fun too.Best wishes Paulina
Jenny,
I always buy bulk Insulfoam from Foam dealers in order to have them cut to specifications. While shooting this video, which you should buy and see the whole display come together, I ordered the insulfoam from Styro Material Co. in Denver Colorado. I have a similar company here in Albuquerque which I use. Hope this helps.
Ken
Thank you for sharing! I should have shot video when building my first village! Perhaps I should video my annual re-building!
Absolutely! We'd love to see it if you do!
You can usually get large sheets at your local home improvement store and then cut them down and stack pieces into blocks/chunks as needed. A great way to acquire foam and be "green" in the process is to check with local appliance and computer stores, which may normally throw away the EPS foam they accumulate from packaging. Let us know if you have any other questions. Good luck with your display!!
Here is display artist Ken Shirley's reply: The question from BDASabrina was what I was using to cut the thin styro.
I used Hot Wire Foam Factory tools exclusively. The thin pieces were cut with the sculpting tool most often and highlighted with the engraving tool. Your question concerning "thin pieces" is open ended on exactly which technique you are referring. Hope this helps. Get back to me with better specifics if I can add anything.
Ken
Look for EPS insulation foam in the insulation department of your local hardware supplier. It comes in big 4ft x 8ft sheets. It is usually 1 or 2 inches thick - perfect for terracing your village display. You will have to remove the Mylar coating.
The DOW Blueboard or Owens Corning Pinkboard insulation will also work. It is denser and doesn't have the little white beads. It is much tougher to cut with hot wire tools, but cuts very cleanly. Be sure to sand the factory surfaces before gluing.
Never cut other kinds of foams without asking the manufacturer of the foam if there are any health or safety when cutting their foam with a hot wire.
I started my collection 5 years ago and hope to expand my village set just like this! Where did you get all the big chunks of styrofoam?
great work, what a project!!
can you tell me what you are using to cut the thin styro material??
Love the display my problem is acquiring Styrofoam. Can anyone tell me where I can procure Styrofoam?
What type of lighting did you use behind the back pieces? Thanks for a beautiful village!
looking for some lighting advice as well. Tryting to figure a way to have the lighting color in houses and on streets to change colors (RGBW) and move to music. Preferably LED bulbs
Thank you soo much for sharing your wisdom.I have shared this video on a facebook page called OUR ALL YEAR AROUND CHRISTMAS.As the groups name says,it's all about christmas,villaging ect.Feel free to join and share with lots and lots of fun people,From Australia to Norway.And for all of you reading this,come join the fun too.Best wishes Paulina