Styrofoam, the soft, lightweight material that most are familiar with from its use as insulation and product packaging, is a common material used in crafts and hobby projects.Whether you're working on something for school or just making your own crafts for fun, knowing how to properly glue Styrofoam to a variety of surfaces can allow you to make strong, sturdy projects.You can see Step 1 below.
Step 1: Simple needs can be met with basic craft glue.
The easiest way to glue Styrofoam is to use ordinary white glue.For gluing Styrofoam to construction paper, cardboard, and wood, this basic glue works well.It's a great choice for simple projects because it is the cheapest and most accessible option.White school glue is safe and kid-friendly.It tends to be messy.Eileen's tacky glue is thicker and less messy.While school glue is cheap and versatile, it may not be as strong or long- lasting as more expensive specialty glues, so you might not want to use it for projects where Styrofoam will be put under stress.White glue is the best for attaching large blocks of Styrofoam.
Step 2: You can use Styrofoam glue.
Certain glues are developed to be used with Styrofoam.The glue, sometimes marketed as "Styroglue", is usually fairly affordable, but can be more difficult to find than ordinary school glue.Styrofoam glue can be purchased at arts and crafts stores.Before purchasing Styrofoam glue, check the label.Some Styrofoam glues are formulated for use only on Styrofoam, while others are suitable for gluing Styrofoam to other surfaces.
Step 3: Use spray.
Aerosol glues, which are often available at hardware stores for $10 or less per can, offer a quick and convenient way to glue Styrofoam.Because these sprays are intended for home usage, they work on a variety of surfaces.One low-price glue is said to be able to bind foam materials to metal, plastic, paper, cardboard, and wood.It's a good idea to test the glue on an area.If the glue doesn't say whether or not it's safe to use on Styrofoam, you might want to test it.spray paint can melt Styrofoam.When attaching large blocks of Styrofoam, it is best to use spray adhesives because they are low-tack.Attaching two Stryofoam balls together is not a good idea.
Step 4: Use hot glue guns.
Hot glue guns can be used to bind Styrofoam to many different craft surfaces, like paper, cardboard, wood, and so on.The cooler is better when using a hot gun glue.Styrofoam can be burned or melt by extra-hot glue.Hot glue guns are great for attaching small Styrofoam objects.They are good for Styrofoam balls.The fumes that come from burning Styrofoam are not likely to hurt you immediately, but they can contain a variety of toxic chemicals.Styrene and benzene are suspected to be cancer-causing agents.
Step 5: Don't use a specific type of glue.
When it comes to Styrofoam glue, you'll want to stay away from glues that are specifically designed to work on other materials other than Styrofoam.While some of these glues may work well with Styrofoam, many may not work better than cheap, basic craft glue, making this an inefficient use of your money.Styrofoam and other plastic can be dissolved by some specialty glues.
Step 6: Don't glue with a plastic solvent.
Styrofoam is a plastic product, so it's easy to forget.Styrofoam is plastic that has been mixed with air, resulting in its light weight.Because Styrofoam is plastic-based, you'll want to avoid using glues that have a solvent in them.You may ruin your project if you use one of these.Beer and acetone can be found in rubber cement, a fairly strong, flexible adhesive.It's a poor choice for Styrofoam to have acetone, the active ingredient in nail polish remover, in it.Styrofoam may be suitable for some rubber cements.
Step 7: Prepare your surfaces by cleaning them.
Styrofoam is easy to work with if you have the right glue and stick it to the other surface.It's always a good idea to clear each surface of dirt and debris with a clean, dry rag before gluing.The bonding action of the glue can be affected by a dirty or dusty surface.The effective hold of your glue may be reduced if you glue to aappy surface, like a rough piece of wood with lots of surface imperfections.You may want to try and make the surface more regular by using 200 or higher sandpaper.
Step 8: Put the glue on.
Put your glue on the Styrofoam surface when you're ready to start.If you want the strongest hold, use a thin, even layer.If you don't want a very strong hold, you can use beads or lines of glue.If you want to apply glue to a large piece of Styrofoam, pour the glue into a tray and use a paintbrush.This will ensure that the glue goes on quickly and evenly, which will prevent any sections of glue from drying out while others are still being applied.White tacky glue or a hot glue gun can be used if you are working with small pieces.Plan to work quickly if you are using a hot gun.Within minutes, the glue will set.Styrofoam balls can be reinforced with toothpicks.You might want to stick a toothpick into one of the Stryofoam balls if you are going to glue them together.This will help hold the balls together.Flat objects have more surface area than round objects.
Step 9: Attach the Styrofoam to something.
When you're ready, press your piece of Styrofoam into the other surface.To make sure the glue comes in contact with the other surface, press down gently.Depending on the type of glue and the amount you used, you'll usually have at least a minute or so during which you can easily slide your Styrofoam around, so use this time to make any minor adjustments that you need to.For extra hold, you may want to glue the edges of your Styrofoam to the other surface.Don't use more than you need to make a thin line or seam.
Step 10: Allow time to dry.
All you have to do is wait.Depending on the size of your project and the amount of glue you used, your drying time may vary from a few minutes to many hours.If you need to re- apply glue or start the drying process over, don't disturb your project.Sturdy objects should be used if necessary.It's a good idea to prop your project up while it dries.When it is cold, hot glue will set up quicker.If it is cold or humid, some glues need more time to set.
Step 11: Styrofoam's strength is low.
Most of the gluing methods described in this article for Styrofoam are at least somewhat strong and shouldn't fail under normal conditions once the glue has dried.Styrofoam is an extremely weak and fragile building material.It's not hard to accidentally chip or break Styrofoam projects on walls, door frames, or other obstructions, glue or no, so remember to handle styrofoam with care even after drying is complete.