Dollar store foam mats saved my Mandalorian armor build

So I finally decided to tackle a full Mandalorian cosplay after wanting to do it for like 2 years. Last month I priced out the foam at craft stores and nearly had a heart attack, $30 for a single sheet of the good stuff. Then I was at the dollar store buying snacks and spotted these interlocking foam floor mats for $4 a pack, 4 squares each. I grabbed 6 packs and used my hot knife to cut out all the armor pieces, chest plate, shoulder bells, the whole thing. The foam is a bit thinner than the craft store stuff but it actually bends easier for curved pieces. I sealed it with some cheap PVA glue mixed with water and it took spray paint perfectly. Has anyone else had luck with these mats for armor or props? I'm wondering if they'll hold up at a convention all day.

2 comments

2 Comments

lisa8205d ago

Oh boy, PVA glue won't seal foam for paint, you need something like Plastidip.

parkernelson5d agoTop Commenter

Three coats of PVA on a cosplay sword and it peeled off like dried snot the next day. I saw a guy at a con last year with a foam shield that looked like it had mange because he used school glue as a sealer. Plastidip works fine but that stuff stinks to high heaven and you gotta do it outside. Or just use mod podge if you want something that actually stays put and doesn't look like a disaster after one hour of walking around.