I have been building costumes for near 30 years and have used alot of materials, it was just in the past few years worbla has become availible readily and takes some skill (as with any material) TEST TEST TEST!!!!! Each material behaves in its own way. Back in the 70s and 80s I used lots of upholstery foam in various thicknesses and treatment for finishing . So try what you can afford or can find easily availible and remember there are NO mistakes only learning experiences !
Thank you so much for this! The particles dust from the EVA is what convinced me to use worbla instead, as I have two cats and I don’t have access to a special place where they can’t go.
I love that adage; use what you have on hand or what's accessible. I've noticed when I've gone out and bought new, impressive materials that I didn't get results comparable to what I could have done with what I was used to. Thanks for the info!
Thanks for this video! I'm at cross roads with a build right now trying to decide which to use. I have minimal Eva foam experience and have used worbla in the past. I see people rock both materials like masters and this vid laying them out with pros and cons is great.
This was insanely helpful. I'm looking at building a version of Pepper Potts armor, having never dabbled in armor builds before. I think before I drop a ton of money on worbla, I"ll try working with EVA foam first. Thank you SO much for explaining everything as thoroughly as you did!
You're great and sooo accessible! Just learning to build armour and going back and forth between worbla and foam, nice to see the pros and cons of each. Many thanks!
Great video, very informative. 2 more pros and cons that I think are important to mention regarding wearing the armor once it's made: - Worbla is a lot heavier and less comfortable to wear than EVA foam. After a long day at a convention wearing my armor I tend to swear to myself that my next armor will be made out of EVA foam. - However, since EVA is softer than Worbla, it gets damaged easier and faster. With Worbla the most common damage you get is some paint chipping and/or scratching, which is not that hard to touch up. But with EVA, you can get some wrinkles in certain areas that tend to be squished or forced to bend when you move or sit, etc. It can also be accidentally pierced with pointy props or other objects if you're not careful. And both those things are a little harder to touch up than simple paint chips on Worbla armor. Edit: Examples of armor I made with: - Worbla: facebook.com/thethreequeenscosplay/photos/a.659856767454817.1073741828.659365590837268/860064357434056/?type=3&theater - EVA foam: facebook.com/thethreequeenscosplay/photos/a.659856767454817.1073741828.659365590837268/842212509219241/?type=3&theater
+J_glez07 Thanks. That's one build I'm very proud of. I didn't unfortunately take any video of the process. I did take a lot of work in progress pictures though. I really need to do a write up and post those someday. There's a gallery of pictures of the full costume on my website: www.coregeek.net/#/fierce-deity-link/ FWIW.
About to start my first armor build ever for Dragon Con, and I'm still at a loss of which to do! I had originally planned on EVA, since it's relatively cheap, but I see a lot of stellar cosplays with Worbla... It's my first build, so I could use all the help I can get. But, since I'm brand new to this, either is going to be what it is. This video was actually super-helpful, thanks!
Maggie Ulrich I'd say start with something cheaper, that way you get used to building armor. Since Worbla is so much more expensive, it seems like it should be used when you have more experience
Thanks, I've been working with the EVA, and am quite pleased with how it's turning out! Maybe I'll branch out to Worbla with time, but for the most part, this is all I needed.
Hi great video for most of my build iam using eva form love the cost and very easey for any form my build is a cylon centurion eva is great for all the body parts but might use something different for the head
Thank you ❤ i've Been making cosplays for a long time, but i have avoided cosplays with armour because im a bit scared of it, but this gave me som good info that i will need for my next cosplay
V informative. I'm trying to figure out a plan for a deer skull mask and have been looking for smth a little more durable than galvanized wire and air-dry clay like I was initially planning. I think I'm going to go with eva, just because I want a smoother finish and I don't think I'll mind putting in the extra work too much to get the curves right. Thanks!
Great video :-) I always use my EVA foam scraps for applying contact adhesive - I cut pieces on the bias and they work much better as disposable glue spreaders than brushes, and it doesn’t matter that I have to throw them away after a few uses - and no ruined brushes :)
Thank you very much for this video I’ve been introduced to both recently as alternatives to papier-mâché/artist board? It’s basically paper that use a craft knife or scissors to cut. And I was wondering what they were what they look like and how easy they are to work with. Some cosplayers I spoke to like EVA foam and others like Warbler I mean I would like to try both to see how I get on. I think it’s whatever you think the material you can either afford and test with and also what you personally prefer because some materials are better than others at different things it depends on what it’s going to be useful. But thank you for a very informative video. I’m very much an Amata cosplayer but maybe in time I’ll become better I’ve just got a do a few things first such as not doing it at the last minute LOL.
Thanks for this! I just bought a jumbo sheet of Worbla and, yeah...expensive. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with my EVA scraps as well. (teeth, scales, small parts, reinforcing struts?) boxes and boxes of the stuff.
That giant box of EVA foam made me laugh. ive personally never done any cosplay but ive been following Andrew DTFs ODST tutorials and wanna make one. now i know to get a big box ready BTW very informative video
very informative. well done. you seem to stand with the big boys like, evil ted and bill Durand. great job. learned a lot. I'm just starting out, blundering my way thru. this learning curve is sometimes fun and lot of the times discouraging. Hope I get the hang of it fairly quickly.
Hey there. I work with several materials for props and costumes. Warbla / brown / black / and clear. EVA foam and Sintra (Sign Board) the Sintra board is a pvc thermal plastic that requires krazy glue to adhere two pieces..side note. Don't miss the mark. Once glued you're screwed. Perfectly sandable for a smooth finish. 0-10 difficulty level to work with EVA foam (2) Warbla(6) Sintra(5) Warbla becomes like cookie dough thats incredibly sticky great for sculpting if you like hot Playdough. Sintra although also needs heat to shape it will not stick to everything but it also doesn't stretch as much and is as thick as 4 layers of warbla. Once cool, sand prime and paint. Very ridged parts.
much needed video great job quick and clean, but hey I'm wanting to make a wolverine cowl which one should I go with and I've never work with either one before but I'm very sure of my crafting skills so please let me know if you can thanks!!
+John Turner I'd start with foam. The buy-in is much less expensive. I highly recommend Punished Props Foamsmith books to learn all about creating with foam. punishedprops.com/product-category/ref-mats/
This is great! I got into costume building with foam about four years ago. I made a cyberman for my son for Halloween...At the time, all the really good builders were more interested in showing off their creations vs teaching their methods. I gave up and went into premade kit building...I popped online a few months ago and found Evil Ted, Punished Props, a few others and now your channel...and I'm so excited. You were the builders I was looking for years ago...Thanks for doing that you do! Take care, - Billy
Glad you're finding all of us. Bill and Ted are friends of mine they're great makers and excellent resources who really care about giving to the community.
Great video! I like how you explain things and enjoyed listening to the pros and cons of both materials. what is your opinion on mixing them? Because Worbla being moldable makes it seem a little easier for intricate details that you could then lay on an Eva foam base.
Admittedly, I'm a newbie at fabrication but for me the biggest con of EVA foam is, as Eric mentioned, that the scraps cannot be melted or reshaped to be reused so they accumulate fast and take up a lot of space. And what's worse (I don't think he mentioned this) the foam CANNOT be recycled in any way! Maybe it can be reused in some other project as filler but when you consider that the scraps of Worbla get 'reabsorbed' by the next project and every last bit is used, it makes a lot of sense to use it more despite its higher price. Any pros disagree with my take on this?
I'm planning on building Nazgul gauntlets out of Worbla Black Art. Might several layers of Worbla be strong enough to serve as the different gauntlet parts. I also want to use a hinge for the thumb part; an ideas how to attach; riviting or anchering with another layer of WBA?
Awesome video man! I’m fairly new to cosplay, I just created my first piece of armor. A bracer for my Link cosplay, I used Eva foam but covered it with fabric so I didn’t have to paint it. I’m a bit confused on paint. I’m creating a Hylian Shield with 1/2” thick insulation foam and then Eva foam on top of it. I’ve heard of epsilon but you said I could use plastidip ? I’m much more familiar with plastidip. So you said you just put a few coats of plastidip onto the foam ? And then put spray paint primer and normal spray paint after that ? Since it’s a shield do you think I should use epsilon because you said it hardens it a bit ? Sorry for so many questions. I really enjoyed your video
Well you could use either, or. If you go with Plastidip make sure to cover insultion foam parts with a sealer like modge podge or wood glue first. Plastidip will melt Insulation foam but can go directly onto EVA foam. as for epsilon instead of plastidip it just depends on what you want to do. With a couple coats of epsilon on you can sand, fill, prime. That's not really possible with plastidip.
Very good and quite in-depth review of these materials. Subscribed, because it's clear that you're dedicated to these videos :) And you're very informative. The thing I think this video is lacking is a recap of what worbla is good for, and what EVA is good for. I'm still not an expert, but I know that there are situations where it's better/easier to use worbla and situations where you can just use EVA with pretty much the same (or better) effect and 90% less work (like the sanding you mentioned) Other than that it was a very good video and I'll definitely come back tomorrow to watch more of your stuff. And don't take it personally because I possibly MIGHT be just a little bit drunk right now ^^"
+PsiQss Ha. Thanks for the feedback. I agree with you there are things that just work well for one material or the other. It mostly depends on the person using the material and their comfort zone/experience with each material though.
I think its kinda amusing how much cheeper worbla is in europe. We only pay 54€ which is about 56 US dollars for the XL sheet. Thanks for the review, it was very helpful :D
nice video and to be honest I built my armor out of EVA foam plus a con for the foam to paint it I have to do 3-4 coats of plastidip so it doesn't absorb the paint
Thank you so much for this . I have one question ( I'm new to this so I don't know if this makes sense haha ) if I wanted to make a woman's torso armor out of foam and then detail it with worbla ,would that be possible ? Or would I have to sandwich craft foam with worbla and then detail over it ? Thanks :)
hey I just would like you're opinion on something. So I've have been given that task to make a Papyrus cosplay for a friend on mine and I just wanted your opinion on what material I should make his chest plate out of. This will me one of my first ever made cosplays made so it would be great to grab your advice, thanks.
+Mike Bogle I've used it on prop builds but haven't done armor from it yet. It is fairly easy to work with. It's not quite as easy to shape as EVA or worbla but it has some great advantages like no smoothing because it's already a smooth sheet and it's quite strong as well. I've seen some incredible armor made from it.
im attempting to make the doom marine armour from the latest doom game, a lot of the shapes look like theyd be crazy hard to do with eva foam, do you reckon worbla would be my best bet?
So I'm going to make a Robin costume, so I need to know if I can glue a canvas/denim looking material over the worbla armor, which would be glued over an UnderArmor shirt
+That Skinny White Guy You should be able to adhere your material directly over the worbla with contact cement. You may try using Barge or DAP Weldwood brands
Great vid! I'm looking to do a Lady Loki design, and I have a lot planned in my head, but, I was thinking I'd do a combination of both materials. Is it possible to get a similar finish and more specifically color with both materials when painting them, or will one be way off from the other? Thanks.
+Sandra C I think it's possible. What's really going to make the difference is the prep for painting stage. The surface texture is where the difference will be seen. You'll probably want to test samples on scraps to see if you can get a surface match. That's going to depend on what type of sealers/smoothing techniques you decide to use on the worbla. Also it would probably be better to use black worbla since I've heard it much easier to smooth.
Coregeek Props My plans were to definitely Gesso the both materials, and based on your experience, sand the worbla and use wood filler. Thanks for the tips and hints. And yes, I will test things on scraps before anything.
The sanding problem with EVA foam is solved. Stand behind a large box fan sucking all the particles in. If that's not enough, then fasten together large cardboard boxes to make a tunnel leading to the outside of your garage, where the fan blows into the tunnel. The backside (suction side) of the fan is where you work.
I am trying to make some skyrim nightingale armor for halloween (ik its super early but dang i love skyrim, who doesnt?) i used to think foam wast durable. But now that you gave me the basic run-down i can try to convince my mom to craft t rather than spending $1,000 on etsy for one.
Standard Worbla. Black has a much smoother finish and can be smooth with only a few coats of filler primer. I made this video before Black was invented.
Hey really cool vid! But i have a question. I am from austria and Barge Cement glue costs here about 120$ and do you have any cheaper ideas for gluing EVA Foam?
Hello, I'm currently building Audrey 2 pods 3 and 4. I'm looking at using one of these to do the lips. We are using pipe insulation foam tubs to give the lips dimension. But I need something on the top to paint and be durable. Any comments
quick question. do you HAVE to sandwich eva foam or craft foam between worbla or can one just use worbla as is, without the foam in between. I have a street hockey helmet as a base that I want to put worbla on and that's why I wonder this.
EpicAwesomeYo Worbla becomes very limp once you heat it. Foam is just a cheap way to help stiffen it and retain shape. It can be used over most other hard materials as well.
I have a bit of a "newb" question for you. Im just starting out with crafting some stuff for a few friends of mine and as a time killer. Is there any glue for EVA Foam that you would recommend or is something as simple as rubber cement workable? Im worried about different glues eating away at the foam as it dries. Thanks in advance
michael haarlammert Both CA Super Glue and regular old hot glue work vey well on EVA. My favorite however is Barge Rubber cement (only the type in the yellow and read canister). I've also heard that DAP Weldwood Contact Cement (commonly found at most hardware stores) works fairly well too.
Thank you for the great tips and insight! I’m working on making a suit of armor for my 10 year old and I’m really worried about durability and functionality, not just looks. Any tips?
I'm trying to do a female version of Genji from Overwatch it's my first time making armor so I was leaning towards EVA foam but I would like your opinion if that would be the better route or not.
i really appreciate when people who know about a subject take time out to help us noobs. thank you for the video.
Thanks! I hope this was helpful.
I really think you touched on all the pros and cons of both mats. Nice job!
I have been building costumes for near 30 years and have used alot of materials, it was just in the past few years worbla has become availible readily and takes some skill (as with any material) TEST TEST TEST!!!!! Each material behaves in its own way. Back in the 70s and 80s I used lots of upholstery foam in various thicknesses and treatment for finishing . So try what you can afford or can find easily availible and remember there are NO mistakes only learning experiences !
+lildeanturbonc All good points. Thanks for watching.
A really big "Thank You" for taking the time to go through all this for youtube viewers! I learned a lot and appreciate you sharing your knowledge.
You are welcome. Glad it's of help to you.
Thank you so much for this! The particles dust from the EVA is what convinced me to use worbla instead, as I have two cats and I don’t have access to a special place where they can’t go.
Great reasons to go with worbla. I do like environmentally friendly it is, especially how each scrap can be reused. So much less waste.
Thanks for comparing Worpla and EVA! It's a very good video for starters in this hobby and it gave me a good overview.
I personally think worbla is better for metal immitating and eva foam is better for leather immitating
+exe. ploding Barrel That could be. I've seen both used for either and it usually come down to the quality of the paint job.
As someone who wants to get into cosplay, this is informative. It helps a lot, thanks.
That crown is gorgeous!! Wow! You’re really talented and this was really informative. Thanks!
Thank you. Hope it was helpful even though some info is outdated now.
I love that adage; use what you have on hand or what's accessible. I've noticed when I've gone out and bought new, impressive materials that I didn't get results comparable to what I could have done with what I was used to. Thanks for the info!
Sometimes that can be the case. In my experience the skills are usually more important than materials.
Thanks for this video! I'm at cross roads with a build right now trying to decide which to use. I have minimal Eva foam experience and have used worbla in the past. I see people rock both materials like masters and this vid laying them out with pros and cons is great.
LuaLady Glad it's of help to you.
This was really helpful as I am researching techniques for my first cosplay! Thanks!
This was insanely helpful. I'm looking at building a version of Pepper Potts armor, having never dabbled in armor builds before. I think before I drop a ton of money on worbla, I"ll try working with EVA foam first. Thank you SO much for explaining everything as thoroughly as you did!
You're great and sooo accessible! Just learning to build armour and going back and forth between worbla and foam, nice to see the pros and cons of each. Many thanks!
Hope this helps a bit then! Thanks.
Great video, very informative. 2 more pros and cons that I think are important to mention regarding wearing the armor once it's made:
- Worbla is a lot heavier and less comfortable to wear than EVA foam. After a long day at a convention wearing my armor I tend to swear to myself that my next armor will be made out of EVA foam.
- However, since EVA is softer than Worbla, it gets damaged easier and faster. With Worbla the most common damage you get is some paint chipping and/or scratching, which is not that hard to touch up. But with EVA, you can get some wrinkles in certain areas that tend to be squished or forced to bend when you move or sit, etc. It can also be accidentally pierced with pointy props or other objects if you're not careful. And both those things are a little harder to touch up than simple paint chips on Worbla armor.
Edit: Examples of armor I made with:
- Worbla: facebook.com/thethreequeenscosplay/photos/a.659856767454817.1073741828.659365590837268/860064357434056/?type=3&theater
- EVA foam: facebook.com/thethreequeenscosplay/photos/a.659856767454817.1073741828.659365590837268/842212509219241/?type=3&theater
+uliana00 Greats points, thanks for adding them. Also, stunning work you have there. I liked your page.
Thanks for the tips...I'm trying to make protective gloves for skateboarding...wish me luck
I am about to start using worbla for a full set of glass armor from Skyrim. Thank you for all of the information. You have a new subscriber!
Thanks. Glad it was helpful to you. Have fun!
you answered my question, right away. "How to cut Worbla?" Thanks bro!
I'm planning on doing a fierce deity link cosplay and your armor is really awesome wish there was a video on how to make it
+J_glez07 Thanks. That's one build I'm very proud of. I didn't unfortunately take any video of the process. I did take a lot of work in progress pictures though. I really need to do a write up and post those someday. There's a gallery of pictures of the full costume on my website: www.coregeek.net/#/fierce-deity-link/ FWIW.
I had no idea that Worbla can't be sanded, thank you for that little piece of information! No need to make that mistake now. :)
This is true for the original tan colored Worbla. The newer black Worbla does take to sanding quite well.
Thank you for taking the time to do this video. Very well done.
You're welcome. Thanks for watching.
About to start my first armor build ever for Dragon Con, and I'm still at a loss of which to do! I had originally planned on EVA, since it's relatively cheap, but I see a lot of stellar cosplays with Worbla... It's my first build, so I could use all the help I can get. But, since I'm brand new to this, either is going to be what it is. This video was actually super-helpful, thanks!
Maggie Ulrich I'd say start with something cheaper, that way you get used to building armor. Since Worbla is so much more expensive, it seems like it should be used when you have more experience
Thanks, I've been working with the EVA, and am quite pleased with how it's turning out! Maybe I'll branch out to Worbla with time, but for the most part, this is all I needed.
Thanks for this it was very helpful and very clean cut an dry ! Like to see more in the two different ways you make your armor in more detail!
+Keith Hecker Here's my video about basic Worbla construction. I haven't made a foam one yet. ua-cam.com/video/R6yHpluadLY/v-deo.html
Thanks for this video I'm making armor for the renaissance next year and was deciding worbla or eva foam to use
Thanks for watching!
I've worked with both... and like them both.... eye of the beholder and such
Absolutely! I use both depending on the project.
Hi great video for most of my build iam using eva form love the cost and very easey for any form my build is a cylon centurion eva is great for all the body parts but might use something different for the head
Thank you ❤ i've Been making cosplays for a long time, but i have avoided cosplays with armour because im a bit scared of it, but this gave me som good info that i will need for my next cosplay
V informative. I'm trying to figure out a plan for a deer skull mask and have been looking for smth a little more durable than galvanized wire and air-dry clay like I was initially planning. I think I'm going to go with eva, just because I want a smoother finish and I don't think I'll mind putting in the extra work too much to get the curves right. Thanks!
Thank you was very interesting I wil get some worbla to try but most of my stuff is closed cell foam or eva
Great video :-) I always use my EVA foam scraps for applying contact adhesive - I cut pieces on the bias and they work much better as disposable glue spreaders than brushes, and it doesn’t matter that I have to throw them away after a few uses - and no ruined brushes :)
good stuff! glad there are vids out here that clearly explain these products specifically in terms of cosplay crafting :D
Hope it helps. Thanks.
Thank you very much for this video I’ve been introduced to both recently as alternatives to papier-mâché/artist board? It’s basically paper that use a craft knife or scissors to cut. And I was wondering what they were what they look like and how easy they are to work with. Some cosplayers I spoke to like EVA foam and others like Warbler I mean I would like to try both to see how I get on. I think it’s whatever you think the material you can either afford and test with and also what you personally prefer because some materials are better than others at different things it depends on what it’s going to be useful. But thank you for a very informative video. I’m very much an Amata cosplayer but maybe in time I’ll become better I’ve just got a do a few things first such as not doing it at the last minute LOL.
A E Robinson Time management is always a huge part of every project. Good luck!
Thanks for this! I just bought a jumbo sheet of Worbla and, yeah...expensive. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with my EVA scraps as well. (teeth, scales, small parts, reinforcing struts?) boxes and boxes of the stuff.
Thanks! Super informative
Welcome. Thanks for watching.
Can you please do a video of how you finish your EVA foam because that armor looks great.
+Eloy Cervantes It's on my list of videos to make. I sadly have little extra time for videos. I wish I could do so many more.
That giant box of EVA foam made me laugh. ive personally never done any cosplay but ive been following Andrew DTFs ODST tutorials and wanna make one. now i know to get a big box ready
BTW very informative video
Great review
very informative. well done. you seem to stand with the big boys like, evil ted and bill Durand. great job. learned a lot. I'm just starting out, blundering my way thru. this learning curve is sometimes fun and lot of the times discouraging. Hope I get the hang of it fairly quickly.
+philip thompson Thanks! My best advice is hang in there and use each project as a learning experience to build on for the next.
That fierce diety armor is...fierce
Chris LeeWoo Thanks! You can see the entire costume here: www.coregeek.net/gallery#/fierce-deity-link/
Hey there. I work with several materials for props and costumes. Warbla / brown / black / and clear. EVA foam and Sintra (Sign Board) the Sintra board is a pvc thermal plastic that requires krazy glue to adhere two pieces..side note. Don't miss the mark. Once glued you're screwed. Perfectly sandable for a smooth finish.
0-10 difficulty level to work with EVA foam (2)
Warbla(6)
Sintra(5)
Warbla becomes like cookie dough thats incredibly sticky great for sculpting if you like hot Playdough.
Sintra although also needs heat to shape it will not stick to everything but it also doesn't stretch as much and is as thick as 4 layers of warbla. Once cool, sand prime and paint. Very ridged parts.
Yeah I've used Sintra for various things too. Some people really love it.
you can reheat the scraps and rol them out you can make any shape, not just thin ones
Yeah, it's pretty great for sculpting.
Great video! Debating whether I should try worbla for my next build or stick with the tried and true EVA
much needed video great job quick and clean, but hey I'm wanting to make a wolverine cowl which one should I go with and I've never work with either one before but I'm very sure of my crafting skills so please let me know if you can thanks!!
+John Turner I'd start with foam. The buy-in is much less expensive. I highly recommend Punished Props Foamsmith books to learn all about creating with foam. punishedprops.com/product-category/ref-mats/
Thanks much I felt that was the best option I'll send pics of the results.
This is great! I got into costume building with foam about four years ago. I made a cyberman for my son for Halloween...At the time, all the really good builders were more interested in showing off their creations vs teaching their methods. I gave up and went into premade kit building...I popped online a few months ago and found Evil Ted, Punished Props, a few others and now your channel...and I'm so excited. You were the builders I was looking for years ago...Thanks for doing that you do!
Take care,
- Billy
Glad you're finding all of us. Bill and Ted are friends of mine they're great makers and excellent resources who really care about giving to the community.
Thank you! I'm just getting into this and it helps a boat load!!
This was exactly what i was looking for. Thank you!!
Great video! I like how you explain things and enjoyed listening to the pros and cons of both materials. what is your opinion on mixing them? Because Worbla being moldable makes it seem a little easier for intricate details that you could then lay on an Eva foam base.
It can be a great combo for sure.
thanks so much!
Admittedly, I'm a newbie at fabrication but for me the biggest con of EVA foam is, as Eric mentioned, that the scraps cannot be melted or reshaped to be reused so they accumulate fast and take up a lot of space. And what's worse (I don't think he mentioned this) the foam CANNOT be recycled in any way! Maybe it can be reused in some other project as filler but when you consider that the scraps of Worbla get 'reabsorbed' by the next project and every last bit is used, it makes a lot of sense to use it more despite its higher price. Any pros disagree with my take on this?
I'm planning on building Nazgul gauntlets out of Worbla Black Art. Might several layers of Worbla be strong enough to serve as the different gauntlet parts. I also want to use a hinge for the thumb part; an ideas how to attach; riviting or anchering with another layer of WBA?
Thank you !
Great video! Do more like these.
Awesome video man! I’m fairly new to cosplay, I just created my first piece of armor. A bracer for my Link cosplay, I used Eva foam but covered it with fabric so I didn’t have to paint it. I’m a bit confused on paint. I’m creating a Hylian Shield with 1/2” thick insulation foam and then Eva foam on top of it. I’ve heard of epsilon but you said I could use plastidip ? I’m much more familiar with plastidip. So you said you just put a few coats of plastidip onto the foam ? And then put spray paint primer and normal spray paint after that ?
Since it’s a shield do you think I should use epsilon because you said it hardens it a bit ? Sorry for so many questions. I really enjoyed your video
Well you could use either, or. If you go with Plastidip make sure to cover insultion foam parts with a sealer like modge podge or wood glue first. Plastidip will melt Insulation foam but can go directly onto EVA foam. as for epsilon instead of plastidip it just depends on what you want to do. With a couple coats of epsilon on you can sand, fill, prime. That's not really possible with plastidip.
Very good and quite in-depth review of these materials. Subscribed, because it's clear that you're dedicated to these videos :) And you're very informative.
The thing I think this video is lacking is a recap of what worbla is good for, and what EVA is good for. I'm still not an expert, but I know that there are situations where it's better/easier to use worbla and situations where you can just use EVA with pretty much the same (or better) effect and 90% less work (like the sanding you mentioned)
Other than that it was a very good video and I'll definitely come back tomorrow to watch more of your stuff. And don't take it personally because I possibly MIGHT be just a little bit drunk right now ^^"
+PsiQss Ha. Thanks for the feedback. I agree with you there are things that just work well for one material or the other. It mostly depends on the person using the material and their comfort zone/experience with each material though.
Thanks for a great video!
+MsUltraKawaii You are welcome. Glad you enjoyed it!
I think its kinda amusing how much cheeper worbla is in europe. We only pay 54€ which is about 56 US dollars for the XL sheet. Thanks for the review, it was very helpful :D
Probably one of the few cases where things are less expensive for you all.
thanks for this info..going to give this stuff a try !
Great video man, very informative!
Nice ! I was looking for something like this! Thank you!
Boulouteifull You are welcome.
thanks
if im following a pepakura blueprint. would it be better to use worbla or foam? first timer here. thanks!
Really depends on your skill level. I'd start with foam since it's much less expensive. Check out Evil Ted's UA-cam videos for excellent instruction.
Thanks for this helpful info!
nice video and to be honest I built my armor out of EVA foam plus a con for the foam to paint it I have to do 3-4 coats of plastidip so it doesn't absorb the paint
Is there a book or tutorial on using or making specific items with Worbla that you know of
Check out some of Kamui Cosplay earlier books. She started out with Worbla then later moved to foam.
thank you for sharing this video very helpful, love the pros and cons
Great info thanks for sharing.
Great video Eric!
how hot does a heat gun have to get to form worbla or foam?
Thank you so much for this . I have one question ( I'm new to this so I don't know if this makes sense haha )
if I wanted to make a woman's torso armor out of foam and then detail it with worbla ,would that be possible ? Or would I have to sandwich craft foam with worbla and then detail over it ?
Thanks :)
thank you, great video
Have you considered or use a shop vacuum dust collecting systems with your sanding equipment?
Great stuff man.
Your video was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much!
that was very informative. thank you
hey I just would like you're opinion on something. So I've have been given that task to make a Papyrus cosplay for a friend on mine and I just wanted your opinion on what material I should make his chest plate out of. This will me one of my first ever made cosplays made so it would be great to grab your advice, thanks.
+skullx241 I would probably use EVA foam. I bet you can find a tutorial out there of how to make it specifically.
Well so far from what I've found it hasn't been very good but I'll keep looking and thanks for answering!
Very informative and helpful, thank you
Very helpful! I have also heard people recommend Sintra for armour, have you worked with it/have any tips for sintra?
+Mike Bogle I've used it on prop builds but haven't done armor from it yet. It is fairly easy to work with. It's not quite as easy to shape as EVA or worbla but it has some great advantages like no smoothing because it's already a smooth sheet and it's quite strong as well. I've seen some incredible armor made from it.
Didn’t know squat about Worbla until I checked out this video
im attempting to make the doom marine armour from the latest doom game, a lot of the shapes look like theyd be crazy hard to do with eva foam, do you reckon worbla would be my best bet?
So I'm going to make a Robin costume, so I need to know if I can glue a canvas/denim looking material over the worbla armor, which would be glued over an UnderArmor shirt
+That Skinny White Guy You should be able to adhere your material directly over the worbla with contact cement. You may try using Barge or DAP Weldwood brands
+Coregeek Props ok sweet that helps a lot
Great vid! I'm looking to do a Lady Loki design, and I have a lot planned in my head, but, I was thinking I'd do a combination of both materials. Is it possible to get a similar finish and more specifically color with both materials when painting them, or will one be way off from the other? Thanks.
+Sandra C I think it's possible. What's really going to make the difference is the prep for painting stage. The surface texture is where the difference will be seen. You'll probably want to test samples on scraps to see if you can get a surface match. That's going to depend on what type of sealers/smoothing techniques you decide to use on the worbla. Also it would probably be better to use black worbla since I've heard it much easier to smooth.
Coregeek Props My plans were to definitely Gesso the both materials, and based on your experience, sand the worbla and use wood filler.
Thanks for the tips and hints. And yes, I will test things on scraps before anything.
thanks for the info. I am going to making a mask. I've seen people have some without string how does one obtain doing that?
Boa explicação... Uso mais o EVA por conta do preço
This is so helpful, thank you!! I subscribed in about two seconds. What do you use to keep the worbla on once the armor is done?
Welcome... Velcro, lots and lots of Velcro.
The sanding problem with EVA foam is solved. Stand behind a large box fan sucking all the particles in. If that's not enough, then fasten together large cardboard boxes to make a tunnel leading to the outside of your garage, where the fan blows into the tunnel. The backside (suction side) of the fan is where you work.
harber freight is awesome!!!! so id worbla and eva foam
Thank you for this video it was a very informative.
Instead of barge. Use rubber gasket adhesive. That's what we used at Disney. Cause it's foam rubber.
Awesome work! Definitely looking forward to more content =)
I am trying to make some skyrim nightingale armor for halloween (ik its super early but dang i love skyrim, who doesnt?) i used to think foam wast durable. But now that you gave me the basic run-down i can try to convince my mom to craft t rather than spending $1,000 on etsy for one.
***** trueee
When you say respirator, will a dust mask suffice or would you suggest a proper respirator? I'm putting together a shopping list :)
Foam dust is nasty. I wouldn't trust just a flimsy dust mask. You can get a good respirator for around $30. They're really great for paint fumes too.
What type of worbla was the example you help up next to your Loki armor? And would you say Black Art gives a smoother finish?
Standard Worbla. Black has a much smoother finish and can be smooth with only a few coats of filler primer. I made this video before Black was invented.
Hey really cool vid! But i have a question. I am from austria and Barge Cement glue costs here about 120$ and do you have any cheaper ideas for gluing EVA Foam?
+Raphael Dohnalek You could try a less expensive brand of contact cement like DAP Weldwood. CA Superglue and hot glue also work well on foam.
super helpfull video thank you!!
Hello, I'm currently building Audrey 2 pods 3 and 4. I'm looking at using one of these to do the lips. We are using pipe insulation foam tubs to give the lips dimension. But I need something on the top to paint and be durable. Any comments
Either 1mm or 2mm EVA foam should work great for that.
quick question. do you HAVE to sandwich eva foam or craft foam between worbla or can one just use worbla as is, without the foam in between.
I have a street hockey helmet as a base that I want to put worbla on and that's why I wonder this.
EpicAwesomeYo Worbla becomes very limp once you heat it. Foam is just a cheap way to help stiffen it and retain shape. It can be used over most other hard materials as well.
I have a bit of a "newb" question for you. Im just starting out with crafting some stuff for a few friends of mine and as a time killer. Is there any glue for EVA Foam that you would recommend or is something as simple as rubber cement workable? Im worried about different glues eating away at the foam as it dries. Thanks in advance
michael haarlammert Both CA Super Glue and regular old hot glue work vey well on EVA. My favorite however is Barge Rubber cement (only the type in the yellow and read canister). I've also heard that DAP Weldwood Contact Cement (commonly found at most hardware stores) works fairly well too.
Coregeek Props Awesome, thank you very much sir
Thank you for the great tips and insight! I’m working on making a suit of armor for my 10 year old and I’m really worried about durability and functionality, not just looks. Any tips?
I'm trying to do a female version of Genji from Overwatch it's my first time making armor so I was leaning towards EVA foam but I would like your opinion if that would be the better route or not.
Awesome 😄 I'm doing a female reaper, but I'm kinda doing my own make up skin, like steampunk style
Hard to say which is better it really depends on your skill and experience as a crafter.
Blade Girl Thats an awesome idea im sure it will look great
can you stick Worbla on top of Eva foam? Or does it need to be plastidipped first?
Worbla works well directly onto EVA, nothing else needed!