What can I use to coat white foam?

[thrillhouse700]

So I have this small/medium sized cooler that I got from omaha steaks a few years back. Last year I took this thing to the river thinking I would toss it after the trip, turns out this cooler held ice for 4 days in 110 degree temps. So I kept it. The thing is its a plain white foam cooler. I want to coat it in something to keep it from falling apart, my guess would be poly resin would just eat through it. I could do a test on some scrap white foam we have but does anyone have any other ideas?

 

[Bondo]

Re: What can I use to coat white foam?

Ayuh,... You'll have to use Epoxy,... Poly resin will reduce it to a pile of Goo...

 

[thrillhouse700]

Re: What can I use to coat white foam?

I will have to price it out and see if its worth it, this cooler would be the perfect size to put on the boat too. Thanks bondo kinda figured it wouldnt be cheap haha.

 

[PaulyV]

Re: What can I use to coat white foam?

Sinse this topic came up..I received a white styro cooler from PHils Seafood in S.F.cali..its like 3" thick. Would you use some cloth with the epoxy? or just coat it with epoxy alone?

 

[thrillhouse700]

Re: What can I use to coat white foam?

If I do it, big IF tho because money is so tight right now. I will prob do epoxy and some 1.0 oz csm, on the inside and maybe some 1.5oz on the outside then paint it.

 

[system-f]

Re: What can I use to coat white foam?

Another dumb question from me, but it must be asked (for you thrill). Is epoxy compatible with the glue in CSM? The us composite website no longer offers a CSM with a glue that will break down in epoxy resin so this made me wonder about regular csm.

 

[TitanTea]

Re: What can I use to coat white foam?

I have a couple of them coolers from Omaha steak and they do work well. You could try that plasticoat stuff you use to dip tools in. Just brush it on. Comes in different colors too.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: What can I use to coat white foam?

It depends on the mat. Most of the mat I've seen for sale is epoxy compatible nowadays, but it's certainly possible to find mat that's not compatible.

The Bond-o mat you can buy in most home improvement stores near their poly resin seems to be epoxy compatible.

Check with the seller of the mat to see.

Erik

 

[Islandbrah]

Re: What can I use to coat white foam?

Just order a bunch more steaks.
Plastic coat or epoxy resin. poly will melt it for sure.

 

[Zetman]

Re: What can I use to coat white foam?

I would just get a roll of gorilla tape or duct tape and go at it!!

 

[lowkee]

Re: What can I use to coat white foam?

I seem to always find a reason to use this stuff, but... how about spraying it with rubberized undercoating then painting that? Would have a side benefit of being non-scratching. Although undercoating is black.. likely not the best color to choose for a cooler. Just trying to throw out some cheap alternatives to epoxy. The undercoating may have the same goo making effect.. never tried it on foam.

 

[jspano]

Re: What can I use to coat white foam?

http://www.fxsupply.com/materials/foamcoat.html

 

[jeeperman]

Re: What can I use to coat white foam?

As an off shoot to duct tape, maybe wrap it in contact paper (vinyl actually).

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: What can I use to coat white foam?

thrillhouse700,
The poly resin will destroy it, However if you seal it with a water base paint or something similar before applying poly it should protect it until the poly cures. I would try a small piece to be sure but it should work.
Bob