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Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ

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Conductive coating for styrofoam

I am interested in metal-forming over styrofoam constructions of various configs., all about the size of shape of a clarinet. I have cast iron and bronze using the evaporative foam method, but now lack the facility and physicality necessary to the casting process. I am preparing to 'cold cast' and would like to know of the best conductor for spray-coating. The styrofaom will be sealed prior to coating but cannot withstand lacquer-based paints.
Any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated.

william malo
- martinez, california, usa
2003

Our faqs, www.finishing.com/faqs/organic.shtml, introduce a number of metallizing techniques. Styrofoam sounds like a problematic substrate for electroforming--wax, aluminum, and stainless steel are more common; but styrofoam is very inexpensive so you can try the various techniques without much investment. If you can get it sealed so it's waterproof, it sounds doable.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2003

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