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Styrofoam Tree Roots


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#1 Furnix

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Posted 28 April 2012 - 05:07 PM

Hey everyone!

This is my first thread about doing a DIY project. Although i have done a few with different things.

I had a quick look online and i couldn't find much on the topic of making a tree trunk/roots (besides ones that are built into a 3D background). If anyone knows of a site or if anyone here has done it before some help would be great!

I've never attempted this kind of thing before so you guys will be the first to see my fails and triumphs and i will post along the way so if you ever go on to try it you will know what works and what doesn't.

My reason for trying this is i know driftwood can be expensive for large pieces like this and didn't want to fork out $100+ on wood plus i don't like the look of tannins in the water.

So here are some pics from today's work. Just waiting for the glue to dry before i do any major sculpting. This piece is about 70cm tall and 50cm wide to give you an idea







Wanted to give you a good 3d look at it as its hard to tell with Styrofoam being all white.

All comments and questions are welcome! Thanks

#2 Riggers

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Posted 28 April 2012 - 06:20 PM

Being styrofoam you'll have to glue it to the base of the tank to stop it floating, maybe a flat base on it? So far that's awesome mate great idea!! What did you use to glue it? And how are you going to give it texture?

Cheers
Rigs

#3 Furnix

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Posted 28 April 2012 - 06:47 PM

Thanks, I was thinking of hollowing out the main trunk and adding some weights into it? hadn't thought about gluing it to the base of the tank as it does have a flat base. To glue it together i put a piece of wire in to hold it upright and then glued it with "wood glue" but its not the normal white pva stuff it is more like craft glue, the clear kind (it doesn't eat the foam i tested that tongue.gif)

As for texture i was thinking wall plaster, as i have used it on foam before with model making and gave a pretty cool texture and then seal it all up after i've painted it with pond sealer, anyone know where to get that from?

#4 Riggers

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Posted 28 April 2012 - 11:24 PM

Yeah sounds good, all though the wire may rust.. Silicon works well to glue the pieces together as well smile.gif the pond sealer you can get at bunnings smile.gif

#5 Furnix

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Posted 29 April 2012 - 05:07 PM

Ok quick update. the craft glue didn't hold very well / at all. So i switched to Riggers idea of silicon and that (so far) seems way better as its much thicker and actually holds the pieces together and does a little bit of gap filling!

I did the major carving/shaping today. I did a rough sculpt with a box cutter just to take of some edges. Then went on with a blow torch to "shrink/melt" the foam into a less box shape and gave it a bit of texture and randomness. Also added a first layer (half arsed as it was falling apart) of plaster to give the texture. I think it turned out alright!

NOTE Styrofoam is flammable so keep a spray bottle handy as if you get to close and catch a piece on fire it tends to get away from you unless you have a spray bottle. You want to avoid blowing on it as it gives off carcinogenic smoke that you want to avoid huffing and puffing in.

Here is a look at what the blow torch does to the foam from a distance.





#6 dazzabozza

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Posted 29 April 2012 - 05:14 PM

Would u have to strengthen the joins between the limbs and trunk or even across the length of the limbs? I imagine the smallest of accidentally bumps would cause damage especially once anchored.

How about creating latex moulds of real driftwood or would that be a pricey exercise?

Daz

#7 Furnix

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Posted 29 April 2012 - 05:20 PM

i was hoping the plaster would strengthen it all but im not really sure now. they seem pretty sturdy atm after the silicon.

i have seen someone make a mold and use that with fiberglass but that means actually having the wood in the first place.

#8 Bowdy

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Posted 29 April 2012 - 05:49 PM

Using sand paper would have given you a much cleaner finish it works a treat.

#9 Riggers

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Posted 01 May 2012 - 12:30 AM

Im glad the silicon worked for ya, it will be interesting to see how it turns out once painted, I'm looking forward to seeing your progress smile.gif



#10 Furnix

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Posted 10 May 2012 - 02:53 PM

Hello again,

Got some new pics of my progress! I was on holidays for a week but im back and have plastered and painted it. I've started with the sealer and that will prob take a day as it takes 4 hours to dry between coats. So here are some pics of what it looks like

First brown "undercoat"



A few colours added: Light brown, Light green, Dark green, black and then a Darker brown over the top of it all just to make the colours blend together





#11 Mattymak

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Posted 10 May 2012 - 03:13 PM

nice bro! that looks good, comin along great!

#12 dazzabozza

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Posted 12 May 2012 - 08:21 AM

Luv the texture and different colours. Only thing I'd pick at is the very straight limbs but other than that good job!

Being a DIY thread prob a good idea to add a list of products etc used if u get a moment (in between coats wink.gif).

#13 SamJohns

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Posted 12 May 2012 - 01:23 PM

What coat are you going to seal it with.

I do a fair bit of painting myself. Those tubes look like water based acrylics I have.

Sam

#14 Furnix

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Posted 20 May 2012 - 06:40 PM

Ok, so i have decided that this was a fail!. The shape of it is pretty bad, way to square and some of the joins aren't very flush. So i have decided that i will make a MKII and do a full write up with tools and materials from start to finish and put a bit more time into it to get the starting shape just right! So watch this space!

QUOTE (SamJohns @ May 12 2012, 01:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
What coat are you going to seal it with.

I do a fair bit of painting myself. Those tubes look like water based acrylics I have.

Sam


The coat i used was a pond sealer i got from bunnings that i Airbrushed on. and the paint is just a basic acrylic nothing fancy.




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