Smoothfoam is our brand name for EPS or Expandable Polystyrene. It is a smooth, closed cell foam. It is often referred to as the smooth Styrofoam. It is molded from tiny beads into many shapes like balls, bells, eggs, miniature fruit shapes and more. Because of its smooth surface it is excellent for painting. It is also very durable, making it great for projects requiring pins or glue.

STYROFOAM Brand Foam is extruded (cut out) of large blocks. It has a rough open cell texture. Styrofoam also comes in balls, bells and egg shapes. Styrofoam is good for floral arrangements, or other projects requiring the insertion of pipe cleaners or other thick parts.

Styrofoam painting instructions include:

For thorough coverage, try a stiff stencil brush and gently "scrub" the surface with the paint. Or, place the foam shape and paint in a zip-top plastic bag, seal the bag, and rotate shape until it's completely covered. Remove from bag with pick and let dry. (excerpt taken from The Dow Chemical web site)

Smoothfoam foam can also be painted. Smoothfoam foam paints like wood, due to its smooth surface. So the use of fine detail brushes and other decorative painting tools work well. Water based acrylics which are readily available in a multitude of colors and styles work great on Smoothfoam.

Both Smoothfoam and Styrofoam can also be spray painted, however because both are a plastic material, they are both susceptible to solvents in some spray paints. Look for spray paints designed for plastics or model building such as Testor brand spray paints. A new one that is out is made by Krylon and works extremely well.  it is called H2O Latex.  Always use light coatings to avoid the solvents attacking the plastic material.

Pinning

Smoothfoam is a closed cell dense foam product.  It works extremely well for any project requiring pinning or glues.  In fact you may have some old beaded Christmas ornaments your grandmother made in you Christmas ornament collection.

Floral

Styrofoam shines in projects requiring the insertion of flowers or pipe cleaners.

Sanding

Both can be sanded down. Smoothfoam will be smooth, Styrofoam will remain rough.

Cutting

Both Smoothfoam and Styrofoam can be cut using a number of different tools.  Knives, razor blades, hot wires, band saws, etc.

Durability

Because of the smooth closed cell nature of Smoothfoam, it will last for years.  If dropped, Dylite shapes will not break.  It is not recommended to drop a Styrofoam shape, it may break or crumble.

For more information, please give us a call