Great Stuff Foam ?'s

[aliceinwl]

I'm planning on doing some backings using the Great Stuff spray foam. I'd really like them to be removable.

If I covered the inside of the tanks with paper and sprayed on the foam, do you think this would do the trick? Or would the foam adhere to the glass through the paper? Does anyone have a better idea for a glass/foam barrier? I need the barrier to be a material that is easily cut-able and something that tile grout will adhere to.

This will be my first time working with Great Stuff. Do you have to use up the whole can of foam in one sitting? If so, about how far does one can go?

Thanks!
Alice

 

[Hedorah99]

I'm planning on doing some backings using the Great Stuff spray foam. I'd really like them to be removable.

If I covered the inside of the tanks with paper and sprayed on the foam, do you think this would do the trick? Or would the foam adhere to the glass through the paper? Does anyone have a better idea for a glass/foam barrier? I need the barrier to be a material that is easily cut-able and something that tile grout will adhere to.

This will be my first time working with Great Stuff. Do you have to use up the whole can of foam in one sitting? If so, about how far does one can go?

Thanks!
Alice

The best thing would be to spray the foam background outside of the tank and cut it to fit inside of the tank. If you are planning on using it in a moist environment, you may want to invest in some epoxy resin to seal the foam. If you want to use the can more than once, buy some acetone or just use some nail polish remover to clean the straw and nozzle when you are done. Also do it someplace you don't mind getting dirty and wear gloves. The stuff is a pain to remove. As to how far it goes, depends on what type you are using and how thick you are laying it.

 

[aliceinwl]

I'm trying to minimize how much cutting / shaping I'm going to have to do by spraying it into the tank, but still hve it removable. I'm going to probably end up filling about 1/4th of a 12"x12" tank to start. I'm planning to do a kind of irregular coverage, so contouring would be difficult (I'd basically have to construct a proxy tank). Do you think paper will work to shield the tank? I also have a 5 gallon and a couple of 2.5 gallon tanks I'd like to do at some point.

Thanks!
Alice

Almost forgot: I'm using the type for filling large gaps that dries rigid.

 

[Hedorah99]

I'm trying to minimize how much cutting / shaping I'm going to have to do by spraying it into the tank, but still hve it removable. I'm going to probably end up filling about 1/4th of a 12"x12" tank to start. I'm planning to do a kind of irregular coverage, so contouring would be difficult (I'd basically have to construct a proxy tank). Do you think paper will work to shield the tank? I also have a 5 gallon and a couple of 2.5 gallon tanks I'd like to do at some point.

Thanks!
Alice

Almost forgot: I'm using the type for filling large gaps that dries rigid.

The problem ,is whatever parts expand and touch the glass will adhere and will need to be cut off in order to remove the backing. Maybe using plastic instead of paper may work, but still, any parts that touch the tank will adhere, and this stuff has a nasty habit of sticking to everything it isn't supposed to. It seems like a hassle, but you are better off making it outside of the tank and cutting it to fit

 

[aliceinwl]

As a precaution, I was planning to completely cover the inside of the tank with paper. I wanted to use paper becuase the tile grout would adhere to any pieces that adhere to the foam. If you think that it will adhere to the tank through the paper, I could put a layer of plastic between the paper and the tank. I have a banged up 12"x12" that I'll try it out on in case things don't work out.

-Alice

 

[CharlaineC]

The best thing to do would be to get some thin plexyglass and cut it to fit the walls and the bottem. size it to the tank then use silicone to hold the shape. then use the great stuff. Seal your work with epoxy resion. cut the floor part to the size and that should help. I am still looking for epoxy resen in my area. I did find epoxy spray paint witch will work but then i have to repaint the entire setup and then seal the second coat with matt finish.

 

[PALAMO]

You Could Use A Plastic Painters Drop Cloth They Are Just A Few Bucks At Any Hardware Store Just Line The Tank With It ,you Can Also Smear A Thick Coat Of Petroleum Jelly Around The Area That You Are Going To Put The Great Stuff ,and When It Cures It Should Come Out Easily Enough ,just Remember Great Stuff Expands Alot As It Cures ,,i Would Test A Little On A Piece Of Card Board First So You Can Get A Good Idea Of How Much To Use ,(the Thicker You Put It On The More It Is Going To Expand).and Also ,although The Petro Jelly Should Work Just Fine For You ,its A Little Messy And Kind Of A Pain To Clean Up,i Use It On Car Parts That Cant Be Taped Up When Im Painting..good Luck Post Us A Pic When Your Finished.

 

[Drachenjager]

I'm planning on doing some backings using the Great Stuff spray foam. I'd really like them to be removable.

If I covered the inside of the tanks with paper and sprayed on the foam, do you think this would do the trick? Or would the foam adhere to the glass through the paper? Does anyone have a better idea for a glass/foam barrier? I need the barrier to be a material that is easily cut-able and something that tile grout will adhere to.

This will be my first time working with Great Stuff. Do you have to use up the whole can of foam in one sitting? If so, about how far does one can go?

Thanks!
Alice

2 words, TRASH BAG

 

[Drachenjager]

The best thing would be to spray the foam background outside of the tank and cut it to fit inside of the tank. If you are planning on using it in a moist environment, you may want to invest in some epoxy resin to seal the foam. If you want to use the can more than once, buy some acetone or just use some nail polish remover to clean the straw and nozzle when you are done. Also do it someplace you don't mind getting dirty and wear gloves. The stuff is a pain to remove. As to how far it goes, depends on what type you are using and how thick you are laying it.

I tend to lay it on thick .... oh what were we talking about?

 

[JGood]

be careful, expanding foam will do just that and can EASILY crack the glass...an expensive, annoying, time consuming mistake to make...

 

[aliceinwl]

be careful, expanding foam will do just that and can EASILY crack the glass...an expensive, annoying, time consuming mistake to make...

Thanks for the tip; I hadn't thought of that!

-Alice

 

[JGood]

Dart frog keepers often use it an that is where i learned that fact...luckily...GS is great but has its issues. do you intend to coat with silcone ecoearth or tile grout?

 

[robc]

I'm planning on doing some backings using the Great Stuff spray foam. I'd really like them to be removable.

If I covered the inside of the tanks with paper and sprayed on the foam, do you think this would do the trick? Or would the foam adhere to the glass through the paper? Does anyone have a better idea for a glass/foam barrier? I need the barrier to be a material that is easily cut-able and something that tile grout will adhere to.

This will be my first time working with Great Stuff. Do you have to use up the whole can of foam in one sitting? If so, about how far does one can go?

Thanks!
Alice

Don't use spray foam....do this.....see thread below.....rob

This is my back-drop tutorial:
http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=116654&highlight=robc's+backdrop+tutorial

 

[robc]

This is how to install it.....rob

http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=116752&highlight=robc's+backdrop+tutorial

 

[moose35]

be careful, expanding foam will do just that and can EASILY crack the glass...an expensive, annoying, time consuming mistake to make...

thats just silly, it will never break the glass. do not worry about that.i just made my backgrounds permanent. any little gaps i had, i just filled in after the foam expanded with more foam.

i post some pics of mine in a few minutes



moose

 

[JGood]

thats just silly, it will never break the glass. do not worry about that.i just made my backgrounds permanent. any little gaps i had, i just filled in after the foam expanded with more foam.

i post some pics of mine in a few minutes



moose

Yes, you are right...it could NEVER break the glass...i am just full of it and just like spreading lies about great foam...and imploding spiders (see prev post, its a joke)... Seriously i know this is a T forum but take a look at dart frogs and you will see what i mean. it is possible to learn from others outside of your specialty... (not trying to be a jerk, just i know that it can happen...best to use GF in layers and build it up if you want thick spots.)

www.dartden.com
www.dendroboard.com

 

[moose35]

Yes, you are right...it could NEVER break the glass...i am just full of it and just like spreading lies about great foam...and imploding spiders (see prev post, its a joke)... Seriously i know this is a T forum but take a look at dart frogs and you will see what i mean. it is possible to learn from others outside of your specialty... (not trying to be a jerk, just i know that it can happen...best to use GF in layers and build it up if you want thick spots.)

www.dartden.com
www.dendroboard.com

but it could never break the glass. thats my point. to say it can break the glass was a silly statement.



moose

 

[moose35]

oh some background pics

this is a little kritter keeper....

 

[JGood]

I do appreciate the pictures...if you use brown or black silicone on the glass or pastic first you don't have to see the yellow of the foam. Just a thought.

Oh and yeah...Great foam can CAN crack glass...see the quotes below...go to www.dartden.com or www.dendroboard.com and do a search in the enclosure sections...

"This allows it to expand at a later date, which can crack the glass in your tank. Poking some large holes in the thick areas ... them to cure fully. The holes will also allow a place for expanding foam to escape."

"too much foam. As it expands, the pressure can be strong enough to crack glass"

"foam on about 20 tanks so far and had only one tank crack"

This is all i could find in a 15 second search...so it is possible. I don't really care to prove that it can happen...as long as I know it can.

 

[stockthomas]

Spare Foam Nozzles

Hey thought everyone might be interested, www.xtendafoam.com/about company sells spare foam nozzles packs for great stuff and all the other expanding foam cans. Helps saves the cans for multiple uses and you don't have to waste time cleaning out the old nozzles! Enjoy