If you like to create your own sculptures during craft projects, you’ll know how hard it can be to find the right pieces of equipment for your needs.
Most people enjoy using foam blocks for sculpting, but if you have a particular design in mind, you might find that these aren’t always suitable for your needs.
Foam blocks either don’t come in a small enough size for the item you want to create, or they’re just not big enough for your needs.
This is where expanding foam comes in.
It might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to sculpting, but trust me - this product will be a lifesaver when it comes to your creative projects.
The great thing about sculpting foam is that you can use it on a cardboard base to create the shape that you’re after, wait for it to cure, and then you’ve got the perfect size foam base to sculpt away at.
But with so many different types of expanding foam on the market and for different DIY purposes, how can you be sure that you’ve found the best expanding foam for sculpting?
That’s where I can help! I’ve done all the hard work for you so that you don’t have to, and researched and reviewed hundreds of products to find the best expanding foam for your sculpting needs.
Let’s take a look at the best expanding foams for sculpting down below!
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Best Expanding Foam For Sculpting
OUR TOP PICK
The Loctite TITE FOAM Insulating Foam Sealant will be the perfect addition to your craft supplies.
This particular expanding foam is super easy to use, and can also be sanded to fit the shape that you’re after with your sculpting.
The Loctite can also be painted, which will be perfect if you need to sculpt props for cosplay.
What’s really great about this expanding foam is that it features superior adhesion.
So it will easily stick to a variety of surfaces, which you can use as the base for your sculpture.
The Loctite will easily stick to metal, wood, PVC, concrete, stone, brick, as well as many more.
Perfect if you want a more versatile product to use.
You won’t have to worry about messy application with this expanding foam.
It comes with a straw applicator to make the whole process much easier for you.
Simply attach the straw applicator to the can, then easily direct the straw where you need the expanding foam to stick to your base.
This particular expanding foam will give you plenty of foam to work with once it has finished curing.
It can expand up to 1 inch in diameter, which will allow you to easily build up more than enough foam to sculpt away at.
Pros
- Versatile - Loctite can easily be carved, sanded, and even painted once the foam has cured
- Superior adhesion - can stick to a variety of surfaces
- Easy to use - comes with a straw applicator for easy use
Cons
- Rubber gloves - make sure to use rubber gloves to prevent it from getting on your skin
EDITORS CHOICE
The Red Devil Foam & Fill Large Gaps & Cracks Expanding Polyurethane Sealant is another solid choice for use with sculpting.
So if you want to decorate your sculpture once you’ve finished your work, this will be an essential feature to have.
What’s really great about this expanding foam product is that it will give you plenty of surface to work with.
This particular product has been designed to fill large gaps, so will expand to an impressive size ready for sculpting.
The Red Devil expanding foam is super easy to use.
This particular product comes with a straw applicator to make it even easier to use for sculpting.
Simply attach the straw applicator, then direct it as needed along your cardboard base.
Another great feature of this expanding foam is that it’s available in a variety of sizes and packs.
You can choose between a single can or multiple cans to save on money.
This expanding foam is available in 20 ounce, 12 ounce, and 8 ounce cans.
Pros
- Versatile - can be sanded, painted, and stained to create more impressive sculptures
- Easy to use - Red Devil comes with a straw applicator for easy application
- Multiple sizes and packs - choose between 3 different can sizes and 2 multipack options
Cons
- Messy - this expanding foam can be on the messier side to use
BEST VALUE
Tomcat Rodent Block Expanding Foam Barrier
Good Spray Foam For Sculpting
The Tomcat Rodent Block Expanding Foam Barrier will give you everything you need to get sculpting.
This particular expanding foam can be trimmed, sanded, as well as painted once it has had time to cure.
This will be essential for creating realistic sculptures.
A handy feature of this expanding foam is that it’s super easy to use due to the straw applicator.
This will make it super easy to use as needed, as all you’ll need to do is point the straw applicator where you want to direct the expanding foam.
You won’t have to worry about this expanding foam letting you down.
It offers superior adhesion to the vast majority of materials, making it ideal for use with your sculpting talents.
It has also been designed to be durable and resistant to water.
This particular expanding foam has been specifically designed to keep mice out of your home, so you can rest assured that it will be long lasting.
This particular expanding foam is available in a 12 ounce can.
So you will have more than enough material to work with once you have applied it to your cardboard base.
Pros
- Versatile - Tom Cat is suitable for trimming, sanding, and painting as needed
- Easy to use - comes with a straw applicator to make the expanding foam easier to use
- Durable - designed to keep mice out of your home so will be long lasting
Cons
- Messy - some users found this expanding foam could be on the messy side
RUNNER UP
The Great Stuff 3-Pack Insulating Foam Sealant Big Gap Filler is just the thing you need to create new sculptures.
This particular product is a favorite for many creatives who like to use expanding foam for sculpting.
You will also have plenty of expanding foam to work with as this is a multipack product.
You’ll get 3 cans to use as you see fit.
What’s really great about this expanding foam is how much it can expand.
This has been designed to fill gaps of around 1 inch for DIY projects, so you will get plenty of surface area to work with once the foam has cured.
A handy feature of this expanding foam is how versatile it is.
This particular expanding foam is airtight and water resistant, and can also be sanded, painted, and stained as needed.
Ideal if you want to decorate your sculptures once you have finished shaping them.
This particular expanding foam features superior adhesion.
It can stick to the vast majority of materials, including plastic, wood, metal, glass, masonry, and many more.
Pros
- Multipack - gives you 3 cans to work with
- Versatile - can be sanded, painted, and stained as needed
- Fantastic adhesion - can stick to a wide variety of materials
Cons
- Pricey - one of the pricier products on the market
RUNNER UP
The Smooth-On FOAM-iT!3 Pourable Rigid Foam is the ideal choice if you’re looking for an expanding foam that can be poured into a waiting mold.
This will be much easier if you don’t want to use a foam that has been designed for DIY use.
This is a kit that has been designed specifically with arts and crafts in mind, so will be suitable for sculpting.
What’s really great about this expanding foam is that it gives you super quick results.
This foam will stop becoming sticky after 7 minutes, it will be suitable for handling after around 20 minutes, and will fully cure within 2 hours.
It couldn’t be easier to use this expanding foam product.
Simply mix parts A and B in equal measure, and it will be ready to use as you need.
Great if you want an easy-to-use expanding foam.
Another great feature of this expanding foam is that it’s capable of expanding to several times its original size.
So this will give you plenty of surface area to work with once the product has fully cured.
Pros
- Craft specific - designed specifically with arts and crafts in mind
- Expanding - will expand to much greater than its original size
- Easy to use - simply mix both parts together then pour into your mold
Cons
- Expensive - one of the more expensive models on this list
Buyer’s Guide On Spray Foams For Sculpters
I know how hard it can be to find the right expanding foam for your needs when you want to give sculpting a go.
Whether you’re looking for an expanding foam product that you can use to create your own cosplay props, or just want to unleash your creative side, it can be tricky finding the right product for your needs.
That’s why I’ve put this helpful buyer’s guide to help you.
I’ve made sure to cover all of the essential factors that I used to select my favorite expanding foam products above.
So as long as your preferred expanding foam product has the below features covered, you can rest assured that it will be perfect for your crafty needs.
Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about expanding foam, or skip ahead to the frequently asked questions.
Time To Cure
One of the most important things you will have to consider is how long your expanding foam will need to cure once you’ve used it.
This is basically allowing the expanding foam time to do its job, so that it can expand to the size you need.
This will also allow the foam time to dry so that it will be suitable for sculpting.
The time needed for an expanding foam product to cure will entirely depend on the product you use.
Some products will only need a couple of hours to cure.
The vast majority will need at least 8 hours to do its job efficiently.
Others may need even longer often up to 24hrs to fully cure.
Your best bet is to take a look at the instructions before you buy your expanding foam product so that you will have a better idea of how long it will take to cure properly before you can get sculpting.
Easy To Use
You will of course want to opt for a product that will be super easy to use.
The easier the expanding foam is to use, the more likely you will be able to use it for all of your sculpting projects.
There are several factors that will dictate how easy the product is to use, partially the time it takes to cure, and also how easy it will be to get the foam out of the can.
If your expanding foam comes with an applicator straw, this will make things a lot easier.
This will allow you to easily direct the foam to your cardboard base, so you won’t have to worry about wasting any foam.
My #1 pick on this post, the Loctite TITE Foam, comes with a straw applicator which makes using this foam a whole lot easier...
Loctite TITE FOAM Insulating Foam Sealant
Adhesion
It will be key to think about the adhesion of your expanding foam.
This is because if you want to use a cardboard base or other type of base, the expanding foam will need to be able to stick to this.
You will also need to bear in mind that you won’t want to use the expanding foam on both sides of the cardboard if you have nothing to allow it to dry standing up, as the foam may stick to the surface you lean this on.
It may be best to use the foam on one side, allow this to cure, then apply a second coat on the other side so that you don’t have your sculpture stuck to the floor of your home.
The better the adhesion of your chosen expanding foam, the better, as this will give you more versatility in terms of what you can use as a base to shape your sculpture before you begin.
My #1 pick in the post, the Loctite TITE Foam, has super adhesion and will easily stick to metal, wood, PVC, concrete, stone, brick, as well as many more...
Loctite TITE FOAM Insulating Foam Sealant
Easy To Sculpt
One of the key factors that you will need to consider is how easy the expanding foam will be to sculpt once it has cured.
Can you use a box cutter knife to sculpt away to get the shape that you’re after?
Can the expanding foam be sanded down so that you get the smoother surface that you’re after?
Is it suitable for painting once you’ve got the shape you need?
These are all factors that will dictate how easy the expanding foam is to use for sculpting.
If you want to create props for cosplay, these are essential factors that you will need to bear in mind.
The top pick in this post, the Loctite TITE Foam is very flexible...
Loctite TITE FOAM Insulating Foam Sealant
Expansion
Another factor you will need to consider is how much the expanding foam will expand once it has had time to cure.
The vast majority of products will expand by quite a large amount, giving you plenty of finished product to work with.
Take a look at the instructions before you buy your chosen expanding foam product.
Does it give you an indication of the diameter one application is able to expand to?
This will give you a better idea of whether this product will be suitable for your needs, and whether it will give you enough finished foam to sculpt as needed.
Typically 1 inches in size is a standard expansion size and is what my top pick the Loctite TITE Foam expands to...
Loctite TITE FOAM Insulating Foam Sealant
Cut Time
Cut time is the minimum time you have to wait before cutting the foam, this can range from 50-60 minutes but it may be recommended you leave it for up to 24hrs to fully expand and settle.
My top pick in the post, the Loctite TITE Foam can be cut is as little as 50 minites....
Loctite TITE FOAM Insulating Foam Sealant
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best Expanding Foam For Sculpting?
The best expanding foams for sculpting are:
- Loctite TITE FOAM Insulating Foam Sealant
- Red Devil Foam & Fill Large Gaps & Cracks Expanding Polyurethane Sealant
- Tomcat Rodent Block Expanding Foam Barrier
- Great Stuff 3-Pack Insulating Foam Sealant Big Gap Filler
- Smooth-On FOAM-iT!3 Pourable Rigid Foam
Can You Sculpt Expanding Foam?
Yes, you can indeed sculpt using expanding foam.
However, there are a few tricks you can use to make things much easier for yourself.
Rather than just carving out a large lump of expanded foam, it will be much easier to spray your expanding foam onto a cardboard template base so that you can easily achieve the size sculpture that you want.
This will help to make things more efficient as you won’t have to worry about wasting any foam.
How Do You Shape Expandable Foam?
The best way to shape your expandable foam is to use a cardboard template as the base for the foam to stick to.
This will help you to get the general shape of the item that you are trying to sculpt.
It will also prevent you from wasting too much expanding foam.
Next, you will need to allow the expanding foam to cure overnight.
Remember that the expanding foam will expand a lot, so be sure not to overdo it when you cover your template.
Your expanding foam will need to cure for around 8 hours, depending on what the instructions tell you.
Next, you can use a box cutter knife to sculpt away at the expanding foam to create your new masterpiece.
So What's The Best Expanding Foam For Sculpting & Cosplay Props?
My #1 pick for best expanding foam for scuplting and cosplay props is the the Loctite TITE Foam and here's why...
- It can be sanded into almost any shape you want to scuplt.
- It can be painted after it sets so you can turn it into anything you like.
- It features superior adhesion and stick to metal, wood, PVC, concrete, stone, brick, as well as many more.
- It comes with a straw applicator to make the whole process easier to use and limits mess.
- It can expand up to 1 inch in diameter, giving you plenty of foam to sculpt away at.
So for all those reasons and more the Loctite TITE Foam is your best option for an expanding foam for scuplting and you can get it by clicking the button below...
Last update on 2024-04-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
