Thread: How do you connect cylinders/rigs to foam filled props?

Tweet

I bought a foam filled attack dog (well, front half of a dog anyway) from Fright Props and I'm looking for suggestions on how to attach it to a cylinder. I want the dog to thrust forward via pneumatic cylinder, but I'm unsure how to fasten the cylinder to the foam prop.

Any suggestions?

One way would to build a track with a platform to attach the cylinder to then attach the prop to the platform. That way you're not attaching the cylinder to the foam.

foam is just not that stong usually if there is aarmature or skeleton to attach to it is embedded in the foam to suvive the repeated thrusting of a cylinder you can try cutting in and imbedding a pvc pipe of aluminum frame then using sprayfoam to attach it i have a toxic barrel prop with a schedule40 pipe and cap inside of a mask just greatstuf filling it and bonding it too the mask

You guys are correct - There is nothing rigid inside the foam dog prop. I can't embed the cylinder itself, because then it couldn't retract. I can't attach the cylinder to the "skin" because it would never hold.

Inserting something inside and foaming it could work. I'm not following the track suggestion.

for the mask head and put a foot long section of 2" pvc pipe with a PVC cap on it drilled the cap put a washer on end of cylinder put rod through cap tightened on a nylon lock nut then foamed the pipe into the head the foam dries real hard after a couple days like 2 if you dont wait it is still soft inside so dont rush your tests

the other type of cylinders are linear motion ones like long slides that would mean a rail under your dog and some sort of bracket mounted on the interior make sure your pvc pipe is big enough to fit down over your cylinder when retracted

Instead of using Great Stuff as an adhesive, try a polyurethane glue like Gorilla Glue.
Spray a very light mist of water onto the area you want to put the glue. One part polyurethanes like Great Stuff and Gorilla Glue need moisture to cure. Usually there's enough moisture in the air, but if it's a thick layer of Great Stuff or the glue is where the air can't get to it, it'll need the extra water.

[QUOTE=trexmgd;1178899 I'm not following the track suggestion.[/QUOTE]

Imagine a setup like a small railroad track or drawer slides, a platform rides on the track that the cylinder is attached to then attach the prop to the platform............

You know I'm having the same problem..I used a pvc pipe and some great stuff and the pipe is held solid inside the dog...However, my problem is the dog, pipe, and foam are now too heavy for the cylinder to effectively retract the dog..So now I'm thinking about building a track system for the dog to ride on..

If anyone has any ideas or diagrams on how to accomplish this please post!

Thanks

Originally Posted by Singingchris t

You know I'm having the same problem..I used a pvc pipe and some great stuff and the pipe is held solid inside the dog...However, my problem is the dog, pipe, and foam are now too heavy for the cylinder to effectively retract the dog..So now I'm thinking about building a track system for the dog to ride on..

If anyone has any ideas or diagrams on how to accomplish this please post!

Thanks

Go into you kitchen and pull out a cabinet drawer. Now picture that drawer with the front off and your prop mounted to the bottom and your air cylinder to the back of the drawer.

Instead of you pushing it shut or pulling it open the air cylinder replaces that part

Here's how I did my eel that I got from Bobzilla. He installed the PVC in it when it was made so I didn't need to do that step but this setup works great.