[terror31]

I found a cool sign that I wanted to place above my food table at our Halloween party. I then noticed that it was $129! This looks easy enough to mimic with styrofoam and a few supplies. This sign says it is latex but wasn't sure how to make it look like wood grain using latex. I know I can make the styrofoam look like wood grain. My idea is to have a thin wood backing to the styrofoam, carve the wood grain, rough up the edges, paint, add the plastic chain and pvc couplings for the clasps. Maybe I could find plastic u-bolt like pieces to attach the chain to the styrofoam. The arms can be had for about $3-$5 each. I should be able to make this for less than $20.

Here is the link where I first saw it: Free Food Sign

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,

 

[vtswordfish]

I think you're onto something, you could grab the ultra cheap dollar tree hands/feet for the dangling body parts. Just a thought.

 

[evilmanor]

Cool looking prop, and I agree this could be built for a lot less than the asking price.

If you're going to have a wood backing why not just use real u-bolts? You might have to cut some of the length off them, but that should be to difficult.

 

[terror31]

I think you're onto something, you could grab the ultra cheap dollar tree hands/feet for the dangling body parts. Just a thought.

Haven't seen the dollar store ones but I found some like this:
Severed Hands/Arms
Maybe big lots will have them cheap.

 

[terror31]

Well I was at Party City a couple days ago and decided to just buy the arms there for instant gratification.

Here is what I have so far with this project.

Purchased at HomeDepot
(2) Blank Cover (electrical, gray) $.54 ea
Rectangular notch cut out of middle
(2) 1/2" Plastic Conduit Clamp $.10 ea
I bought a bag of 25 for $2.47 since
I will need them for other projects
I think a bag of 5 is about $1.00
(2) 2" Coupling (electrical, gray) $.40 ea
I bought 1 (electrical, gray) ([email protected]$.80) and
cut it in half to make two couplings
(2) About 13" of chain for each shackle $.72 ea
I bought #8 15' for $9.87 (all they had)
that is about $.66/ft
Purchased at PartyCity
(2) Severed Arms $6.97 ea
I can't recall for sure but these might have be $7.97
If you want you could purchase the arm that already has
a shackle and chain for $9.99 but they didn't have any
at my Party City. Here is the link to them online: Bloody Butcher Arm

That puts the grand total so far (less paint and styrofoam) at $18.90 (including tax). Far from the retail of $129 for the original prop.

The blank covers will have a rectangular hole cut and the clamps placed in them. I just didn't want to pay $3 for each one so I made them for $.64 each. I have other projects that require a chain to attach.

If you buy the ready-made one instead you can omit the Chain and Coupling above. It is about $3.50 more this way but no painting or assembly required (except where the chain attaches to the sign) and I think the hand looks better

I still have to get the styrofoam but I don't have my truck anymore so it isn't as easy to get a 4x8 piece. Where is everyone getting the 2"
pieces? Here in Texas at HD and Lowes I only have access to 1/2", 3/4" and I think 1" which requires spray adhesive to make them thicker.

I will post more as I get further along with this project.

 

[vtswordfish]

Home depot is the only place I have ever seen the 2" pink foam at, what you could do is make a small backing structure out of a cheapo craft plywood board from lowes/HD and just glue the 3/4" styrofoam to that. I actually may take up this project too as I've been looking for something to do lately.

 

[Frankie's Girl]

Cool project so far!

As far as getting any foam in 2" thickness... you're in TX, so you'll not be able to find any unless you special order for big $$$.

You could try to use the white bead foam, but your best bet is to glue a few thickness' worth of the 3/4 inch together.

 

[terror31]

Yeah, I "hear" it is as HD but have never seen it. Maybe I will have to special order (if it is worth the price).

My plan was to add a thin piece of wood to the back no matter what thickness of foam I use. Maybe like that brown masonite board (like pegboard without the pegs).

 

[FirstSpartan]

How about using some old fencing for wood? You'll get a solid and durable wood prop that you can use hardware on.

Every year I search out the area and craigslist for people replacing their old wood fence and ask if I can have it. I get some crazy looks but nobodys said no yet! You can get that 'real aged wood look' from some real aged wood

 

[vtswordfish]

Yeah you could do actual wood fencing, then just woodburn the lettering into the fencepost, wouldn't be too bad.

 

[scary1215]

looks awesome

 

[terror31]

Yeah you could do actual wood fencing, then just woodburn the lettering into the fencepost, wouldn't be too bad.

Not a bad idea for some but for me the problem would be the weight. I want something lightweight that can be hung on a wall without having to put nails in my wall. Unless it has to be durable I prefer foam but to each his own. If you go that route be sure to post pics to this thread.

I have found a potential supplier for foam bead board that I am gonna check on. They have broken pieces also that may work for me. The 2" 4x8 pieces are about $15 a sheet so the broken pieces should be less. Since I can't find 2" at HD/Lowes this is a great option for me if it works out. HD sells the 3/4" (maybe 1") for about $10 so this is a deal if you need the whole sheet.

 

[Landscapeman]

Great Idea. I have never seen that sign. "FREE FOOD" I love it. lol. I may need to steal your idea.

 

[terror31]

I am going to use the pink foam from Home Depot and follow this guide for
Fake Wood and then carve out the letters Free Food.

 

[terror31]

OK, I have way too many projects besides the Halloween projects and they have been keeping me busy. Finally I have been able to make some progress with this sign. I still have to paint the faux wood and carve the "Free Food" in it so I am very close to being finished.

Here are a few pics of my progress. The rest of the pics are on my website at:
Free Food Sign Pics

The rest of the pics are on my website at:
Free Food Sign Pics

 

[terror31]

OK, I finished the sign. It isn't as great as I had hoped but I decided to cut it short and start on some other projects. I wanted to have the wood a bit weathered but didn't quite know what colors I wanted to use so I just stuck with a brown I had.

 

[jeremydbrooks]

Wood just sounds easier and cheaper.... Geez, for $130 (!!!) you could include the rest of the body plus a gourmet meal!

For kicks, here's one I made last year

 

[BlackwaterFX]

the hands need a lil gore added to them to make them look more realistic and fresh

 

[BlackwaterFX]

i like it though