TOOLS AND SUPPLIES

Find what you need.

This page is a resource for finding the supplies you need to make my EVA foam costume projects!

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Supplies I actually use

Here are the actual supplies I am currently using for my projects. As I live in Canada, there are likely items that I have access to that other people in other countries won’t and lots of things availabel in the U.S. aren’t possible for me to get here. If you scroll to the bottom, I also list supplies that I am confident to recommend even though I haven’t actually used them….yet:)

GLUE

You can get started with just a hot glue gun, but sometimes it’s nice to have options!

Hot Glue Gun

I’ve had two of this style hot glue gun for almost ten years, and they are still going strong! It seems like this design is sold under many different brand names, so I just look for one that looks like this and that’s what I buy:) The two benefits are that they are adjustable temperature, and they are cheap.

No matter what glue gun you buy, make sure it has a way to control the temperature. That will save you time, and burned fingers.

Durapro Contact Cement

I have had a hard time finding a good contact cement in Canada, but this one is decent. Like most solvent based contact adhesives, the fumes are hazardous so proper airflow and respirator are necessary. I always prefer to use hot glue, but when necessary, this stuff works fine.

Lepage Low Odour Contact Cement

This is the glue I use when gluing large surface areas together. It is not strong enough to glue foam edge to edge. The benefit of it is that it doesn’t have the fumes that solvent based contact adhesives have.

2 Part Epoxy (Dollar Store)

Sometimes you just don’t need the most expensive supplies. I always get my 2 part epoxy from the dollar store and it has served me well. I use it often for making fake rivets, or even as a material to cast in a mold

Super Glue (Dollar Store)

Another dollar store gem, I like to buy the tiny little tubes. I often use super glue for attaching small details to the costume. It works very well on foam, almost instantly, so make sure you get your pieces lined up right!

Hot Glue Sticks

I get my hot glue sticks from Walmart, they are Adtech Multi-Temp Crystal Clear Glue sticks.

FOAM

All the foam sheet I use is EVA foam (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate) EVA foam is a closed cell foam available in various densities

For Living Best-Step Foam Anti-Fatigue Floor Mat

I get these mats from my local Canadian Tire hardware store. It’s a 4x8 foot, 6-7mm thick mat that is a medium density. It’s great for costume making, as long as your pattern hides one side of the foam, as there is a texture on the top. By far the cheapest way to get foam if you can find it.

Anti-Fatigue EVA Foam Floor Mat Roll

O.K. so this isn’t a foam roll that I have used, but it’s the closest thing to the roll above that’s available on Amazon in the U.S. I’m guessing there’s no Canadian Tire in the U.S.A. so hopefully that helps!

Foam Rolls by Creatology

I get these from the local Michaels store, they come in a roll that is 3ft x 5ft and 2mm thick. They only come in white or black, but are an excellent deal for a big piece of regular craft foam. Not as dense as some cosplay specific foams though. If you see me using white or black foam in a video, it’s likely this stuff!

12" x 18" Foam Sheet by Creatology

This is basically the same material as the roll above, but it comes in large sheets, and is available in many colors. I often use it for the builds in my videos instead of the black and white foam, just to make it easier for you to differentiate between different pieces. It also looks super fun!

Cosplay Apprentice’s 2mm What the Foam

This is amazing foam! It’s really strong, cuts beautifully,is quite dense and heat forms nicely. Made specifically for cosplay. It comes in one color- RED- but let’s admit it, that’s the best color anyways. Because of it’s density, it cuts really well with the Cricut Maker, and also laser cuts well. It’s my choice for any straps or intricate parts that require a lot of cutting. If you see me using red foam in my videos, it’s probably What the Foam.

Foam-Mo Foam Clay

Another great item from Cosplay Apprentice, Foam-Mo is great for making those costume parts that you just can’t get from a flat sheet. The great thing compared to regular clay, is that it stays flexible when it dries, which is important of a foam costume, which tends to flex a lot. It takes a bit of practice to use, but is super helpful in the right circumstances.

10-12 mm Thick Interlocking Foam Mats

To be honest I usually get these from thrift stores, but they are also commonly available at most big box stores in the fitness section. They are generally 2ft square, come in a pack of 4 or 6 and have a texture on one side.

PAINT

AmericanaDecor Metallics-Vintage Brass

I have tried a few metallic paints in the past, and have yet to find ones better than the Decoart Americana Decor Metallics. The vintage brass is a nice bright gold-ish colour, but not so bright as to look really fake. All of the metallics I apply by rubbing them on top of a black undercoat.

AmericanaDecor Metallics-Silver

I make my My favourite antique silver color by mixing this paint with the pewter color in a 50/50 ratio. Be careful, Decoart also have a “sterling silver” color which I don’t really like- it’s too silvery.

AmericanaDecor Metallics-Pewter

This is the paint I mix with the silver to make my antique silver color.

AmericanaDecor Metallics-Antique Bronze

A bit darker than the Vintage Brass, I don’t use this color a lot except when I want to introduce another color to add more interest to a costume. It’s not quite a copper color.

Liquitex Basics-Black

When I am on a budget or making a costume that will only be used a couple of times, I use Liquitex Basics paints for the base coats. It has some flexibility when dry, but will crack on parts that flex a lot. Generally I will do a black base coat with three to four coats of Mars Black.

Plaid FX Paints

When I am making a costume that I want to have around for a little longer, I will do the basecoat with Plaid FX Carbon Black. Plaid FX paints are formulated to remain flexible rather than crack over time, making them great paints to use on EVA foam.

Plaid FX- Primer

Well, I don’t prime my foam, but I have found that the primer also works well as a clear top coat, so that’s what I currently use.

TOOLS

Scalpel

I use a No. 3 scalpel handle with No.11 blades. I like scalpels better than craft knives because the blades are incredibly sharp, the handles are flat so they don’t roll around, and hey, if surgeons use them for brain surgery, they must be alright! The most important thing is a sharp blade, so make sure to get a pack of blades as well.

Utility Knife

I am happy with just a standard cheapo utility knife, but I like to buy high quality blades to go in it. The Olfa UltraMax LBB blades are my favourites.

Leather Punch Set

I have leather punches that go from 3mm to 12mm, which covers most things. I am linking here to a set that goes up to 19 mm-it’s great to have those larger sizes if you can get them!

White Paint Pens

Regular ball point pens will bleed through any light colored paint, no matter how hard you try to stop it. I switched to these white paint pens and that is no longer a problem. Not quite as easy to use as a ballpoint, but pretty good.

Wagner Furno 700 Heat Gun

Not absolutely necessary, but I was amazed how much I used it once I had it. Great for heat forming foam, or heating up an area to undo a horrible hot glue mistake. You can also use a hairdryer, but you won’t get quite as much heat from it.

Supplies I haven’t used, but can recommend

Here are some supplies that are the best I can currrently find online. I haven’t used any of them, but they have been recommended by people I trust.

Weldwood Contact Cement

This is the glue recommended by Cosplay Apprentice, it’s easier to get hold of than Barge, but still works well. The fumes, of course are bad for you so make sure you have lung protection and a well ventilated space!

Barge Contact Cement

This is the best of the best as far as contact cement goes. Used by professionals in shoe repair and cosplay, it’s pretty much the industry standard. Also toxic so make sure you have lung protection and a well ventilated space!

EVA Foam - Multiple Thicknesses

This is a high density foam available in multiple thicknesses. It’s smooth on both sides, which makes it great for costume making.

Supplies I don’t use anymore, but thought you might still be interested in.

Rub N’ Buff

This was the first paint I used for getting an antique metal effect on my first steampunk costume projects. It is a solvent based paint/paste that you…wait for it….rub on, and then buff once it’s dry! I didn’t like the solvent fumes, and was able to get a similar finish with water based paints, so I left it behind.

Foam Camping Mat

This is the style of mat I used for my first steampunk top hat project, and dive helmet. It is a less dense foam that what I use now, so it is harder to cut, and not as strong. Use it if you have nothing better, but not my top choice.