Foam Latex Smell?

[Magpie]

I just pulled my first run of foam latex masks, and they turned out great!

However, oh my goodness they smell really really bad. Sulfur, rotten eggs, whatever you want to call it. They smell. Horrible.

Does anyone on here know a good way to get rid of that smell? I read somewhere else to wash the appliances with soap and water, and I've already done that. They aren't drying super fast, and there are already a few mold spots on them. I think this is because it's super humid where I am right now.

I'm applying these to my models at the end of the week, and really don't want them to have to deal with that smell.

Help?

 

[BornKilr]

I know foam latex has to de-gass for a bit before using, but not sure how long. The fumes are fairly toxic too, I believe.

 

[falconNL]

Nope thats just the smell of foam latex. You could try some babypowder but foamlatex smells.

 

[Magpie]

I know foam latex has to de-gass for a bit before using, but not sure how long. The fumes are fairly toxic too, I believe.

Hm, I left them out for 12 hours last night. Any idea if it's supposed to be longer than that?

Nope thats just the smell of foam latex. You could try some babypowder but foamlatex smells.

It's pretty overpowering, haha. My entire apartment smells like rotten eggs just because I took them out of the bags?

 

[BornKilr]

I use cold foam, which is just a 2 part foam, and I try to give them 2 weeks before use. If you don't get an answer here,
try this on Facebook: Neill Gorton's Make-up FX 911. Its a group of FX artists and could definitely answer your question.

 

[falconNL]

well maybe not that strong:lol What kind of foam latex did you use, at what temperature did you "bake" them, how long?

Instructions with foam latex are pretty strict, the foam may be cured but the smell could be you add something to early or to late.

 

[Magpie]

I use cold foam, which is just a 2 part foam, and I try to give them 2 weeks before use. If you don't get an answer here,
try this on Facebook: Neill Gorton's Make-up FX 911. Its a group of FX artists and could definitely answer your question.

Oh this is wonderful! Thank you!

well maybe not that strong:lol What kind of foam latex did you use, at what temperature did you "bake" them, how long?

Instructions with foam latex are pretty strict, the foam may be cured but the smell could be you add something to early or to late.

I used Monster Maker's foam latex? Baked at 175 degrees, followed the instructions to a T. They seem to be fine? Though I'm honestly not sure, there's no one around here to tell me whether or not they are made correctly. They feel like the flesh at the tip of my nose?

 

[Paul6700]

The only way to get rid of that smell is to wash the appliances. It is just a reality when dealing with foam latex. Now, where did you cook the foam? I really hope you did not use the oven in your kitchen.

 

[Magpie]

The only way to get rid of that smell is to wash the appliances. It is just a reality when dealing with foam latex. Now, where did you cook the foam? I really hope you did not use the oven in your kitchen.

I definitely washed them, but I did use minimal soap. I'll have to try it again I suppose!

And I built my own oven, so the baking was done is. A large garage. I know the fumes aren't something people should be inhaling. The smell did surprise me since I baked and washed the pieces in my studio and let them air out there overnight and then brought them to my apartment.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Paul6700]

Another option is to run the mixer a little longer to help more of the ammonia to escape. Each manufacturer has their own formula and mixing times, so it is hard to advise which part of the cycle you should make longer.

We started using bread ovens similar to the type at subway, which work really well. You just never want to cook food in them ever again.

 

[BcoleFx]

the Level of how bad a foam latex piece smells is connected to how long you mix during your foaming step and your refining step. the less ammonia in your foam the less it is going to smell after you bake it. I always mix at high speed for a little longer than I'm supposed to just to make sure i get as much ammonia out as I can and spend less time on the refining step. It's a delicate dance really, because If you let too much ammonia escape when you add the gelling agent it will gel super fast. Sometimes before you can even get it into your mold. To combat that I always use the minimum gelling agent that they say. i think its 12 grams for a 150g batch if memory serves. After I bake my foam I soak the piece in a shampoo and conditioner soapy mix for a couple hours. Then I ring it out like a sponge and air dry over night. My foam usually smells very pretty after that

 

[sabersaint]

Hey there.
Just saw this thread.
I work for a major FX studio, and I know that our foam runner uses a small amount or vanilla in each batch to combat the the smell. I'm not sure exactly how much, as I'm a fabricator, not a foam runner.
But I hope this helps.

 

[sgtfury4017]

At the studio I used to work at, we would wash the fully cured foam pieces with baby shampoo then rinse them with clean water,
then rinse them again in water mixed with vanilla extract. Ring out the excess water and let them dry on a wire mesh "face" buck to help keep its shape. This seemed
to work just fine. Final dried appliance has the light scent of vanilla and no foam smell.
Best of luck.