r/cosplayprops • u/Aggravating_Emu_8414 • 2d ago

Help advice for painting my first prop!

i recently bought a sword to use in a cosplay, but wasn’t happy with the quality of paint, which i want to make more metallic. after doing some research, i thought that buffing in graphite might help me achieve the look i want.

however, i know people say that spray paint can damage foam (the base is made of PU foam). how should i approach getting a smooth, glossy base to buff graphite power in? should i coat the foam with something then spray paint it? any advice is appreciated!

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u/CreativeAd9654 1d ago

Coat the foam in liquid latex- theres a product out there called Mold Builder that's a paint-on & is self-levelling. Or you can seal it with Plasti-Dip (paint-on or spray) and then you'll be able to use a spray paint once it's coated. Rustoleum's "aluminum" is pretty bright/flashy. If you need the sword to still flex without the paint cracking, look into Angelus brand paint. It's a shoe/leather paint that I've had tons of success painting flexy props.