Puppet building is a fun way to teach and entertain kids and can develop into a lifelong career for theatre and filmmaking. But to build quality puppets, you’ll need to invest in the best materials.
Foam is one of the key components in the construction of puppets. But there are a gazillion options, leaving beginners wondering which one to use.
So, what are the best foams for puppets? Any kind of foam that is durable, glues well, and is easy to flex, carve, or shape, can be used for puppets. Generally, reticulated foam is the best foam for puppets, but you can also use super soft foam, urethane foam, and more.
More often though, the best foam depends on the type of puppet, the details, and the motions you want to achieve. A different kind of foam or a combination may be best suited for your specific needs.
To learn more about your options, stick with us a bit longer. In this post, we identify the best foams for puppets and go into the details of their properties and best uses.
Let’s get started.
Foam For Puppets – Buyer’s Guide
There’s a range of foams out there and not one kind of foam works best for all puppets. The unique characteristics of each type of foam are what make it better for one particular job instead of another.
Therefore, before choosing foam, you must keep the following things in mind.
- Density – The density of the foam is its sturdiness or softness. The density of foam determines the flexibility and structure. There are light, medium, and heavy densities. A rod puppet needs more structure and a medium to heavy density foam is the most ideal for it. For arm, glove, or finger puppets, go for a light to medium density foam.
- Colors And Textures – The one thing about detail parts is that they are exposed and rarely covered by fleece or other materials like the rest of the puppet’s body. Details include things like eyelids, ears, tongues, nails, and in the case of animal puppets, scales, claws, or horns. Therefore, you want to choose foam with a beautiful texture (closed cells) and color variety. It should also hold shape really well.
- Durability – Some parts of the puppet move more than others. The mouth and arms are excellent examples. Consequently, these wear out faster than the rest of the body. It is best to choose a durable foam, at least for these specific parts, if not the entire body.
- Shape And Size – Foam is available in sheets and some varieties come in blocks. The thickness of the sheets is in ½”, ¾”, 1″ and so on, while the blocks are in square feet. It’s a matter of preference what shape works for you and what size you need. Blocks are practical if you are going for the carving out technique for a certain part, for example, the puppet’s head.
- Weight – Foams are available in different weights. Some varieties are heavier than others. The weight of the foam contributes to the overall weight of the puppet. To minimize hand fatigue during a show, opt for lightweight foam, especially for large-sized puppets.
The 7 Best Foams For Puppets
Moving on, let’s now go over the 7 best foams for puppets. There are more options, but we chose the top 7 based on durability, weight, flexibility, color options, ease of use, and availability.
1. Reticulated Foam
Reticulated foam is commonly referred to as muppet foam and even Scott foam. It is a top-notch foam that is wear and tear-resistant, hence expensive.
This is an open-cell foam. It is used in the making of air conditioners. If you’ve had a chance to look inside one, that is the foam we are talking about. It is also common in outdoor furniture and fish tank filters.
It is considered the best foam for puppet building, owing to its durability and popularity among professional puppet makers. The foam is spongy and lightweight with a porous texture that allows free airflow.
It makes the most comfortable arm puppets due to its moisture-wicking abilities. It is a versatile foam that can be used for the head, body, arms, legs, and even details.
2. Super Soft Foam
As the name suggests, this type of foam is cotton clouds soft. It feels extra squishy and spongy. It is a lightweight foam in sheets or blocks and is super flexible and easy to use.
Super soft foam is perfect for small details such as the nose, ears, tongue, and any part that would benefit from the extra flexibility. However, it lacks the rigidity needed for the main body parts.
3. Urethane Foam
Urethane foam is the typical mattress foam or foam put inside seat cushions. You’ve probably come across it many times. It goes by many other names; upholstery foam, polyfoam, or open-cell foam. You are likely to get it in white or cream, though yellow, blue, or pink are options too.
This foam is pretty standard, lightweight and spongy, with open cells, and it is readily available in sheets of varying widths. It holds shape well at first but flattens and crumbles with time depending on quality.
Its ubiquity contributes to its low-cost, hence a budget-friendly option for beginners learning the ropes of puppet building. It is also ideal for mock puppets.
Being a basic foam, it is good but not great. Experienced puppet makers could pull off a fantastic final piece out of it. However, there are better foam options for a more professional outcome.
4. EVA foam
Cosplayers are very familiar with EVA foam. Eva foam is a closed-cell foam that is very distinct in texture from the rest of the foams you might be familiar with; it is particularly smooth to touch.
This type of foam has a solid profile. It is very tough and stiff, with just a little give when pressed, bent, or twisted. Surprisingly, it is still very light in weight.
Stability is one of its greatest qualities, thanks to its rigidity. Therefore, it would be an ideal choice for the puppet’s body if you are looking for a solid structure without support.
However, you wouldn’t want to use it on your most flexible parts. There will be maneuverability issues. It is not fussy with being shaped, making it good for odd forms. It can be used for the nose, ears, and other details as well.
5. Cross-Linked Polyethylene Foam
Cross-linked polyethylene foam, normally white in color, is one of the strongest types of foam out there. It takes the exact appearance of styrofoam except that it won’t crack.
It acts like foam and is worked by being carved. It is much firmer than EVA foam, yet extremely light in weight, much lighter than the standard polyfoam.
These two amazing qualities make cross-linked foam best suited for large puppets. These could use a rigidity boost in the frame without being cumbersomely heavy.
It also performs outstandingly for small details that need stiffness to enhance the realistic appeal of the puppets. Things like tusks, teeth, or claws would work best when constructed from cross-linked polyethylene foam.
6. Craft Foam
Another type of foam you may want in your collection is craft foam. It is a versatile foam used by crafters all the time for a wide range of crafts.
Craft foam is not just readily available but also super affordable. It comes in an unlimited array of colors and shapes. You are most likely to get it in thin sheets, but there are discs, balls, blocks, cones, and even rings of craft foam to add to your creative corner.
Essentially, craft foam is not used in the main body construction but comes in handy for detail work and building into the puppet’s character. Some brands of craft foam come with an adhesive backing.
7. Foam Latex
Lastly, we have foam latex. This type of foam is made through a rigorous process of blending chemicals and pouring them into a mold.
To use it, you’ll have to start by designing the character on paper, then creating a mock puppet from it. The next step is to create a plaster mold for the model puppet.
The foam latex is then prepared by blending a couple of chemicals and pouring the mixture into the plaster mold. This is left to dry at room temperature for a couple of days. Placing it in a low heat oven can help accelerate the setting time.
The entire process is a bit more complex than we’ve just explained, but it is worth all the effort. The amount of detail you get when measurements are done accurately is mind-blowing.
Latex foam not only makes fantastically detailed puppets, but also allows you to dye them to customize the puppet into your color of choice. More details can be added later by painting using acrylic paints.
This type of foam and the entire process of creating the puppet costs a lot more than other foams. It is also not beginner-friendly and requires a skilled hand.
And that brings us to the end of our 7 best foams for puppets. Hopefully, you’ll now be able to find a combination of foams you need for your work depending on your needs, skills, and budget.
Remember there is no right or wrong way to make puppets, so let your creativity run wild!
Up Next: Best Glues For EVA Foam