What is FLEXBOND?
You have probably heard of Flexbond before. But what exactly is it?
Flexbond is actually a type of adhesive. It's a super strong adhesive that also keeps it's pliability or flexibility even when dried. So this is very ideal for foam armor or any part of your cosplay that will be subjected to bending and lots of movement.
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I used Flexbond a lot on building my Banner Spear Armor for Cephalofair Game's Frosthaven cosplay. I received a lot of compliments on my armor build because people assumed I was wearing real metal armor because of how smooth it looked. And some people thought I used worbla when it's all EVA foam.
You can buy Flexbond jus about anywhere! From Blick Arts, Worbla.com, etc.
FLEXBOND Alternatives
I heard that fabric glue works the same way. Although I have never tried it.
Cosflex is also a good alternative to Flexbond and it works almost the same.
For rigid, and static cosplay parts and props, I still use Plastidip. Although if I may be honest I find that using Flexbond has been better since I don't need to vent out any strong fumes during the winter time and I can just apply this inside my workshop.
Prepping Your Surfaces
For EVA Foam - Make sure to heat seal your foam before applying. Heat sealing is the process of blasting heat on your foam using a heat gun.
EVA foam is extremely porous. So if you apply paint or any type of solution, it sorts of "drink it all up", like a sponge. Heat sealing helps minimize the pores of your foam, and this way you won't be using too much product during application.
For Worbla and other thermoplastics- if you're having a hard time applying Flexbond to your Worbla surface, lightly sand it and brush or clean out any residue. Then try applying it to the surface.
Tools to Aid Application
I use this to apply my Flexbond mixture to my armor and prop pieces. A large bristle brush has help save me so much time to applying the solution. It also helps me put a nice, even coating on the material.
Someone has asked me about using airbrush when applying this. I avoid using my airbrush because it keeps clogging it and you would need to really water down your solution to be able to make it pass through the airbrush. Not to mention a pain to clean up!
Silicone Resin Measuring Cups Tool Kit
Not only do I use these tools for resin or liquid plastic - I love using this when I mix my Flexbond solution. Almost nothing sticks to these silicone tools! And I can easily measure how much Flexbond I am using. It even comes with a dropper, so I can add water a little bit at a time to control how much I add to the solution. The stirrers are very sturdy. And once I am done, I return any unused solution into the bottle. Clean up is easy! Either clean right away with warm water and soap, or let dry and peel off the glue from the beaker and other materials.
Silicone Craft Mat
I have been using this a lot lately and saving my cutting mat strictly for cutting foam! Not only does it come handy when applying Flexbond - I also use this when I'm painting, using my airbrush, and gluing my foam. It's also handy when I heat seal my foam or work with worbla because it is heat resistant! Definitely a fantastic addition to making cosplay.
Cup of Water
Have one handy to help water down the thick Flexbond solution. Use the water droppers to aid in adding the water gradually to achieve the right consistency.
There's something about this yellow frog tape that's just easy to apply and remove. I have been using this a lot lately. I kind of dub it the Post It Notes of the frog tape line. LOL!
Consistency is KEY!
This is pretty much always a question being asked when watering down Flexbond. What is the perfect consistency of the Flexbond solution for application?
Here's a couple of things I look for when watering my Flexbond down.
The consistency should be similar to cold heavy cream liquid, or melted ice cream.
This is really the best way I could describe it. Another test that I do is if I apply a brush stroke of this on the surface I am priming, it should stay in place for the most part and not look runny. If it starts to flow fast and it looks transparent when applied, then your solution is too thin.
The key is also to have a very smoothed out surface before applying the solution. So take care of any crevices that need to be sealed and smooth it out prior to application.
I normally apply 3 to 5 coats, depending on my prop/foam armor. Because my wide bristle brush is wide and gives an even coat on my surface, chances are I don't need to sand it down. But if I do, I wet sand it with 800 or more grit sand paper.
I hope these all help with your cosplay builds.
If you ever have any more questions, feel free to message me on social media!
And don't forget - I stream builds on our Twitch channel
every Tuesday night at 7:30PM CST/ 5:30 PM PST / 8:30PM EST
I do a live Q&A where you can ask me about anything cosplay related.
