extruded polystyrene (xps) is harmful?

[Lord Daz]

hello to all

my question may sound ridiculous or banal but not being of the profession (I am a graphic) please have patience. :

I want to make small sculptures (sizes approx. 40 x 30 cm) with extruded polystyrene (xps). Is this material harmful to health if cut, drilled or worked with sandpaper?

If yes, would you recommend a material suitable for my needs that is not harmful to health?

Many thanks for your attention!

dear greetings
I.D.

 

[gerod]

to know whether a substance is dangerous or not, you must read the safety card that is mandatory.
If you go on a network, you will find the security cards of the suppliers (maybe you ask what they provide to you) and read if it is dangerous to man and the environment.
from what I read is not so dangerous especially because it has been improved over time.
you read to protect the airways with suitable dpi.

Hi.

 

[ragnol]

protect eyes and airways is obligatory (ok, it would be obligatory) even if you sculpt wood: its dust when you sanding can give burning in your throat as a minimum and respiratory problems over time (circum and linden between the most suitable woods because they have a suitable fiber: if you sculpt the fir-tree the first time you catch a long streak a 20cm splinter).

other economic material and also suitable for the details you could use (protected handles) is the chalk: do your monolithic parallelepiped and then sculpt. otherwise make a skeleton with iron bars and then cover it to good and sculpt. be careful that the iron must be galvanized, otherwise the chalk corrodes it.

Finally you can use clay. all definitely healthier materials of the xps...

 

[scalva]

it is also made by creating a skeleton, perhaps in iron thread and then spraying expanded polyurethane that can be worked and painted.
Of course, if you eat it or breathe it so well, it doesn't.

 

[Lord Daz]

thanks to all for your advice!

I feel too hard to work. the best thing would be the hardened clay for a few days that you can still work with the tools you use to shape the clay. the problem is that you will manage to keep the clay always at the right point of hardness is challenging.

I was looking for a material that does not require much care, safe and that can be worked with common molded tools.

I imagine that even the sponge that is used for floral compositions at the end is made by xps, corrected?

Thank you.
I.D.

 

[Fulvio Romano]

I imagine that even the sponge that is used for floral compositions at the end is made by xps, corrected?

I believe it if it's torba.

 

[Cadinpiedi]

thanks to all for your advice!

I feel too hard to work. the best thing would be the hardened clay for a few days that you can still work with the tools you use to shape the clay. the problem is that you will manage to keep the clay always at the right point of hardness is challenging.

I.D.

with clay you can shape a shape close to the final one, wait for it to become permanently hard and finish the surfaces with chisels to engrave, knives, lime or other small tool.
obvious that in this case the processing is to remove and therefore definitive.