I used water based contact cement and after working with the none water based type first and then switched to the water based one, I realised that the water based waiting time till it gets tacky is longer and that you dont have much time available to be able to stick your parts together before it is too late. Still, I find working with the water based contact cement works really well in a well ventilated room. With my asthma, I just cant use the none water based one because its just hell to breath with that stuff.

So not only do puppeteers look for the price and practicality with a product, but also for the health guidelines when they choose a product. I guess it all depends on the taste of each an everyone.

There is a product in the US called Fabri-Tac.  Here is a video review of it. http://www.expotv.com/Fabri-tac-Adhesive-Glue/q-12og

It works on foam but you have to be able to hold the "seam" for about 5-10 mins while it set up. Cloths pins can sometimes hold the seam for you.  While the process of gluing is longer and can be cumbersome, the advantage over both contact cement and glue gun is that in heat the bond does not release.

Google Search Results of Fabri-Tac

Hmmm.... I was researching Beacon Adhesives, which is the company that makes Fabri-Tac and came across this page. http://www.beaconadhesives.com/cchart.html It is a chart of their glues and what they work on.  They actually list two glues that are specifically for foam.

Craft Foam Glue
Hold the Foam

The second one really sounds like a winner but I don't think I have ever seen it in the stores around here.  They do say that thier products are sold in Hancock Fabrics, Jo-Ann, Hobby Lobby, Garden Ridge, Michaels, Brewer’s, A.C. Moore, Ragshop, and Wal-Mart.

This is interesting, I just need someone to have tried the product and it meets my requirements, esp. re: hot car. 

This is the glue I use for the foam. Its not toxic, and its works fantastic. Without problem  :

This is where I order some of my supplies

http://www.ssww.com/store/product/sku=GL580/cmc=ACC/

Billy D.

Nice Web. With awesome prices!

Thanks for sharing Mr. Fuller! 

I'm currently experimenting with water-based contact cement. So far it seems to work really well, but as mentioned before, the drying time is longer than the regular stuff and the window of opportunity is shorter. I was lucky enough to have the ability to test a few pieces of foam with a couple of different types of the water based cement since I work for Blue Man Group and their prop master is a really nice guy! They use the glue to attach foam to the paddles they use when they play the PVC Pipe Drum, and if you've ever seen a Blue Man Group show, you know they beat the heck out of those things. The glue is fairly durable if used properly - at least that's what the prop guy swears to.

ClippoPuppet, I am a little confused. Are you referring to a particular brand of water-based contact cement, in relationship to Blue Man Group, or water-based contact cements in general?

Water based in general. From what the prop guy tells me, they use a particular brand only because it's easy to come by from their suppliers (I'll have to ask him when he comes in to remind me which brand). That brand, however, has a couple of different strengths and types of glue that work better on particular materials. He had suggested the "green" (he bases his calling it green on the actual color of the glue) type for foam as that's what he uses on the paddles. I'll try to find out what actual brand they use this afternoon when they all come in.