File puptcrit/puptcrit.0706, message 319


From: Angusson-AT-aol.com
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2007 00:08:41 EDT
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Toxic Materials.


Greetings All:

I, too, had serious concerns regarding the use of anything with toluene or 
similar vehicles in my work.

In response to Mathieu's survey, I'd like to submit the following.

I had to do a workshop for a regional festival few years back on my Head & 
Shoulder marionette techniques. I wanted to find a way to allow folks to build a 
durable marionette using readily available non toxic materials and only hand 
tools; the latter for those who did not have a shop setup. 

I found that carved Styrofoam covered with Kraft paper and carpenters' glue 
provided a strong, durable and effective result for the head.   I also 
fashioned an interior armature of interconnecting dowels for string attachment and 
connections which allowed for no stress on the Styrofoam. So far, these heads 
have stood up to quite a bit of use....

Now-
There are times, though, when the heads I make need to have finer detail. 
This was the case in making a Virgin Mary marionette for a client. I used the 
MendAll I mentioned yesterday for this casting. I needed to move quickly and so I 
used a method with which I was familiar. I know of other less toxic materials 
and methods, but time was rushing by. 
I took all precations and felt that my exposure to the solvents was minimal. 

I, too, have used Celastic, PW, and other nasty stuff in my career as props 
builder for several regional theaters and also for other independant projects. 
When I first started using this stuff, there were few if any real concerns 
expressed about their toxicity. OSHA had yet to be established and few took the 
label warnings seriously. I did for the most part, use gloves and respirators 
with appropriate organic vapor filters to protect me. Still, I don't doubt that 
perhpas some damage has been done. 

I am 71 and am fortunate to be able to say that so far, that any symptoms of 
nerve damage etc., have not revealed themselves. I hope I can say that in a 
few years. 

I will share a horror story. Rufus Rose who died at 75 might have had a much 
longer life with us had he known of the severe damage he was doing to himself. 
When he used Plastic Wood to cast heads, he'd actually lick his thumb before 
picking up some of the PW from the can, so that it wouldn't stick to it. 
I recall that Jim Rose gave him hell when he saw this practice and brought 
Rufus a pan of water.
It was, by then, too late. 

For what it's worth.

Fred Thompson








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