Date: Sat, 13 Mar 1999 21:52:36 -0400 From: Fred Greenspan <greenspan-AT-earthlink.net> Subject: Re: PUPT: Neoprene Stephen, I'm sure you will get lots of expert advice on Neoprene. I am no expert, but here is how I made a set of Neoprene heads: 1. First the heads were modeled in modeling clay. 2. A plaster cast was made of one half of the head by suspending it face up in a wooden box just slightly larger than the head, with the neck pressed against the side of the box. Then I pour wet plaster into the box until it reaches a halfway point on the head. While the plaster is still mushy I push a marble half in at each corner. The marbles are to help register the halves later on. 3. When the bottom half is dry you are ready to do the top. I can't remember if I used a separator on the top surface first. I don't think that wet plaster will stick to dry plaster but someone else may know better. You don't want to use anything oily on the clay or inside the mold since the Neoprene actually soaks off into the plaster and any oily stuff on the inside will prevent the mold from doing this properly. I pour the upper half of the mold until it covers the clay head model completely. Once dry, I separate the two halves, remove the clay head, and let the mold dry completely. 4. A VERY thin roll of clay can be used as a "gasket" between the surfaces that meet between the top and bottom halver. Clamp the two halves together using the same squeeze handle clamps that are used in woodworking. The clamped mold is placed so that the open neck hole is on top. 5. In a room temperature environment I then pour the Neoprene into the plaster mold, filling it to the very top. It will absorb into the mold so you have to keep topping it off every 15 or 30 minutes. I keep the mold filled for either 2, 3, or 4 hours, depending on how thick/strong I want the the mold. 6. When done I lift the mold and pour the remaining liquid back into the bottle. I turn the mold so the hole is facing down so any remaining liquid can drain off. After the mold has sat for a day or so I open it and remove the Neoprene head and let it cure. At this point I usually snort some Plastic Wood and have a tall shot of Acetone and relax. Fred Greenspan Traditional Puppeteer http://home.earthlink.net/~greenspan/ --- Personal replies to: Fred Greenspan <greenspan-AT-earthlink.net> --- List replies to: puptcrit-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu --- Admin commands to: majordomo-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
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