File spoon-archives/puptcrit.archive/puptcrit_1999/puptcrit.9903, message 75


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/


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