Is This a Good Idea?

[D'Snowth]

I've noticed for a long time now that a lot of "professional" stock puppets have some kind of material inside them, covering up all the foam rubber on the inside.

Now I'll admit, I never took that into consideration when I built my first puppet, and the home-made puppets we had at my old church didn't either (and they were pretty much built the same way mine is, though I put more effort into mine).

I'm just wondering, is having material on the inside of your puppet a good idea? Would it help the puppet's skeleton last a bit longer?

 

[dkmontgomery]

Material inside

I think that material inside may cut down on sweat getting into the foam to some degree. Plus your arm is is not rubbing on the foam when you are moving the character around and such. I believe it could enhance the life of a puppet. I have used material inside of my creations.

 

[Toasty]

The spandex lining (or similar material) definitely helps the arm slide into and out of the puppet quickly and more easily. This can be especially true if the puppeteer is wearing long sleeves, or the puppet's entrance is narrow.

It should also keep the body foam better protected against arm sweat and dirt, but probably won't offer much prevention in that foam breaking down over time (as it will undoubtedly do).

 

[staceyrebecca]

how do you attach the lining to the puppet? I made a sad attempt at lining a puppet last summer...I'd be interested in how to do it the "right" way.

 

[Toasty]

how do you attach the lining to the puppet? I made a sad attempt at lining a puppet last summer...I'd be interested in how to do it the "right" way.

One way I've seen is using a flexible plastic strip (like narrow molding material) that is the same diameter as the base of the puppet. Glue the spandex (sewn into a simple tube shape) to that and then form the plastic into the body foam by pinching (and gluing) along the base. The top of the spandex tube can be glued to the top of the body foam at the neck line, or if the construction allows it, inside of the neck fabric or into the head area near the mouth plate.

Think of it as a sleeve and it might help you visualize how you could attached it.

The method I described was illustrated in the David Pannabecker video available here http://www.armslength.com/catalog/videos.htm

Hope this helps...

 

[staceyrebecca]

One way I've seen is using a flexible plastic strip (like narrow molding material) that is the same diameter as the base of the puppet. Glue the spandex (sewn into a simple tube shape) to that and then form the plastic into the body foam by pinching (and gluing) along the base. The top of the spandex tube can be glued to the top of the body foam at the neck line, or if the construction allows it, inside of the neck fabric or into the head area near the mouth plate.

Think of it as a sleeve and it might help you visualize how you could attached it.

The method I described was illustrated in the David Pannabecker video available here http://www.armslength.com/catalog/videos.htm

Hope this helps...

It does help, thank you. I'd been trying to line it as though you would line a purse, sitching it in place from the start of the puppet. Excellent, thank you!

 

[D'Snowth]

I wish I took that into consideration when I built my puppet: although he's a little over three years old, he's still in pretty good shape, though I do tend to sweat a lot, I've made up for it by covering the inside of his mouth with felt to keep the cardboard sturdy.

 

[SJohnson]

The less contact your foam makes with your sweaty hand the better.

 

[D'Snowth]

The less contact your foam makes with your sweaty hand the better.

Boy don't I know it!

Originally, he had nothing covering the back of his mouth (where my hand would be), and I used cheap cardboard, and it wasn't before long he mouth was wearing out, and he was in poor shape; so I modified his mouth with really strong, strudy cardboard, and covered where my hand would be with felt, and he's faired well since then!

 

[Toasty]

Boy don't I know it!

Originally, he had nothing covering the back of his mouth (where my hand would be), and I used cheap cardboard, and it wasn't before long he mouth was wearing out, and he was in poor shape; so I modified his mouth with really strong, strudy cardboard, and covered where my hand would be with felt, and he's faired well since then!

Chamois leather material will hold up better than felt on a hand grip. Something to keep in mind for the next modification