Buck I Need Help

[puppetise]

HEY BUCK I WANT TO TALK TO YOU I HAVE A QUESTION IN PUPPET BUILDING !!!!!!

 

[Buck-Beaver]

Ok, maybe you can use the "Send Email" or private message function? Or post it publicly so you can get answers/feedback from lots of users?

 

[puppetise]

how do you make bendable fingers

 

[ravagefrackle]

with wire, alluminium armature wire or 16 gauge wire that u find at a hardware store

 

[puppetise]

with wire, alluminium armature wire or 16 gauge wire that u find at a hardware store

ok but how do i put it into the hand can some one send me a scetch much apreciated!


cheers -wayne-

 

[Melonpool]

Here's the way I do it --

I cut each hand out of 1-inch foam, trimming it until it looks like a hand.

Then, I take an electric turkey knife and split it into two halves (not two two-fingered hands, two four-fingered half-inch thick hands).

I take some 16-guage copper wire and wind it around the inside of the hand, just inside each finger.

I then sandwich the wire between the two halves using contact cement.

I know there are other ways to do this, but this seems to work for me.

Steve

 

[Buck-Beaver]

I use almost the same method as Steve. I don't cut a single piece of foam in half though, I just use two pieces of 1/2 inch foam (or whatever size is appropriate.

Here are some photos that illustrate how the wires should be placed:

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/angrypuppets/detail?.dir=0b37&.dnm=2966re2.jpg
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/angrypuppets/detail?.dir=0b37&.dnm=deddre2.jpg

In my experience it's very important to have wire both around the outside edge of the foam AND placed as a "skeleton" inside the hand.

 

[puppetise]

thanks guys any more info will be good

 

[wes]

trial and error you'll find the best way it works for you!

 

[Phantom]

Okay, my method is similar to what has been shown, but I use "electric fence" wire. (cheap but you buy it in bulk)

I make the armature like Buck and glue it into place with hot glue. I then sandwich the wire and use hot glue around the inside near the edge which provides support at the outside, without "memory". I then used contact cement to "pinch" the edges together which rounds the hand off a bit.

I admit, my technique is a modification of Buck's technique from the Tumbles project. (See, I was paying attention.) The only real difference is the hot glue replacing the wire on the outside and the pinching. Like Wes said, trial and error and this seems to work well, so glean what you can from this forum and adapt it to fit your needs.