Buck I Need Help

[puppetise]

HEY BUCK I WANT TO TALK TO YOU I HAVE A QUESTION IN PUPPET BUILDING !!!!!!:D :sing: :halo:

[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]

:confused: 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.

[Melonpool]

Just out of curiosity, what does the wire on the ourside do? I've never seen the point of it.

Steve

[Phantom]

I'm not sure what Buck will say, but from trying it, it gives a little more "oomph" to the position. It may be necessary depending on the gauge wire he uses , but I'm not sure. I'm curious to his reasons...now that you mention it.

I'm sure the wire I use is unnecessarily thick and I could use florist wire, but I had this big roll (from landscaping...staking trees) and I thought, "Hmmm..."

[Buck-Beaver]

Like Phantom says, the outside wire just help the hand hold position better. This particular technique works best in my experience if you use contact cement and not hot glue.

[Phantom]

And in my adaptation (to be clear), I use the hot glue instead of the wire. The glue helps the fingers to hold their shape and not get mushed and twisted during the bending.

[Karrion]

Do you anneal the wire first?

[Buck-Beaver]

What is "anneal"?

[Karrion]

Heat it with a torch to make it soft. A lot of wire is 'hard drawn' and will break if you bend it too much. Heating it just short of melting brings it to a softer state that is less likely to break. I always did this on wire I used inside my sculptures.

[Buck-Beaver]

If you're using the right gage of wire that shouldn't be necessary. If you did anneal the wire, be sure it's completely cooled before it comes in contact with the foam. Foam melts easily and emits toxic fumes when heated beyond it's melting point.

[puppetise]

hi ho

thanks for the great advice guys:)