Fabric help: Light vinyl fabric

[wes]

I need to find some light vinyl fabric, I was asked to make a inflatable costume.

Can anyone point me in the right direction.

Has anyone had any experince in this area?

[Melonpool]

Wow -- I have no idea how to tackle this one! I'd say you'd have to melt or glue everything and figure out how to put in some kind of valve for inflation. I know that sewing will perforate whatever you use so that it won't hold air. I wonder if some kind of nylon like is used for kites and flags would work, if it's going to be something like those big buddha costumes they have at Halloween (I believe they're inflated by a small fan on your belt that inflates it faster than the air can escape).

Good luck!

[wes]

Yeah I think I sort of bitten an Elaphant on this one!

[shtick]

I'd say do some reverse engineering.

Buy one of those inflatable sumo costumes and you pretty much have everything you need. You can use the fan that it comes with.

Th material is probably listed in the inside of the costume in a tag or something. Take it to your local fabric shop and get the desired color and or size you need.

[wes]

it's more of an commerical type costume

like this http://www.inflatable2000.com/advertising_costume.html

I make a marque and bang out a pattern i just got to find the fabric.

[ravagefrackle]

it's more of an commerical type costume

like this http://www.inflatable2000.com/advertising_costume.html

I make a marque and bang out a pattern i just got to find the fabric.

I do not think its Viynl, Its more like the Fabric they use to make Proffesional Kites, or Parrachutes,

[staceyrebecca]

would it be awful if you called and said "yeah I was just wondering what material you guys use for those"?

[wes]

thanks James I'll look into that!



would it be awful if you called and said "yeah I was just wondering what material you guys use for those"?

I'm almost to that point!

[staceyrebecca]

See, that's where I'd cheat & start there ;).

[Melonpool]

My parents had friends that used to make wind socks and flags out of that material. I never saw them myself, but my parents told me that they had these special scissors that cut and melted the pieces together. There was no sewing involved, from that they told me, and this allowed the wind socks to hold air to some extent.

I would think there must be some info somewhere on the web as to what these scissors were called, as well as the material.

[staceyrebecca]

My parents had friends that used to make wind socks and flags out of that material. I never saw them myself, but my parents told me that they had these special scissors that cut and melted the pieces together. There was no sewing involved, from that they told me, and this allowed the wind socks to hold air to some extent.

I would think there must be some info somewhere on the web as to what these scissors were called, as well as the material.

http://www.cthompson.org.uk/cuttingknives/hotknives.html

these?

[Jinx]

The material you're looking for is most commonly known as "rip-stop nylon", and indeed its edges must be finished with a heat process. Allow yourself plenty of time and material to experiment, as it is a very different process. In industrial settings they usually use sonic welding to seam the material.

[wes]

Thanks all,

I might have to pass on this I don't have the time or money to invest in those tools.

Of course the lady was tring to get off cheap but i don't think thats going to happen!

thanks Jinx, Stacey, James and all!