Donkey Mask with Working Mouth (face puppet)

With a donkey mask you can:

Promote the Democratic Party
Play a practically-themed joke on a farmer
Scare your dog
Make an ass of yourself
Portray Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream
Rob a bank
Reduce your entrance fee at a Furry convention

I make all my donkey masks at TechShop.

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Step 1: Aquire:

Supplies used for this project include:

24"x48"x1" medium density fiberboard
Modeling clay
2 sheets of 28"x28"x.06" PETG plastic
2 sheets of 28"x28"x.06" polystyrene
1.5 yards of artificial white fur
1.5 yards of muslin
Silicone rubber (OOMOO 25, 9 lb. unit)
Expanding polyurethane (FlexFoam-iT! III, 2.8 lb. unit)
Thread
Harness from a welding helmet
2 post screws
Various nuts and bolts
Several double-capped rivets
Elastic
Airbrush paint

Tools used in this project include:

3D Scanner
ShopBot CNC router
Vacuum former
Cordless drill
Hammer
Basic sewing tools
Razor blade
Airbrush
Hairbrush
Bandsaw
Electric trimmer

*all available at TechShop

jstehlin says: Apr 13, 2013. 5:46 PM

How can I contact you about making one for my production of MSND?

Misac-kun says: Sep 10, 2012. 12:36 PM

try to use your jaw axis, it will open more and will be more sensitive to your jaw movements as you speak.

Creaturiste says: Sep 10, 2012. 12:07 PM

I agree, a video would definitely show the features, and impress the heck out of everyone!

a2e says: Jul 26, 2012. 11:34 AM

Please!! Make a video of the donkey explaining the technical aspects about anything.

Creaturiste says: Jul 22, 2012. 7:53 AM

This is the kind of tutorial I've been waiting for, for years! Thanks a lot!
One piece of info I'd like to have details about: can you tell us more about the elastic to close the mouth automatically, what type is it, and how does it relate to the face and the fur?

Thanks!

Scotttland (author) in reply to CreaturisteJul 23, 2012. 4:38 AM

It was originally just a thin rubber band, I replaced it with a thin piece of elastic which goes all the way around the snout and is only attached to the fur (from the inside) on the bottom of the chin. Having it connected anywhere else makes it too tight.

Creaturiste in reply to ScotttlandJul 23, 2012. 9:43 AM

Thank you very much. By elastic, do you mean the "hat elastics" used in sewing, often for making self-closing bags of fabric?

And do you sew it on the fur, or glue it?
This would be a much appreciated update to the Instructable.

Scotttland (author) in reply to CreaturisteJul 23, 2012. 4:06 PM

It was garment elastic, as used in waistbands, and it was sewn in place. I prefer to avoid glue whenever possible.

Creaturiste in reply to ScotttlandJul 24, 2012. 10:46 AM

Thanks!

zack247 says: Jul 23, 2012. 6:58 PM

wow, nice job!

NAO says: Jul 23, 2012. 1:59 PM

I would love to see a video of it in action!

Xillra says: Jul 23, 2012. 12:28 PM

Just a thought, but I hear OOMOO 30 is alot better/easier then 25.

Edgar says: Jul 23, 2012. 7:37 AM

Priceless!!!
Don't forget the World of Sports, for using this one...

Claymore_Highfield says: Jul 23, 2012. 7:34 AM

Phenomenal project, and a comprehensive tutorial. Well done, and thank you kindly for sharing!

Clay. ^^

The ORIGINAL Jeeem says: Jul 23, 2012. 6:03 AM

Mr. Scotttland, I really appreciate your detailed information regarding the making of this high-quality donkey head...however, you have been rather amiss in not describing the amount of beers this project would require.

I live in Southern Thailand, so the leading beer here, and one of my personal favorites, is Beer Chang, or elephant beer as most expats call it, since the Thai term for "Elephant," is "Chang." It's quite potent, at a whopping 6.4% on the Liqtor scale. So, what would be the correct conversion, in Liqtor units, as to how many brewskies this project would require.

Note: While I am originally from the U.S., I realize most NORMAL people refer to metric when computing complicated calculations such as these important formulas, as one too many Chang's could easily put one to sleep whilst still holding onto a hot glue gun....

Mr. Jeeem