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Step 2Materials and tools
Most of my materials list is basic and the sort of thing you might need on any project, and much of it will vary depending on what you may use these techniques to make.
~ Fabric . . .
~ Sewing machine . . .
~ Rotary tool . . .
~ Spray paint . . .
~ Hot glue gun . . .
Some of it is items you might have around the house, or can easily acquire.
~ Aluminum sculpture wire
~ Wallpaper paste
~ Tissue paper
~ Felt
But some of it is specialty and not the sort of thing you can pick up at your local store. So this is a brief overview of those materials.
THERMOPLASTICS
Sintra: Sintra is generally used for making signs but it's popular for costumes too, because it becomes very flexible at a low temperature. The main downside of making pieces with Sintra (instead of, say, vacuumforming plastics) is that it can only curve in one direction at a time. Translation: it won't go in dome shapes or anything else you couldn't manage with a piece of paper.
Price: Mine was free since I had it already. I definitely got three full-size sheets for less than $50.
Where to buy: I've never bought it online but it's probably available. First, ask your local signmaker if they're willing to get you a sheet when they order from their supplier (how I got mine).
Wonderflex: Wonderflex is basically a plastic "burlap", if you can imagine that. It becomes very soft and flexible at low temperatures and can be coaxed into almost any shape. As soon as it cools, it re-hardens. Unlike Sintra, it can take complex curves. Wonderflex is a brand name; I believe Varaform is the same basic product.
Price: about $21.50/yd (this is a big piece! based on where I got mine)
Where to buy: I got mine from Cosworx.
Both Sintra and Wonderflex are nearly infinitely reformable; just reheat.
Fuzzform: Fuzzform is similar to Wonderflex, but in a fabric form. It feels like a heavy felt. It forms in the exact opposite way that Sintra and Wonderflex do; it starts out flexible, and becomes stiffer the more it's heated. Once it's formed, it can't really be reshaped. Fuzzform is a brand name; I believe Fosshape is the same basic product.
Price: about $12.50/yd for light, $24.50/yd for heavy
Where to buy: I bought from Douglas and Sturgess.
Two-part epoxy resins
Magic Sculpt: Magic Sculpt is a clay that hardens into a resin which is very hard and can take what nearly any power tool can throw at it. It mixes in a 1:1 ratio of hardener to resin, works like modeling clay for a few hours, and then sets up overnight. Other companies also make products that work in this way, but Magic Sculpt is the one I'm familiar with and I've been pleased with its ease of use and price.
Price: About $14 for 1lb kit
Where to buy: I've bought from both Kit Kraft and The Compleat Sculptor.
Magic Smooth: Magic Smooth is, roughly speaking, a very thin version of Magic Sculpt. Instead of a clay, it's a spreadable substance with a consistency I can best compare to the caramel on a taffy apple. It also hardens into a resin overnight. It is translucent and can be put over a surface much thinner than you could possibly manage with clay. Note that while it's very strong, it can't be used on surfaces that will flex after the resin sets - it will crack. The particularly awesome thing about it is that you can get it to go from "badly spread peanut butter" to "glossy smooth" with some water and your fingertip.
Price: About $17 for a 1lb kit
Where to buy: I've gotten it from both The Compleat Sculptor and Douglas and Sturgess.
Silk painting supplies
I ordered all the supplies I could not get locally from Dharma Trading. This is all covered under the silk painting step also.
Dye or paint: I used Sennelier Tinfix dye.
Fixative: I used Jacquard's chemical fixative.
Resist: I wanted a water-based resist so I used one manufactured by Jacquard. Make sure your resist is compatible with the type of dye you're using.
Stretcher frame: pre-cut canvas stretcher pieces from local art supply (Blick in my case)
Stretching clips: available from Dharma or you can use clothespins (not as good but functional)
~ Fabric . . .
~ Sewing machine . . .
~ Rotary tool . . .
~ Spray paint . . .
~ Hot glue gun . . .
Some of it is items you might have around the house, or can easily acquire.
~ Aluminum sculpture wire
~ Wallpaper paste
~ Tissue paper
~ Felt
But some of it is specialty and not the sort of thing you can pick up at your local store. So this is a brief overview of those materials.
THERMOPLASTICS
Sintra: Sintra is generally used for making signs but it's popular for costumes too, because it becomes very flexible at a low temperature. The main downside of making pieces with Sintra (instead of, say, vacuumforming plastics) is that it can only curve in one direction at a time. Translation: it won't go in dome shapes or anything else you couldn't manage with a piece of paper.
Price: Mine was free since I had it already. I definitely got three full-size sheets for less than $50.
Where to buy: I've never bought it online but it's probably available. First, ask your local signmaker if they're willing to get you a sheet when they order from their supplier (how I got mine).
Wonderflex: Wonderflex is basically a plastic "burlap", if you can imagine that. It becomes very soft and flexible at low temperatures and can be coaxed into almost any shape. As soon as it cools, it re-hardens. Unlike Sintra, it can take complex curves. Wonderflex is a brand name; I believe Varaform is the same basic product.
Price: about $21.50/yd (this is a big piece! based on where I got mine)
Where to buy: I got mine from Cosworx.
Both Sintra and Wonderflex are nearly infinitely reformable; just reheat.
Fuzzform: Fuzzform is similar to Wonderflex, but in a fabric form. It feels like a heavy felt. It forms in the exact opposite way that Sintra and Wonderflex do; it starts out flexible, and becomes stiffer the more it's heated. Once it's formed, it can't really be reshaped. Fuzzform is a brand name; I believe Fosshape is the same basic product.
Price: about $12.50/yd for light, $24.50/yd for heavy
Where to buy: I bought from Douglas and Sturgess.
Two-part epoxy resins
Magic Sculpt: Magic Sculpt is a clay that hardens into a resin which is very hard and can take what nearly any power tool can throw at it. It mixes in a 1:1 ratio of hardener to resin, works like modeling clay for a few hours, and then sets up overnight. Other companies also make products that work in this way, but Magic Sculpt is the one I'm familiar with and I've been pleased with its ease of use and price.
Price: About $14 for 1lb kit
Where to buy: I've bought from both Kit Kraft and The Compleat Sculptor.
Magic Smooth: Magic Smooth is, roughly speaking, a very thin version of Magic Sculpt. Instead of a clay, it's a spreadable substance with a consistency I can best compare to the caramel on a taffy apple. It also hardens into a resin overnight. It is translucent and can be put over a surface much thinner than you could possibly manage with clay. Note that while it's very strong, it can't be used on surfaces that will flex after the resin sets - it will crack. The particularly awesome thing about it is that you can get it to go from "badly spread peanut butter" to "glossy smooth" with some water and your fingertip.
Price: About $17 for a 1lb kit
Where to buy: I've gotten it from both The Compleat Sculptor and Douglas and Sturgess.
Silk painting supplies
I ordered all the supplies I could not get locally from Dharma Trading. This is all covered under the silk painting step also.
Dye or paint: I used Sennelier Tinfix dye.
Fixative: I used Jacquard's chemical fixative.
Resist: I wanted a water-based resist so I used one manufactured by Jacquard. Make sure your resist is compatible with the type of dye you're using.
Stretcher frame: pre-cut canvas stretcher pieces from local art supply (Blick in my case)
Stretching clips: available from Dharma or you can use clothespins (not as good but functional)
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