A good Armature?

Thom McCarty · 04-10-2011, 03:18 PM

I'm going to be making a Sonic the Hedgehog statue for a friend of mine, and was wondering on how to go about making the armature for it. For the majority, I will be using various gauge wire, but my concern is with the head and bodu.

I want to use something light weight that I can place for the head and body, and then cover with a thin layer of Super Sculpey/Sculpey Firm (50/50 mix). My first thought was the styrofoam spheres from Michaels, but I don't want to risk the SS cracking and leaking our the toxic fumes, since I will be using my kitchen oven.

The method that keeps turning up is using aluminum foil to build it out. I was just wondering if there would be an alternate way that wouldn't require a mile of foil.

The statue will be approximately 12 tall.

Any and all advice is welcome.

Spazzy · 04-10-2011, 05:22 PM

foil is good, but I wouldn't use your kitchen oven if you plan to reuse it for food, big no no!

I found that boiling the sculpey is pretty awesome to do, I have yet to see any cracks, and it doesn't have that smell an oven gives off when baking. I got a $25 steamer from walmart and it works perfect it is by presto I believe.

Thom McCarty · 04-10-2011, 07:08 PM

So, you can't use Sculpey in your oven even though it says on the box that it is non toxic and you can?

Oh well. So, I will research more on the boiling method. What size is your steamer? I plan on doing some rather large pieces in the future, possibly 2 to 3 ft in height. Any ideas on those, cause I don't think a Wal Mart steamer will be big enough for that.

Thanks for the advice.

jedideni · 04-10-2011, 07:20 PM

Quote:

My first thought was the styrofoam spheres from Michaels, but I don't want to risk the SS cracking and leaking our the toxic fumes, since I will be using my kitchen oven.

The styrofoam is THE major concern there. It will melt, possibly ignite and gas off toxic fumes, so that's not an option.

Word to the wise. Fires and toxic fumes would not be good.

Dennis

Thom McCarty · 04-10-2011, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jedideni

The styrofoam is THE major concern there. It will melt, possibly ignite and gas off toxic fumes, so that's not an option.

Word to the wise. Fires and toxic fumes would not be good.

Dennis

Which is exactly why I'm not using the styrofoam. Thank you for the concern though.

How about this, If I were to get a heat gun and cure the statue by hand, do you think this would keep the styrofoam at a safer temp?

I realize this would take a very long time and I'm ok with that. The think is, the styrofoam balls is the perfect thing for this, and I would love to use it, just as long as I can do so safely.

If not, then I may have to go with the boiling method.

jedideni · 04-11-2011, 02:04 AM

How comfortable are with using something like AVES ApoxieSculpt? It wouldn't affect the foam ball and you could sculpt the entire thing with it or at least cover the foam ball with a layer of AVES and then go to town with the Sculpey. The AVES -I would image-would give you a layer of protection from melting the foam during the heat gun baking.

Just an idea.

Thom McCarty · 04-11-2011, 10:27 AM

Do you know where I could get some AVES Apoxie?

I think I may just whip up a small piece of SS with a styrofoam interior and hit it with a heat gun outside with my respirator on, and see what happens. I'll let you know my results.

Spazzy · 04-11-2011, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thom McCarty

So, you can't use Sculpey in your oven even though it says on the box that it is non toxic and you can?

Oh well. So, I will research more on the boiling method. What size is your steamer? I plan on doing some rather large pieces in the future, possibly 2 to 3 ft in height. Any ideas on those, cause I don't think a Wal Mart steamer will be big enough for that.

Thanks for the advice.

Well if you are doing larger pieces, you may def. need an oven that is specifically for baking clay, or a really big pot to boil it in, you can also cut it up once done to cure it and mend it back together with aves. The steamer is big but not for 2-3 foot pieces probably unless it is cut up, I am making 1/4 scale pieces and for the most part it works.

Spazzy · 04-11-2011, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thom McCarty

Which is exactly why I'm not using the styrofoam. Thank you for the concern though.

How about this, If I were to get a heat gun and cure the statue by hand, do you think this would keep the styrofoam at a safer temp?

I realize this would take a very long time and I'm ok with that. The think is, the styrofoam balls is the perfect thing for this, and I would love to use it, just as long as I can do so safely.

If not, then I may have to go with the boiling method.

a very long time, 10/15 min each area depending o nthickness.

Spazzy · 04-11-2011, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thom McCarty

Do you know where I could get some AVES Apoxie?

I think I may just whip up a small piece of SS with a styrofoam interior and hit it with a heat gun outside with my respirator on, and see what happens. I'll let you know my results.

www.avesstudio.com
I haven't used them yet but I bought a sample of all their clays/epoxy putty and pastes to test them out, only cost about $40 to try them all. I hear really good things about their products.