To: <puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org>
Date: Sat, 4 Mar 2006 19:13:39 +1000
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Sealing the inside of masks (was: Info about Enamels)


Ive heard these criticisms of latex before and again masks are not something 
I spend a lot of time worrying about (although I agree masks/animated 
objects/puppetry are all akin) but I have found that our latex commedia 
masks that we produce for ourselves and can sell to select customers for 
about $15-20 Aus ($8-10 US) have a life expectancy of about 5-6 years with 
very little care and lots of abuse..thats less than $2 per year! (compared 
to a cheap leather mask that costs about $400 aus and will last with care 40 
years which is $10 per year) Have a look at Ross Browns excellent selection 
of latex masks and puppets www.darksidemasks.com although I notice that they 
have stopped producing papier mache Basel masks, preferring latex or 
fibreglass.
If you are going to muck around with thermo plastic linings why not just 
make a thermo plastic mask? Or a slush cast urethane mask? light weight, 
cost effective over longer (more than 10) runs and can be remodelled with 
apoxie sculpt! (we make blank masks at about $4 aus each including mold 
costs)
Any way just thought Id put it out there

Daniel
PS Didnt sell the bicycle...oh well. I like the idea of a boat on wheels 
booth. Our main story telling stage/puppet booth is a Gipsy Vardo that opens 
at one end. Im going to have to create a website one day....one day.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mathieu René" <creaturiste-AT-magma.ca>
To: <puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org>
Sent: Saturday, March 04, 2006 5:51 PM
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Sealing the inside of masks (was: Info about 
Enamels)


>Id tend to agreee with Deborah although I dont have a lot to do with papier
>mache masks.... i did have a left field thought though....what about a thin
>layer of latex brushed onto the inside? Water proof, chemical resistant,
>non
>toxic quickly loses the ammonia smell...just a thought....
>
>D.

Hi Daniel. Latex would work wonderfully except for a few lesser known facts:
some people are severely allergic to it, and it deteriorates very quickly
when in contact with sweat, friction, UV rays, heat, and totally melts when
in contact with sugars.
The ridiculous life expentancy of latex is the only reason I'm not making
any latex masks.
I love the fact that they are flexible, but for anything durable, that
property is just not worth my efforts.

I've repaired a latex mask that had been used only for a few years by a
theatre company, and the fix barely worked.
It will not last for more than a year.

If I could find a silicone or a vynil that would not deteriorate and not be
toxic to use, I'd use that.
Paper mache, when well done, outlasts all the other traditional mask making
materials (except maybe for metal, and that's too heavy anyway).

I'm looking into flexible thermoplastics, the kind used to replace silicone
caulking.
I have a tube here somewhere, which I never found the time to try.
I have a feeling its got fumes too, so I,lll have to wait for the spring to
try them outside.
I sleep where I work, so I can't use anything real toxic.



Mathieu René Créaturiste
Marionnettes, Masques, Etcetera...
Puppets, Masks, Etcetera...
www.creaturiste.com
creaturiste-AT-magma.ca
(514) 274-8027

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