Need Latex/Rubber for Crafting

8 posts / 0 new

Mon, 03/14/2011 - 02:51

lillyjade

After talking with a close in-the-know friend of mine, I got curious on this.

I'd like to potentially make my own inflatable suits/costumes someday. Ideally I'd like to use two type of material: one that's stretchy to somewhere around 2x-3x original size (so as to make something that uninflated, fits flat, almost tight, but can stretch and be inflated) and one that's less stretchy and more permanent. I'd also like to use a variety of colors, namely, bright colors, skintones, and black.

My questions are:
1. Does the stretchier fabric exist? I'm thinking somewhere between latex gloves (very stretchy but thin) and yellow rubber gloves (less stretchy, but needs a LOT of air pressure) but I honestly don't know what exists.
2. Where could I acquire this fabric uncut, and for how much?
3. How would you recommend I, for lack of a better phrase, "sew" it all together? What little I've seen for latex, I have no idea how it was made, I'm just pretty sure it wasn't cast that way.

Thank you so much! It'll likely be awhile (months ... grad student life is busy) before I start using this info, but I promise I'll pass along results when I begin experimenting :D

Edit PS: It doesn't have to be latex, I just figured that was likely to be the most useable material for this. Whatever I do use would preferably be shiny/reflective to some degree, but if I find out this doesn't work well with my plans I may perhaps try using a more clothlike fabric as a stretchy material and place unstretchy air pockets inside, beats me...

Mon, 03/14/2011 - 07:16

kidquetzal

Hi there.

Ordering relatively small quantities of sheet latex that are safe for contact with human skin can be tricky, but not impossible.

Generally I think you need to carefully cut out your pattern, and glue it using special latex glue (possibly rubber cement).

You will also need some form of tools, possibly something like a hole punch/ gromet attaching tool for your air valves.

It is a delicate manual process, it would be best to start with some leggings or something relatively simple. You really need to plan it out, there is very little room for error with latex.

I've never made anything, so sorry if this isnt much help, but I have researched it a little in the past.

Have fun!

Mon, 03/14/2011 - 07:54

Anonymous

Everything you've said up there is pretty much spot on, latex is glued, there's quite a lot of tutorials on making latex clothing out there if you look for them. You can buy books from Amazon on making it too.

Mon, 03/14/2011 - 14:26

lillyjade

Seems good so far ... I know there are suit makers on this site, I'm wondering where they get their latex because that's obviously safe for human contact...

Mon, 03/14/2011 - 23:19

blowup_boy

Having work with latex (www.squeaklatex.com)

Just to help you on your way.
Latex gloves are made with poured latex (Or moulded latex) this is very different to say latex sheeting.
You have to have a mould to pour into. This is how they make gloves and balloons.
It is very fragile and if not done perfect you have have "thin" areas which will cause it to balloon uneven and to one side.

Inflatable suits are made with latex sheeting. Most people use the 0.45mm thickness. It has a fair amount of stretch and can hold up to a bit of punishment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s2SuzbhvqQ This is a neck entry suit (No Zips). Which was tight to start with, you can see how much stretch you can get out of latex.
But like everything, there are limits. If you push them, you might pop.

Lastly, you can't sew latex if you plan on making it air tight. It has to be glued by a special two part chemical glue and is extreamly fiddly to work with.
Plus there are the cutting tools and punchers as someone mentioned above.

In all honesty, with the cost of importing latex sheeting, glues, time and most likely and not so great outcome (Even with books or online tutorials). It normally turns out cheaper to have the suit produced by professional company. There are alot out there to choose from.

Lastly, if you don't want the item to be air tight and plan on using weather balloons under the suit to inflate. Lycra/Spandex is a much cheaper and easier material to work with.
It's very stretchy!

Hope that clears some things up for you. :)

Hisssssssssssss.. ...uh oh!!

Tue, 03/15/2011 - 01:53

lillyjade

Okay, that helps a lot ... I'm still curious where to get the latex sheeting and for how much, this has a lot more to do with small-scale experimentation than anything major just yet - I have a couple ideas I'd rather try out on my own and make potential modifications to before going through the process of commissioning something. The 0.45mm seems VERY promising if it can stretch that far, that looks very useful... on the other hand, maybe the lycra/spandex might work just as well, where would I get ahold of THOSE?

Tue, 03/15/2011 - 04:59

citizensix

I used a lycra zentai suit and some weather balloons in my videos. Works pretty well and is really cheap, but not anywhere near as good as an inflatable latex suit. You can get huge weather balloons and zentai suits on ebay for relatively low prices. Weather balloons are also a cheap way to get latex material for experimenting with stuff(really thin though). Also there are cloudbusters which are a slightly different material but are way stronger.

Tue, 03/15/2011 - 05:44

Anonymous

Blackstyle.de sells sheeting.

Need Latex/Rubber for Crafting

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