When I make my puppets that use foam, I prefer to utilise contact cement rather than a glue gun.

Hither is a quick tutorial on using contact cement when making or building a boob.  I likewise show how to get the contact cement from the can into a squeeze bottle without making a huge mess.  Following the video, I share my tips that I've learned that accept fabricated my life easier and saves money!

Why I similar contact cement:

  •  Contact cement is faster to apply, once I figured out how to employ a squeeze canteen.
  •  In one case the glue is dry, it is easy to press the two edges together.  Apply the cement to the two edges that you desire glued together.  The pull a fast one on is to make certain the contact cement is dry to the touch.  It takes about 15-20 minutes for the contact cement to "tack up."  If you don't become the pieces aligned perfectly, yous can adjust them a little before really pressing the edges together.
  •  If you make a mistake subsequently they are stuck together, immediately use a hair dryer to release the bond.  Reapply the cement, wait for it dry out and so press the pieces together.  The hair dryer only works if you do it soon after–it doesn't piece of work the side by side day.
  •  I feel it gives a ameliorate bond on foam rather than the mucilage gun

3 oz canteen is nigh 3 times the cost of the 16 oz tin can

I used to buy contact cement in the 3 oz glass canteen rather than in the 16 oz can even though the glass canteen was nigh 3 times of the cost.  I did this for two reasons.  1, it had a congenital in castor for an applicator.  Two, I was afraid of trying to cascade the cement from the can to another bottle.  Contact cement is messy and almost incommunicable to clean up.  Since information technology takes about 3 oz of contact cement to make a boob, I was commencement to actually use a lot of contact cement since I make puppets often.

Finally, on my sixth trip to my local Ace Hardware to purchase contact cement, the sales associate asked me why I didn't buy the cement in the can since information technology was and then much cheaper.  I told him I didn't know what to pour the cement into.  He recommended a plastic squeeze bottle, like a mustard or ketchup bottle.   I then asked, "how practise I get information technology into the bottle without making a mess?"  He suggested a funnel.  I didn't want to utilise a plastic or metal funnel, because the contact cement would stick to the sides and I'd accept to throw information technology abroad.  He mentioned aluminum foil.  Hmmm, I thought, that should work.

I bought the mustard bottle because it had a long tip on it.  I'm glad I did, it makes it easy to get cement into difficult to achieve places.  Plus, it is like shooting fish in a barrel to squeeze out a lilliputian bit, and so use the tip as a castor or "spreader."

Aluminum Foil Makes Great Funnels

I made a funnel out of foil and it worked perfectly!   I'm always amazed at how little contact cement is left on the edges.  I don't mind throwing abroad this handmade funnel.  I only pour out around 3 oz at a time, just enough to make one boob.  I figure the cement in the can will stay more airtight than in the bottle thus making it easier to work with.  The more air that the cement in the can and bottle is exposed to, the gummier it gets.

I e'er wipe out the rim of the contact cement can existent good so that the lid won't stick to it.  Dry out paper towels work smashing with cleaning upward the cement if done immediately.

Tips to Proceed the Cement From Getting Gummy

Later on each application of the cement, I wipe off the squeeze canteen tip with a dry out paper towel and put the cap back on the tip.  When making a boob, I may use the cement continuously but later on each utilise I make clean the tip and supercede the cap even if I know I'll need the cement in the next 10-fifteen  minutes.  I don't let the bottle sit down open up for whatsoever length of time.  I shake the bottle before each use.  I try not to go the contact cement upward in the tip where the cap is so that I don't accidentally mucilage the cap to the tip.  As long as the bottle is kept tightly sealed, the cement will stay fresh for around a month.  I've heard that if y'all plan to store it longer, then turn the bottle upside down to keep the cap closed.  I haven't tried this considering I use mine often.

I go along an empty three oz bottle (with the lid screwed on tightly), around for when I do need a castor to apply the cement.  I like the canteen's tip for the edges of foam.  Merely I practice like the castor for when applying contact cement to a big flat surface, similar the mouth plate.  I clasp the cement onto the surface and and then spread information technology with the castor.

Be sure to label your mustard bottle–you lot don't want it to be used accidentally as mustard!  And. . . . always go along your working area well ventilated when working with contact cement.

Happy Puppet Edifice!