Silicone Hands for Stop Motion Puppet Henry

The hands will belong to Henry puppet, who is under the wraps until the project is completed.
Henry is slender, with long-fingered bony-knuckled hands.

. .

So, here are his hands in clay:

. .

As always, I am using the tools and materials that we sell at Morezmore and name them as I go along.

pipe cleaner wire

Burn the cotton fuzz of the pipe cleaner wire.
MORE about pipe cleaners wire

. .
. .

Cut to about 2″ length.

. .

square tubes 5/32″, which telescopically fit over square tubes 1/8″ which are on his arms.

. .

Sew the wires together.

. .

JB weld epoxy to secure wire in the tube.

. .

Snip the fingers to the size of the mold.
Make finger bones out of styrene tubing 3/32″ (2.4mm)

. .

Fabritac glue

. .

Stretch foam

. .

Platsil Gel 10 silicone rubber
Naphtha
Acrylic paint in Flesh color
Ease Release
pipette
Disposable brushes
toothpicks
mini spatulas
Scale able to register 0.1 gram

Recipe:
1 gram of Platsil Gel 10 Part B (it is easier to start with Part B, as it is more viscous and takes longer to mix).
0.2 gram of acrylic paint.
MIX well, take your time
0.5 gram of naphtha (use pipette or eye dropper)
MIX well, take your time
1 gram of Platsil Gel 10 Part A
MIX well and move FAST. You have about 2 minutes to mix and start applying, another 4 minutes to apply all.

. .
Paint thin beauty skin layer on the mold.
Paint hands in potential trouble areas – finger tips to cover sharp wire, knuckles, webs between fingers and also the sides of the hands/fingers where the seams will be.

. .
Cure upside down so that silicone does not slide off the finger tips.
Allow to cure – 30-60 minutes.

Magnetic mini hand stands

.

Mix fresh batch of silicone – triple the recipe
Fill the mold cavities to the brim.
Put the armature in.
Add more silicone so that the armature is drenched through and covered well.
Stretch foam will nicely absorb the silicone.
Close the mold and secure with mold rubber bands
Allow to cure – 30-60 minutes. Remaining silicone in the mixing cup will give you a clue if the hands inside the mold are ready.

..
Carefully demold with something sharp and strong like an icepick

 

Trim
Mini scissors (pristine and dedicated to this and only this task – trimming silicone seams).

..
.

I made two pairs of hands, the lighter ones were the first. The color depends on the amount of acrylic flesh paint in the mix.
Here are photos of the first set of hands.

.. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .