There are Several ways to make Hands for props:
We are going to explore all of them here. If you Do Not Sculpt the easiest way to make hands for your props are:
You can Buy these hands at Halloween Time in most Stores like Wal-mart, Walgreen and The Halloween Stores that pop-up around Halloween time. Like Spirit, Halloween Express, Halloween Expo. etc.. Now you can use these hands straight out of the bag and that is fine. Or you can make a mold with them so All your Props can Have their own custom Hands.. ( Remember these Hands are not for resale) only to use on your props..
OR
you can make your own: By Casting your own Hand or a Friends Remove ALL Jewelry from Hands to be cast.. If you want long nails on your cast mold use press-on nails and cast with the mold..
Dental Aliginate Helper Person
2-Containment Field Vaseline
Razor Mixing Bucket
Mixing Spoon Helper's Gloves
Water Measuring Cup
Press on Nails 2- 6"x 6" plywood
drill and bits 2 small screws
Smooth Sil 950 Silicone Pigments
Follow All Directions on the Safety Sheet that comes with the products: Use Cold Tap Water..
Prepare your cast hand with the finger nails if you want them. Once this is done shave the hair off of the hands that are to be cast. ( Or You May end up with the band-aide effect when you remove your hand from the mold, ) Apply a light layer of Vaseline to the hand. Have your helper mix the Dental alginate pour some into the bottom of the containment field and tap this on the counter to knock all the air bubbles out. Then insert your hand to be molded and pour the rest of the alginate over your hand and completely cover your hand with it. Wiggle the fingers around some to work the alginate between the fingers. Keeping your Hand still once the Mold starts to set up..These only take a few minutes. Work fast !!!
Once this Mold Has dried, CAREFULLY REMOVE YOUR HAND by pulling the mold off. Helper may be needed here. Then you can use several different ways to cast your hand , I use Fiberglass resin I pour out enough resin into a clean container and mix the hardener in Follow directions carefully and pour this into the pink mold you made let it set up and get hard tap the mold on the counter to make sure there is no air pockets.. Making Sure you pour the resin into each finger of the mold.
Once the resin has dried I then remove the pink mold you CAN NOT SAVE THIS MOLD. and I make a small screw hole in the wrist part of the resin hand and mount it to some plywood for a base. Then I use Smooth sil 950 to make my molds by painting it on the resin hand.. After the Smoothsil 950 mold has set up and its time to remove the resin hand you can cut a small slit in the mold to remove the resin hand. Put this slit where it will not show the most ..Then I re-strap the mold with Duct tape or Mold bands..
Once this mold is made I then use Dragon Skin to make my hands for my props.. I love this stuff you can color it any color you need for your props.. See The How To Tutorial In the Grinch Prop On Mixing the Dragon Skin..
You Must use a mold release in the molds before you pour your dragon skin into it.. But Once you have poured your molds and they have setup it will be time to remove them from the mold..Just undo the strapping and pull the Dragon Skin Hand out of the mold..
I cut metal coat hanger wires and Insert into fingers after they have cured.. Don't bend fingers till after you have colored the hand..Then you can pose them in the pose you want.. Using pliers bend at knuckles in a natural pose.
I color them by using silicone pigments and clear silicone.. I Mix the colors I need on a flat butter lid and smooth on some clear silicone where I want the color to be. Then apply the color in a pat motion adding a little at a time till I get the effect I want..Like putting on makeup blend well.. Let this dry.
Since Dragon Skin Only Sticks to Material and your clothes please wear old clothes and protect your work surface.
I then use pantyhose to help mount the hand to the end of the prop arm. By pulling the pantyhose over the end of the prop arm and squeezing some clear silicone from the tube into the wrist of the hand and pushing onto the end of the prop arm.. Bringing the wrist up and over the Insulated tubing.. I let this dry then you will be ready to mount this to your prop. Then You can dress your prop.
If you would like Blinky to make you a set of hands all you have to do is click the link below: All hands come mounted on a 1/2" diameter pvc pipe That is 5" long in length and covered with black Insultor pipe color. Fully colorized to match your prop.
