Very interesting......................... I chimed in just in time to learn something.

Billy D.

How about Dr. Puppet's idea of using an armiture in the hand made of soldering wire.  My puppet hands have great grip since using his method.

By the way, Kanja, I love your puppet in the Project Puppet contest!  He's wonderful!
Pam

A slightly off topic question - I've used wire as armature in my puppet's hands, but found that there is very little grip. These are hands that are oversized, and I was just wondering if perhaps grip is easier to create with thinner or smaller hands?

A slightly off topic question - I've used wire as armature in my puppet's hands, but found that there is very little grip. These are hands that are oversized, and I was just wondering if perhaps grip is easier to create with thinner or smaller hands?

It could have to do with how you are adding the wire.  Instead of a thin piece of wire, I like to add a doubled wire inside.  Check out the link to a little video on my Youtube page that expalins this more.



@ Pam -  Thanks Pam! I wrote more to you on the puppet contest discussion.

It could have to do with how you are adding the wire.  Instead of a thin piece of wire, I like to add a doubled wire inside. 

That's probably it - I used jewellers' wire, which had a small gauge.

I've used doubled florist's wire as well.  It doesn't work.  You'll need soldering wire to get that good grip.

I like to use doubled up 18 guage electric fence wire for my posable hands.  It's very durable and and likes to stay how you position it.  I have found though that if the fabric does not grip what you're trying to hold things will still fall out.  So there are two elements you need to consider if you want a puppet to hang onto something with its hand:  the strength of the grip and the friction of the fabric.

I like to use doubled up 18 guage electric fence wire for my posable hands.  It's very durable and and likes to stay how you position it.  I have found though that if the fabric does not grip what you're trying to hold things will still fall out.  So there are two elements you need to consider if you want a puppet to hang onto something with its hand:  the strength of the grip and the friction of the fabric.

Ah, that's another good point.

I love coming here, I learn so much

Good to know this, to make a good and excellent job, we'll need all those advise for professionals like you guys!

I use plumbing solder