So I've finally moved up to a foam head for this dragon puppet I am making. This is a bit of an experiment for me considering I've been making puppets for about a month. I am very pleased with the results. The head shape is based on a combination of patterns I have. I'll post more pictures as I continue working on it.

Oh and I'm going to use hot glue as the glue for the head. Is that ok? I'm really not wanting to work with contact cement.

Wow, that's a really great shape. I have difficulties making puppets with shapes like that, I really like the long nose.

Hot glue is ok, but you may want to move to a non-toxic glue after a while. I was the same and used hot glue for ages, but actually found it much cheaper and better to work with a type of contact cement. It also makes the seams where you glued easier to hide.

Looks like a dragon to me..................... Great start for a one month go at it.

Billy D.

 Dragon's looking great! Can't wait to see more as it comes. When I was a kid I worked part time in an Australian store called Clark Rubber, we sold foams and glues, amongst other things and I cut polyurethane foam to measure for people. Some times and odd shape meant gluing. Contact cement will make a bond that is stronger than the foam itself! Try and tear it later and you will tear the foam before you break the glue. (then I started making foam puppets but had no idea how to sew so didn't think to use fabric!) You can get non toxic contact now I believe but I've never used it. I make my puppets in down time at work, (no time at home!) I share a small, inadequately ventilated space so I do use Hot glue for some things and have had some success with foam, but stick to contact for big flat areas (felt on mouth boards) and where I can get outside to use it. This bias is largely due to advice from an acquaintance. I am fortunate to work, on and off, with a professional prop/puppet maker (she's worked worldwide on several productions of Lion king and the like amongst other things) Her recommendation is to stick to contact where you can. It hides seams better (as Na said) you can pinch it right up to the edge, it's less messy, without those strings of glue pulling away as much you have more control over where it goes and, finally, it's more durable. Hot glue can get hard as it ages (takes quite a while) and it's rigidity makes it giveway rather than flex with the stress.
Having said that I still use hot glue for a lot of stuff, where it's more practical. Like putting in a mouth board, keeping the two contacted parts apart would be so difficult! I still use it to secure the stitching in the back of covered styrofoam pieces. I'm covering foam balls for eyes and stitching them on so that I can reposition them and keep all sorts of glues away from craft fur. Gumming up some fur with glue might make a good scale skin for your dragon but would take forever!
Basically, if you can't get good ventilation, stick to hotglue, otherwise explore a bit of contact.

Na do you use nontoxic contact, what name does it sell under in Oz? I've never really looked for it...

I agree with Na.
A glue gun will leave a hard seam, Contact cement will blend nicely. Use that hot glue gun when you really need to secure two items together. Use good ventilation!!!!

Try to find the Contact Cement Gel. It looks like scotch pudding, tastes like contact cement..

Na do you use nontoxic contact, what name does it sell under in Oz? I've never really looked for it...

I use 'Foam Glue' produced by Helmar's. You can find it in Spotlight or Riot Art in their glue section. It's very good, I use it all the time since discovering it. I've also discovered it works just as well as a replacement for PVA for working with non-foam materials.

I use the "green" contact cement but it seems to be mainly sold in Canada.  It is brought out by a company named LaPage Green Contact Cement it is more water based than the other toxic stuff.  It has little to no smell and it works just as good as the toxic stuff.  The draw back is that it takes a little longer to get "tacky" but I speed that up with a hairdryer.....my thoughts.....it is well worth the extra small wait to be able to safely use this stuff in my house any time of year.

I wish you luck on your searches of the "Green" Contact Cement.....I wish I had resources in Australia as well as the US.

Daryl H

Nice Head (What nice imagination for that kind of combination)!
PS: Let us know how you did it! (If is possible)

Miguel!

Hi ,

The head has a good shape...waiting to see the next step.
Probably you can also use this shape with little more extended
snout for a crocodile head.

Bhanu

Thanks every one for the comments. I love getting feed back. I have decided to go the contact cement route for now. I did some test gluing foam together with the adhesives I have and the contact cement out preformed the others. I just wanted to avoid the toxic part, but I figure If I work with it outside and wear gloves I'll be fine. I'll post more photos as I continue on working on this project.