Thanks Mr. Fuller, for the info.

I just finished a video live the other night on blogtv with all the different materials you can use for moutplates (well at least the most common) from hard to soft plates.  You will hear other idea's from that video. You can link up to the site by clicking on the box that counts down to my show each week here on the front page and it was in the second part in the video section.

Hope it will help.....

Daryl H

Cool! I will check it out!

OMG guys my dad just reminded me of the perfect thing for rigid tubes! PVC! it comes in tons of sizes and thicknesses and that would be great for my big mouth idea! all i need to do is cut off a certain amount, glue something grippy to the inside, and use contact cement and a strip of fabric to attatch it to the top and bottom of the mouthplates backsides. I just saw your lates videos stiqman, awesome stuff :] you also reminded me that i really need a graph board, that is the perfect tool for custom patterns(imo)!

Vinyl - comes in several different ways.
For example - you can purchase a vinyl tablecloth (flannel backed) at a dollar store, wal mart, etc. You can also get vinyl placemats, and Wal Mart recently had vinyl cutting boards, very thin for $1.
In fabric stores you can by the tablecloth vinyl by the yard (it is wide, so you would only need 1/8 or 1/4 yard), and they have clear vinyl in several weights in the same area (usually on large rolls).

This is not flexible, but we use either Sentra (expanded pvc board) or another hard plastic that we buy at Lowe's or Home Depot (4 x 8 sheets). Use a router to cut the mouths out (rather than a saw or cutters).

I have seen some very small (finger size) foam tubing, not sure what it is called. Think pipe insulation, but much smaller in diameter.  I often walk up the aisles in a dollar store just to see what I can find to use in puppet making.

Remember those "finger traps?" They are woven and just big enough to put your finger in. When you pull on them they tighten around your finger, then you push them back to release. Those might work.

http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/search/processRequest.do?Ntt=finger+traps%22&x=0&y=0&requestURI=searchMain&Ntk=all&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&N=0

Thanks for the link Ms. Puppet..................... I would have never thought of finger traps. 

Billy D.

I can just see the headlines now. "Puppeteers hand trapped by puppet!". Can you just imagine.

Hey did anyone look at the silicone rubber sheets on the allstate site Billy posted? this was the description in Features: Shelf life is greater than natural or synthetic rubbers - stays soft and flexible when stressed or exposed to weathering for long periods of time. Im sold! its twice the price of regular rubber but boy does that sound great :D I live in Tampa and there arent any stores that sell this, unless lowes or home depot does and i just dont know it :/ p.s. the finger catchers do weather quickly when you constantly expose them to moisture and weight stress, at least the party favor kinds do; Im still hooked on the idea of pvc and wish to give it a shot.

one more question, would everyone who reads this that has gasket rubber give a quick review of the quality of the type you own, i need something that can hande being bent alot and wont lose its shape under the weight of a puppet that will likely weigh 10 pounds

one more question, would everyone who reads this that has gasket rubber give a quick review of the quality of the type you own, i need something that can hande being bent alot and wont lose its shape under the weight of a puppet that will likely weigh 10 pounds

Wow! A puppet that weighs 10 pounds, that's very heavy. Will the puppet have a support stand?