Hi guys!

 I don't know if there is a topic already floating around... But being new to all of this I didn't know if anyone had any tips on using certain materials they favor when building puppets or tools you might not normally expect to use in the workshop...?
 

They are a lot of topics under "puppet building" and "resources" as well tutorials,links to suppliers,etc.

Yes we have had some threads on this in the past. Here are a few of them.
http://puppetsandstuff.com/community/index.php/topic,4326.0.html
http://puppetsandstuff.com/community/index.php/topic,6110.0.html
http://puppetsandstuff.com/community/index.php/topic,6151.0.html
http://puppetsandstuff.com/community/index.php/topic,6558.0.html

Cheers guys!

Somewhere there is a thread about helpful items you use when building puppets.  I was going to add to it, but can't find it.  I am sure Billy knows where it is, so feel free to move this post.

One thing I use is (I think this is the name) Flux brushes for contact cement. If you buy a small bottle of cement there is a brush attached to the lid.  I buy it by the quart, so have to buy the brushes.  You can find them at Home Depot or Lowes by the soldering supplies. Grainger has them too.

I've used small pieces of foam to spread contact cement, but I tend to use less when I use the brush. 

Now I'm going to have to run to Home Depot to get me a flux brush or two! One of the things I'm also needing to do is find a different container to keep my contact cement in. I buy the non-flammable variety which comes in a metal can (like a paint can) and the lid gets all rusty which contaminates the cement and ruins the seal around the rim of the can. Thinking of just pouring it into a plastic jar of some kind.

Beware of the plastic jar.   Most contact cements have enough chemical in them to "melt" the plastic. Keep it in the metal container. I hate to say this but if you keep the lid cleaned up you won't have that problem. Also you can get some Vaseline and coat the lid and rim with it. This helps with clean up when you get that dried build up on a lid.

While you are looking for the flux brushes make a dash by the paint department. You should be able to find what we call "chip" brushes.  I have know idea if that is the real name but they are really cheap brushes. Next to them there is also normally foam brushes. Both are intended to be thrown away. Great for contact cement also and for quick and dirty paint jobs with enamels that may be hard to clean up.

Did you know that if you wrap your brush in plastic (syran wrap or plastic baggy) and then pop it in the freezer the paint won't dry up in the brush. Still best to keep your brushes cleaned up but say you need to stop for an hour or two and know you are coming back to a project. If you happen to be using the above disposable brushes and plan to toss them then you can use this method to keep them from getting dried out during a short process.

Yeah, I was kind of worried about the plastic melting issue. I also considered going with a glass jar but would have been right back to the same spot again as they pretty much have metal lids. Guess I'll have to do a better job cleaning up the lid and lip areas of the can! Thanks for all the tips though Shawn!

I haven't had the rust problem, and I leave my cement in the can.  I think I buy the other type, the one that is not water soluble.

Here's one of my favoutrite threads, where I show the various tools that I've built myself in service of my idiosyncratic marionette design:

http://puppetsandstuff.com/community/index.php/topic,5459.0.html

I'll be adding pictures of my new stringing vice soon!