Fosshape & Wonderflex

topic posted Wed, February 13, 2008 - 9:44 AM by  offlineBrian
Hey- I'm new to this whole tribe thing but find it quite interesting, even for an old guy like me. I happen to see a posting from this tribe from back in 2005 on these heat activated products FOSSHAPE and WONDERFLEX. Would love to hear some constructive feedback from anyone who has perhaps used these materials. I came out of the development and manufacturing side of these products and currently doing some marketing investigation as to potential distribution channels etc. in conjunction with Dazian Fabrics www.dazian.com

It appears that these are great materials, but not many people are aware of them. Sorry that this link below is not of a mask, but just thought it was a cool puppet as made with Fosshape as shrunk over a wire frame.

home.att.net/~mbaroto/dragon-costume.htm

Thanks from Thermoman
posted by:
Brian
New Hampshire
  • Re: Fosshape & Wonderflex

    Wed, February 13, 2008 - 8:17 PM
    Yes, I'd like to try them out. I've always had an idea for a back-mounted puppet but didn't really know what to make it with. This might be the stuff....
    • Re: Fosshape & Wonderflex

      Thu, February 14, 2008 - 3:41 AM
      Hi Marc- Appreciate your interest..............if you want a couple of sample swatches to experiment with.........just provide me with a regular mailing address off line and I would be glad to send them along. I"ve seen some great masks made from both these products, but great for a lot of other things. "Limited by your imagination" type materials that I think you will find useful. Everyone always says,"I wish I would of known about this stuff when I was making my............"
      Let me know if any questions along the way.
      • Re: Fosshape & Wonderflex

        Thu, February 14, 2008 - 4:48 PM
        Interesting...
        I'm in the design phases right now for an Aslan the Lion puppet/costume for a stage version of "The Magician's Nephew"
        This could come in handy.... I'll take a closer look later as I get more feedback from my director on how we're gonna do this.
        • Re: Fosshape & Wonderflex

          Wed, March 5, 2008 - 8:57 PM
          I have fosshape which is used in costuming. I would get the thicker one as once you heat and mold it, it gets much thinner. The plus is that you can sew it, paint it, mold it and it stays that way even in high temps like the playa.
          expensive but a great material
          • Re: Fosshape & Wonderflex

            Mon, March 10, 2008 - 11:58 AM
            I wondered about that. The heat. If you take the time to make something fabulous, and then it falls apart once its reheated again....like the playa. : )
            • Re: Fosshape & Wonderflex

              Wed, March 12, 2008 - 4:10 PM
              I get the heat sensitivity question asked all the time......... First of all , FOSSHAPE and WONDERFLEX are two completly different materials. The Fosshape (white felt like) can take a lot of heat before it changes....activates with steam heat .....so over 200 degrees F.

              You can not reheat Fosshape to reform or reshape like you can with the Wonderflex (plastic like), which is why the Wonderflex is so easy to work with. Wiith fosshape there is no going back! The Wonderflex will start to soften around 170 degrees F. but when it ,s coated with gesso, paints, Smooth-On etc. it helps insulate it. Disney theme park in FL has stuff outdoors made with Wonderflexit ....but having said that ....I still would not put my Wonderflex made item in the trunk of my car for extended periods of time during the summer .

              The other heat related question I get is...."can I put Fosshape or Wonderflex on someones face or body part and then heat activate it?" Well I guess you could, if you hated that person..... because a very good chance that the person will be burned. So flat anwser is NO do not do that.
              If anyone wants a swatch to play with just contact me off line.
              Thermoman


        • Ken
          Ken
          offline 4

          Re: Fosshape & Wonderflex

          Mon, March 24, 2008 - 7:56 PM
          I'm working on adding Fosshape and Wonderflex to my client's website. If you need more information contact Lois @ Empiretape.com. 800 473 4997.

          Ken
  • Re: Fosshape & Wonderflex

    Thu, March 20, 2008 - 4:42 PM
    I tried Fosshape for some shaped and covered animal ears . . . I really like the way I could cut and stitch it, then make it stiff . . . however it did shrink so I am not sure how I would calculate or allow for shrinkage . . . seems like it would be great for masks and anything to be painted or finished after stiffening/shrinkage . . .