Wholesale Dealers of 12″ rubber glove with cotton linning-rough finish to Nepal Factory

FAQ Content

This tutorial shows how to make a latex Batman mask, cast from a plaster mold. This method can be applied to any mask design. It’s not a perfect process, but it is a good budget option, easy for beginners.

Read FAQ below for answers to the most common questions:

How much does this cost?
Estimated cost is about $10 for the mold, and $5 for each mask cast. It’s best to buy mask-making latex by the gallon, for about $50. A gallon of latex is enough to make several masks with. Buying the latex, plaster, and clay to start mask making can put you back around $60, most of that being the cost of latex. Probably not the cheapest method for making only a single mask (unless you can find only a half-gallon or pint of latex), but great for multiple projects.

Where can I buy latex?
It’s best to buy liquid latex for mask-making on online stores, like eBay, or from other effects product suppliers. These suppliers usually have it in stock:

http://myworld.ebay.com/ecbarista/

http://myworld.ebay.com/fun_fx/

If you can find a local source, that can be cheaper.
MAKE SURE that if you buy latex, it’s specifically latex for mask-making. Other more common “molding ” latex products are not safe on skin.

Where can I get good, cheap clay?
The clay I used was a water-based pottery clay I bought at Hobby Lobby. A 25-pound box for $10 (with a 40% off coupon). That’s a great start, a lot of clay that can last a while. It’s soft and easy to work with for beginners. Or most arts and craft stores should have a 10-pound box of cheap modeling clay for under $10.

Why not just buy the costume mask? It looks better than this one…
It depends on your head. Heh. My nose is a bit large, and so my face looked rather goofy on the costume mask This one fits my head better, doesn’t have a Velcro seam at the back, and better proportioned overall.
However, getting a perfectly smooth finish on a mask like this is very difficult. That would come down to having a very clean mold, which I didn’t have. If you take the time, a homemade mask like this can look better than the costume version.

See how I made a Bane mask and the rest of the Batsuit:

See the video I made with this, along with the rest of the costume, here:

More detailed instructions and material lists:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Latex-Mask-Part-1-Plaster-Head-Mold-and-Clay-Scul/

http://www.instructables.com/id/Latex-Mask-Part-2-Molding-the-Sculpt-and-Casting-/

Time-lapse of mask sculpt:

High Voltage Cable Inspection on 0.5MV lines. Thanks for all the comments! This is what I used to do a couple of years back, and that also it is shot so nicely, that I thought it befitting to show all.

UPDATE.
I have received a ton of requests regarding this video – mainly about how to get into the job. Well, the only way is to start at the bottom by becoming a trainee linesman with a power company. It is essential to have an understanding of Electrical engineering so a degree in this subject is a must have. You will have to work yourself up the ladder, demonstrating an understanding of risk and safety aspects, but most of all an ability to always be relaxed around all electrical distribution systems. Spider says it very well – “… it is not a job for a hot duck”.

After working you way up the ladder and proving yourself, the training can be intensive and laborious, and after many experiences in a laboratory setting having experienced the feeling of high voltage passing around you and learning to identify what feels right and wrong, you can go and train for your certification for EHV transmission systems. After this, it is more training which continues until you are experienced enough to teach the next generation.

Yes – it can be considered dangerous in several ways. In the words of one of my mentors, “You will only make a mistake once Simon”.

Some quick answers –
Suits – Made by DuPont to application specific requirements.
Pay – GBP40-70k dependent on experience, certification etc
The two lines are at the same potential in the video carrying one phase at 500kv
Lines go up to 765kv, but there are plans to go as high as 925kv from what I read (I am not in this business any more). Although there are lines working at over 1MV DC.
You cannot get life insurance.
It is not as glamorous as it appears.
For all the people who posted technical questions – do not believe everything that is posted as comments (although some is correct). The arcing between helicopter and line is the helicopter becoming the same potential as the line (air is the dielectric whos insulating properties break down when an object at zero potential comes within the break down point and is potential dependent), remembering that the line voltage is passing through 0v 100 times per second (or 120 times per second if you are on the other side of the Atlantic) meaning that the arc is struck that many times until the potential is equalized through the rod or bonding clamp.
500,000v is the phase to phase potential, whereas the phase to ground potential is around 288,600v.

Clip is from IMAX documentary called “Straight Up”, and grabbed from HD source.