Mosaic Mirror Coat Costume Help

Karoshi · Post by **Karoshi** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:53 pm

Hello all... I'm a virgin getting ready for 2008 and I know that my primary objective should be to [b]survive[/b] the first year, but I'd like to do so in style. ;) My friends and I had this idea about making a trench coat covered in those little mirror tiles (for the cool nights).

Unfortunately I don't know how to achieve this with minimal moop risk and I don't want to accidently shatter glass all over the place - so I came here hoping that someone might be able to help me brainstorm some practical methods of achieving the desired effect. For instance, is it possible to get tiles with rounded edges? Is there something I could use to pad between each tile? Should I use super glue? Am I completely insane?

If you have any clues to gift me about any of these questions or others I haven't thought of yet, please let me know!

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:01 pm

Where's Pinemom when you need her......

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:22 pm

I would be equally as concerned about the weight of such a garment.

While not the same effect, something like this would give a fun effect, weigh much less and you wouldn't have to worry about moop or breakage.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Silver-Polyester-Fa ... dZViewItem

Karoshi · Post by **Karoshi** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:34 pm

[quote="CapSmashy"]I would be equally as concerned about the weight of such a garment.
[/quote]

Yeah, that's why I wanted a coat I could take off instead of like a full body suit. :D I think I can handle the weight but I will have to pick up a few boxes to try and get a feel for it - unless it's just the heat issue. Isn't it supposed to be chilly at night?

BTW - that fabric is beautiful either way. I went ahead and placed a bid on it, I'm sure I can find something to use it on.

Thanks!

neccessity · Post by **neccessity** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:08 pm

what about cutting up and "mosiac-ing" mylar? You can get a two-pack of mylar emergency blankets super cheap at hell-mart, and a good amount of glue should hold something that light to any non-stretch fabric right nice! It's light, cheap, glue-able, reflective, flexible....

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:40 pm

Acrylic mirror is available.

thirt33n · Post by **thirt33n** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:19 am

My virgin year, the floating world, I did something like that.

I still have the shirt.
Various sized bubble mirrors. Shatterproof rear view blind spot type.

Auto salvage yards. Pop'em off the side view mirrors, get some button clasp pins and epoxy them on the back. I only lost one and I got pretty nutso out there that year. You can find'em in alot of different shapes and sizes too.

One of the best parts was circling the man as he was smoldering. I could stand closer than most and when people rolled into me I was hot enough for them to say OUCH!

good luck
Crux

Karoshi · Post by **Karoshi** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:43 am

Ahaha - genius! I knew you guys could help me. :D

Thank you!

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:16 pm

Some mirror types...
http://www.plaskolite.com/acrylic-mirror.htm

http://www.plaskolite.com/acrylic-sheets.htm

http://www.americanacrylics.com/mirror.htm

http://www.modernplastics.com/extruded- ... -1032.html

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=p ... lpage=none

http://titanmirror.com/

http://www.sdplastics.com/acrylicmirror.html

The sheets can be cut into pieces and also molded.
These mirrors are often used on the ceiling of rvs.
I found 19 colors and textured as well as one way.
I hope your work reflects well on the rest of us.

Karoshi · Post by **Karoshi** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:27 pm

Wow... its like every new step opens up into so many more possibilities than what I first imagined. I may end up making a bunch of different things and maybe none of them will even resemble my original plan.

I found some premade assorted acryclic mirror charms in shapes like stars and hearts and such. Any idea how hard it would be to cut out shapes from those sheets? Is it something I could concievably do myself, or does it require some kind of special tools?

Honestly I haven't really ever made anything for myself in my entire life other than a small gravity bong out of of a couple soda bottles back in my college days, so I am probably getting myself in way over my head, but I think maybe that is the point. I'm perfectly willing to fail gloriously :)

(Btw, I was *REALLY* proud of that project lol)

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:39 pm

I have only cut circles in acrylic myself.
The hard part is getting a smooth edge optically.
I don't know if you can snap it like glass in a straight line.
Be aware that much sheet is low grade styrene and not pure high grade material.

You can make a kaleidoscope out of four different colored tinted plexiglas strips.
You don't even need mirror for that.
In 2006 a new person brought in a giant kaleidoscope.
It got set up, but I never got to try it out.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:13 pm

Possible technique
She uses sequins (light) and embroidery(since she covers most of it, I don't think it's gonna come out easy)

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:38 am

If it's not ventilated, it will get hot. But with ventilation, of course, the sun won't heat it up very much.