costume question - body glue/adhesive

liesl · Post by **liesl** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 9:27 am

HI there. BM virgin here. Furiously trying to get my costumes ready and I'm searching high and low for a glue I can use on my skin. For example -if I wanted to stick a button on my arm, what can I use to keep it there? Does anyone know what kind of adhesive they use on body jewels?
Thanks!!

samdu · Post by **samdu** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 9:48 am

spirit gum. theatrical adhesive, will stick just about anything to your skin, provided the item is not too heavy. for instance, you wouldn't want to try to stick a pair of real bighorn sheep horns to your face with it, but buttons, jewels, etc will stay on just fine. you should be able to find it at any theatrical supply shop. and buy some spirit gum remover, too. it doesn't wash off with soap and water.

brothzilla

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 10:49 am

Try a patch test on your skin before using spirit gum- Some folks react to it, and you don't want that out there! The fumes from it are a tad strong as well. If you have any troubles with skin irritation, you can try liquid latex instead. Some folks react to THAT, too, so test it as well. It requires more time to set up than spirit gum, but peels off like lizard skin! You can draw temporary tattoos and then brush a thin layer of latex over top to "seal"- it dries clear.
as long as we're talking bodies and adhesives, here's one more tip- Throw a tube of super glue into your first aid kit. In the dry playa weather you can develop painful cracks and splits in the skin of your hands, and the glue can act to "butterfly" the crack while it heals. Sings a mite going on, but dries quickly. Not advised for use on sensitive skin either, uh, anywhere.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 11:09 am

robotland wrote: as long as we're talking bodies and adhesives, here's one more tip- Throw a tube of super glue into your first aid kit. In the dry playa weather you can develop painful cracks and splits in the skin of your hands, and the glue can act to "butterfly" the crack while it heals. Sings a mite going on, but dries quickly.

Supposedly the original intended application...

liesl · Post by **liesl** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 12:39 pm

excellent, thanks for all the advice!

phil · Post by **phil** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 12:46 pm

Sometimes the reaction to spirit gum is from not removing it completely. It absolutely does dry and chafe if you don't get it all off, even if you don't have an allergic reaction. Be sure to read the directions about removal and follow them scrupulously, especially on the playa.

leftbraindp · Post by **leftbraindp** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 1:37 pm

I like eyelash glue... No bad reactions and the cleanup is easy

Grizelda · Post by **Grizelda** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 4:04 pm

Spirit gum was the first thing that popped into my mind too. I used to use it to stick gold star confetti to my face, and most of it stayed on, but some fell off. I wonder whether I had inferior quality spirit gum, whether I applied it badly, or whether that means it's a risk for accidental MOOP if you stick a lot of small objects to yourself that way.

samdu · Post by **samdu** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 9:49 am

Grizelda wrote:Spirit gum was the first thing that popped into my mind too. I used to use it to stick gold star confetti to my face, and most of it stayed on, but some fell off. I wonder whether I had inferior quality spirit gum, whether I applied it badly, or whether that means it's a risk for accidental MOOP if you stick a lot of small objects to yourself that way.

as with any body adhesive, if you don't start with a clean surface, you'll shed. make sure that your skin is clean before applying anything- no sunscreen, lotion, oil, etc. clean and dry before you apply- you'll be much less moopy. and, spirit gum does lose potency after a while. i throw mine out and buy new about once a year, whether i've used it or not. same with the remover. i'd just rather spend the extra money than find myself depending on a product that has gone even a little bit south on me.

sam

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 9:55 am

Also take into account that only small areas of your face WON'T be flexing and moving, in addition to sweating....It helps to do what I call "gurn testing"- Make faces in a mirror, and see if your glitter sheds. For body applications, examine your costume (if there is one!) and avoid areas where it'll rub your "treatment" off. (Also prepare for some shit from Burnier Than Thou types about glitter being MOOP....Really, they're correct.)

samdu · Post by **samdu** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 10:59 am

robotland wrote:Also take into account that only small areas of your face WON'T be flexing and moving, in addition to sweating....It helps to do what I call "gurn testing"- Make faces in a mirror, and see if your glitter sheds.

you are the only other person i've ever met who uses the word "gurn"!!!! are you a theater geek????

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 11:08 am

samdu wrote:
robotland wrote:Also take into account that only small areas of your face WON'T be flexing and moving, in addition to sweating....It helps to do what I call "gurn testing"- Make faces in a mirror, and see if your glitter sheds.
you are the only other person i've ever met who uses the word "gurn"!!!! are you a theater geek????

I'm a FREELANCE geek.....I'm not even in the union! Did my share of theater, though. Ever try to put character makeup and appliances on kids? *shudder*