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Drew Knight Profile
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Caped Crusader

Registered: 04-2004
Posts: 1283
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Latex Vs. Urethane Vs. Foam Latex


I know someone posted what the difference is between all of these but I couldn't find it.
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks,
Drew Knight

Last edited by Deadly Lemur, 4/4/2006, 9:20 pm
1/25/2006, 9:16 am Link to this post Send Email to Drew Knight   Send PM to Drew Knight
 
Brin Londo Profile
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Keeper of the Cave


Registered: 02-2004
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 9351
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Re: Latex Vs Urethane VS Foam Latex


Although I'm no expert...latex is a natural rubber that cures by drying out water and ammonia, while urethane relies on a chemical reaction for it's cure.
I won't even touch foam, first of all cause I don't want a couch cushion costume, secondly because it's more tempermental than most of the women I've known in my life. :lol
-Brin

---
You don't choose the Bat, the Bat chooses you.
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joeker89 Profile
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Dark Knight

Registered: 02-2004
Posts: 779
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Re: Latex Vs Urethane VS Foam Latex


Latex ;
Strong, Liquid form, pourable and paintable.
cheaper than most of rubber.
perishable by extensive sunlight.
 As brin mentioned has a ammonia content which makes it smell uplesent. most costume makers use this for suits.

Foam Latex ;
Extremely comfertbale, foam padded ( by its self),pourable or injection, soft to the touch. requires slowing backing for anything up to 8 hours plus. stinks of rotten cabbage. limited life span. decays the fastest of the 3 rubbers listed.
perishable by sunlight also. can rip and split Very easily. not suitable to hobby costumes in my personal opinion


Urethane; 2 part mix can have several harmful chemicals that are let off during the curing stage. can range from the hardness of a golf ball to as soft as skin. alot more expensive than latex. can require silicone/urethane molds to cast from thus adding more expense.


hope that helps

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1/26/2006, 9:19 am Link to this post Send Email to joeker89   Send PM to joeker89
 
youngbat Profile
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Caped Crusader

Registered: 02-2004
Posts: 1182
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Re: Latex Vs Urethane VS Foam Latex


On foam latex:

I have been running foam latex in body suits
for over 10 yrs. Mostly my own batsuits.
  The issues of durability, longevity, softness/hardness GREATLY DEPENDS ON THE PERSON RUNNING THE FOAM. unlike urethane, and slip(Halloween) latex, I can make my foam so dense it's not much different from a solid urethane piece. OR... I can run my foam so soft and light, holding a torso in your hand will literaly seem like pure air, and stretch a mile. and I can mechanically re-inforce it to withstand tugging and pulling.
   I keep seeing comments that imply that foam latex properties are a standard thing like other materials. Again not so. As to the smell: The rotten egg smell is the result of the curing agent. This is partly a manufactures proprietary blend, i.e. some smell worse than others. But here's the great thing: after you bake, you can run water through the foam with a little lemon fresh dish soap, and wring out the piece, put it back in the oven to quick dry, and you have a nice pleasant smelling piece. in fact foam is the CLEANEST material of all the materials in question, because of that.

  Here's the part I agree with Joker89: Not for the casual hobbiest. In terms of a batsuit, a huge investment of time and money, and years of experience to get it down to where I have it. You need to start with a high quality bodycast, You need to be an excellent mold-maker, and have a born knack for this stuff. It is tough to use, and the toughest way of using foam is in a pristine batsuit.

  Assuming all the skills are there, foam is the best material for this type of thing, bar none. It moves like human skin, and yet super light weight (air). Again... depends on the guy running the foam. It also looks more sofisticated than other materials. You can re-inforce the cellular
structure of foam chemically, or by means of adding fiberous materials to the mix. If you want a uber rugged skin with a super soft behind the skin, you can do that.

  I like foam latex also because there are so many things you can do with it, not just a what-you-see-is-what-you-get material. Though the quality of a costume depends on the person, way moreso with foam.
Here are some pics of some of my foam pieces. So you have to judge foam on a person-to-person basis. Not a this v.s. that material basis.

Image
Image
Image
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Drew Knight Profile
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Caped Crusader

Registered: 04-2004
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Re: Latex Vs Urethane VS Foam Latex


Thanks guys. This is exactly the info I was looking for!
Drew Knight
1/26/2006, 1:07 pm Link to this post Send Email to Drew Knight   Send PM to Drew Knight
 
jokerscrowbar Profile
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Caped Crusader

Registered: 07-2005
Location: Wales
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Re: Latex Vs Urethane VS Foam Latex


The Master in his cave

Image






Last edited by jokerscrowbar, 1/26/2006, 1:35 pm


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TJ
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The BlackBat Profile
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Registered: 01-2004
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Re: Latex Vs Urethane VS Foam Latex


Quote:

You need to start with a high quality bodycast, You need to be an excellent mold-maker, and have a born knack for this stuff.



...AND you need a ton of room to work it in, plus room for your oven to bake the foam in, plus a butt-load of loot for the materials and said oven.

Like Joe & Bob both said... foam is not suitable for most hobbiests due to its complexity, and the amount of space, money & time it takes to learn to do it properly.

One thing to remember about ALL of these materials, is that they all have different grades and brands that may provide different results. Sure each of these materials have some common properties, but even different buckets of regular old slip latex can bring you a new set of results each time. It's always a learning experience no matter what.

~Tim :batfly

---
"We all walk in the dark and each of us must learn to turn on his or her own light."

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Brin Londo Profile
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Keeper of the Cave


Registered: 02-2004
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 9351
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Re: Latex Vs Urethane VS Foam Latex


Thanks for clearing that up Bob.
I just don't have the patience for large foam pieces, so I'll be sticking to latex for awhile.
THe first time some child took a chunk of foam out of my suit though, I think I might explode. :firemad
-Brin

---
You don't choose the Bat, the Bat chooses you.
1/26/2006, 9:20 pm Link to this post Send PM to Brin Londo
 


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