Stop Motion: Foam Latex Injection Syringe

FOAM LATEX INJECTION GUN

Make-up Special Effects & Stop Motion share many common fabrication methods and especially the use of Foam Rubber Latex materials. There are different methods to fill the mold ..... one is .... by painting each mold half with foam latex, then spooning in extra foam and closing the halves to squeeze out the excess. Another method to fill-up the mold is by injecting the foam using a very large syringe tool aka Foam Latex Injector Gun. Both methods work and both require practice and trial and error.

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THE PARTS LIST

One ... 3 inch inside diameter x 6 ft PVC Storm & Drain Pipe
It is important to get the STORM & DRAIN Pipe type, which has the THIN WALLS - Mostly sold
as 10 feet long & you have to cut - Price for 10 feet is usually affordable

Two ... 3 inch end caps
To FIT Storm & Drain pvc pipes - Ideally in store, check that cap fits over the pipe end

Two ... 2 inch flat washers

One ...1/2 x 2 inch bolt and nut

One... 3 inch DU-BRO Low Bounce model airplane SMOOTH tire

One ... 1/2 inch plastic water pipe comes in 6 foot lengths

One ...1/2 inch plastic threaded male coupling

One ... 1/2 inch plastic threaded female coupling

One each ... of CPVC Cleaner and CPVC Cement

One ... 24 inches X 1/2 inch plastic sprinkler system pipe

One ...1/2 inch threaded plastic sprinkler system coupler

One ... 1/2 inch threaded plastic sprinkler system Tee

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Preparation and assembly:

Cut a 24 inch long section of 3 inch drain pipe, use sand paper to sand the ends down until the end caps fit snug but not so tight that it is difficult to remove them.

Take one of the end caps and drill a hole large enough to get a very snug fit of the 1/2 inch water pipe then cut a piece of the water pipe 3/4 inch in length and test fit the end cap and male coupling. The base of the coupling should touch the end cap and the water pipe should be flush with the inside of the end cap. If everything fits the glue them together and set aside.

Cut a piece of water pipe 8 inches long and glue it to the plastic threaded female coupling when the glue is set, thread this to the end cap with the male coupling. This is the nozzle; you can make the nozzle any length you want. I found that 4 inch and up to 8 inches are most useful.

Remove the plastic wheel from the model airplane tire. Take the Nut and the 1/2inch threaded plastic sprinkler system coupler you want the nut to fit half way down the coupler you might need to use a dremel to remove some of the plastic to get the nut to fit. Once you get the nut to fit inside the coupler, glue it in place and thread the other end to the 24 inch X 1/2 inch plastic sprinkler system pipe and set aside.

Take the remaining end cap and drill a hole large enough for the 1/2 inch plastic sprinkler system pipe to slide through without binding. Run the pipe through the end cap and put the Tee on the pipe to form a handle. the glue should be set on the nut by now so you can take the bolt place 1 of the flat washers on it then the tire and another washer now thread the bolt-tire combination to the end of the plastic sprinkler pipe. Congratulations you now have a plunger for your injection gun.

All the glue should be set so fit the plunger in the drain pipe, you can adjust the plungers fit by tightening or loosen the bolt. Now fit the nozzle on the other end and you have a completed injection gun for $25.00 ('04 prices). This is a front loading gun so take off the nozzle to fill it.

You can replace the drain and water pipe with clear plastic plexiglass type tubing but the cost will go up if you do.

If you use the Johnson and Johnson past wax thinned with alcohol as a release for foam latex you can use the left over Stearic Acid that comes with the latex kits to prop up you injection gun for a photo like I did.

Good luck! David Schlatter
© 2004 David Schlatter

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'POOR MAN'S' FOAM LATEX INJECTOR SYRINGE

This holds 500cc/500ml (17.6 Imperial ounces). I would recommend buying at least 2 or maybe 3 of these extra large injection syringes, just in case you have a bigger size mold to fill with foam. The cost is VERY Affordable. The plunger end has a black polyurethane rubber seal. Before each foam run, lubricate the rubber seal with a thin coat of Castor Oil so that the plunger slides smoothly inside the tube. ONLY use Castor Oil because it will not contaminate the foam latex.

If it is a bigger mold that you need to fill with foam latex ... first ... LOAD all the injector syringes at the same time with the foam latex. If the foam latex injection flow is slow, you might need to modify or enlarge the syringe injection opening. You can first do some practice and test the injector syringes, filling it with white shaving foam (Barbasol® or dollar store shave foam), to see how it flows. Here is the web link to the injector syringe ....

X-Large 500 ml Syringe

For Foam Latex suppliers and other resources:

FOAM LATEX & STOP MOTION PUPPETS

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VISIT HOME PAGE - STOP MOTION WORKS

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