Thread: What is the strongest spirit gum or latex adhesive you can use?

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Hey folks,

I have been reading all the great stuff on this forum for awhile but have never posted till now. So hello to everyone! I was wondering what the best/strongest adhesive is for latex masks or appliances. I often use the Reel F/X appliances, but they never stay on well, the edges always start to come off once I start getting into character and making all sorts of scary facial expressions etc etc. quite honestly I can almost never get the chin to stay on right from the start and often don't bother using it. I am no make up specialist so let me just throw that out there. I pretty much just use the spirit gum that comes in the package or that you buy from party city . check out the picture I included from this last Halloween and you can see the lower portion just wont stay on. I tried using some scar skin, to blend hold the edges on but that just kinda comes off as well. I am very active with my facial expressions and such so I know that isn't really helping matters.

so what the heck is out there that is super strong and will let me emote and ham it up without the mask coming off? I am sure there is no perfect solution but I figure there has to be something stronger and more long lasting then what I am using. Appreciate any advice.


Regards,
Buc

If it is in fact a latex mask I would try liquid latex. Put some on your skin and let it get a little tacky then put it on. You cab even use the latex to blend edges

Pros-Aid is a better adhesive and liquid medical adhesives should work, like Beta Bond.
Spirit gum tends to lose it's hold once you start sweating.

If it's a foam latex appliance, it will move with your face quite well. The slush cast latex appliances have more rigidity and can sometimes come unstuck with facial movement.

You want pros aid.

Hmmm, thanks Dogman, I will check out the products you mentioned. I am not sure how to tell the difference between a foam latex appliance and a cast? The packaging doesn't seem to specify.

A slip/slush cast prosthetic is easy to identify.
If it's hollow inside and looks like every surface has the same thickness, it's slush/slip cast. If it's filled and looks like it has the indentation to fit a human face into it and the thickness of the piece varies, it's foam latex.

+1 to the Pros-Aid suggestion, it's a the best bet for a standard application. Medical adhesive works great if you sweat alot, though it's expensive.
Michael Davy sells a sweat stopping agent you may want to look into if you have alot of sweat/moisture build-up problems, though slush/slip cast latex pieces contribute to the condensation problem since they don't breathe like foam latex.
Also place a few balled-up pieces of kleenex/tissue inside the hollow areas of the slip/slush cast prosthetics as you apply them to help absorb moisture throughout the event so the adhesive will stay in tact longer.

Thanks NorthFur,

From your description I suspect its slip cast. I am going to try one of the appliances from www.screamteam.com next year and use the Pros-Aid for adhesion. Those are definitive foam latex.

thanks again for everyone's replies. Damn, I am excited for next Halloween already! heheh.