Thread: Please help: attach mache pumpkin head to PVC w/ mache ribs

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We have not painted yet, because we have come to our final challege:

How to attach a hallow paper mache pumpkin head (beach ball was used as form) to a 1/2" PVC with paper mache ribs.

Please help. We have brainstormed until it hurts. We would like to keep the head hallow so that it can be lit inside.

I attached mine (paper mache to a wood stick) with great stuff spray foam sealant. That is what I saw alot of people using and it worked great.

That expanding foam will bond anything to anything. I second notjustaphaze's suggestion about using it. It is one of the few things that will stick well to PVC.

Worth a shot. Thanks.

This is a little larger in scale, but here is an image reference if you need:

Hi,

I would mache a larger diameter tube onto the base of the head and then slide it over the neck piece you have . That would allow you to add movement to the head later on if needed .

Hope that helps .

GhostTown, what you have is very smart. But I'm afraid, we were not. Our pumpkin hole is dead center on the bottom. I think we'd have to cut into the three of them again to get the pvc positioned towards the back for the great stuff. Right?

Theundeadofnight, flexibility is key!

Originally Posted by MizLiz

GhostTown, what you have is very smart. But I'm afraid, we were not. Our pumpkin hole is dead center on the bottom. I think we'd have to cut into the three of them again to get the pvc positioned towards the back for the great stuff. Right?

Have you started the painting process yet? If not, then modifying the hole shouldn't be a terribly difficult process. A couple pieces of wide masking tape with a couple layers of paper mache over it should be suffice. We even used old window screen mesh (the cloth screen) under paper mache in areas where we needed added strength.

If you wanted to keep the head mounted in the center then, if it were me, I would use masking tape to hold the head in place and paper mache right over the masking tape. It looks like you're not dealing with a lot of weight there, so you should be ok with stability.

Will you be adding lights to the heads?

edit to add: Obviously my recommendation would never allow for any motion. That said, I believe animated props need to be designed for mobility from the very beginning.

How about putting a PVC flange like this on the body:



Screw it in real tight from the sides to the "spine". If the head is really heavy, make sure you use good thick screws or more than 4 medium ones. That way you just set the head over it. If you want a permanent attachment, you could spray some Great Stuff foam onto it and then mâché over it, otherwise use the "clothes" to hide it (or spraypaint it black so it doesn't show at night) and maybe some non-skid shelf liner to hold it still (this stuff might stick and leave residue on whatever you put over it, though).