Thread: Help with a Human Sized Cauldron

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I need to build a giant cauldron for me to fit into crouched down. I searched through the forums and found one thread from a while back but it won't be of any use. One suggestion was to use a paper mache covered exercise ball but I have one of those and there's no way the end product would be big enough for me to fit in.

I really would like to stick with the traditional witch's rounded cauldron shape.

Thanks for any advice!

I would suggest looking for a large basket at pier 1 or World Markets and then paper mache your cauldren around it.

That's an idea but it'll probably be way over priced. I'm on an extremely tight budget

Idea:
how about one of those really big workout balls.
and covering it with something. Duct tape, paper Mache, or (if it needs to be more rigid)... maybe fiber glass.

It still wouldn't be big enough as referenced in my original posting. I already checked as I have one.

You could take a plastic 50 gl drum and cut it to the height to hide you, then paper mache it into a round shape.

I've never built one but in my head I would cut out 2 large rings out of plywood, one for the opening and one for the bottom of the cauldron. I'd then make 4 supports and cut them to the desired height of the cauldron. Then I'd take some wire, perhaps from unbound wire coat hangers and use those to create a wireframe shape for your cauldron or if available, or use EPS foam, probably need about 8 of these to maintain the shape of the bowl. I'd secure them to the rings by drilling holes in the plywood. Then I would use a dark fabric to wrap around the wireframe creating your cauldron. Keeps it lightweight, relatively cheap and not as time consuming to make. Here's a sketch to give you an idea.



Like I said, I've never built one, but this is how I've made small lanterns before. Just think of it as a large Chinese Lantern that you can sit in. This is how I would do it if I needed a human sized cauldron. Hope it helps a little.

OK...let me try again... How about a used (Earth Mover) truck tire or inner tube blown way up and cover that. with (the great stuff and lights) FIRE effct at the bottom.

My suggestion is to build a faux base for the cauldron to sit on (old table, ect) cut out the bottom of whatever your going to use as a cauldron and the get inside that, you can use a much smaller cauldron now that a good portion of your body is hidden in the base.

For the cauldron? the largest plastic cauldron they make (I bought one that a child could hide inside easily) a cut down and dressed up plastic 55gallon drum, a large cardboard box that you could mache into the right shape, ect, ect.

your options get better if your only dealing with a smaller cauldron.

in the above scenario, I imagine you being able to stand up and have your upper torso come out of the cauldron, you can then crouch back down and hide under the "table" for the next scare. add some hidden "peep" holes so you can see when to jump.

without getting really elaborate and building a huge cauldron (that will cost $$$$$) I see this as a really valid option.

For my life sized witch, I used a huge flower pot and spray painted it black. Not big enough for a person though.

I have SEEN pots 'human sized' but think that would be lots of $$$$

I would second the 55 gallon drum option- post on your local freecycle group and see if anyone has one they would give you. To make it round, the cheapest thing i can think of would be to use black trash bags and loosely tape them (duct tape) along the top and bottom of the barrel. then stuff it with leaves or newspapers to 'fill' it out and make it rounder.

Thats what I thought of anyways, at least not without spending days pondering over it (whch I've been known to do )