Thread: monster mud

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ive been seeing alot of post with monster mud in it i was curious as to what its used for and how do you make it

denial,

Monster Mud has been around for a long time having been used in the movie industry. It really gained popularity amongst haunters after Terror Syndicate named it "Monster Mud" and used it for tons of great props.

It's a very simple mixture: joint compound (the kind you use when spackling a wall) and latex paint. The typical ratio is a 5 gallon bucket of joint compound to 1 gallon of paint. It is then used on all sorts of props (do a search for Reapers and you'll fin plenty of samples of MM in use) because it dries to a hard, shell-like finish for your prop. Depending on the paint used, you may not need to paint your prop when finished though another coat adds a layer of protection. Finish off with a wood sealer like Thompsons or Olympic and you're done.

The reaper I made last year is still in excellent condition despite having been knocked around by the wind last year and stored away under my porch for a year. It was the one prop my neighbors asked if I was going to put up again.



For this year's display I made another tall MM figure (you can see a similar one on the Terror Syndicate website called "The Acolyte"), a "wall crawler" figure, and I just completed another reaper which someone asked me to build for them. Each time I use Monster Mud the process goes faster. For this last reaper I built it took me just 3 days from start to finish, most of which is drying time.



To mix, do yourself a favor and get a paddle attachment for your electric drill. Mixing the stuff by hand will certainly build up your arms, but things go so much faster with the paddle. Slowly pour the paint into the compound and mix. You then take the fabric you're going to drape your figure in (most people use burlap, but sheets work well too) and plunge it into the MM getting it good and soaked. Wring it out and carefully drape it over your frame.

Make sure your frame is sturdy because wet MM is extremely heavy. But when it dries it becomes very light.

The first time I used it I mixed the entire gallon in and the Mud becomes very liquid-y. It does make it easier to wring out and such, but after watching a TS video, I've seen on occasion they only use half a can. It makes the mixture drier but I've found it easier to apply to the frame.

Having now built four MM figures, I'm still no expert in the medium, but it's not rocket science either. What I like to do (and did on this last reaper I was asked to build) is to use a sheet as a first layer wrapped very tightly around my chicken wire and wood frame. This is the layer that's going to protect the prop so I figured the sheet will provide a solid layer of monster mud (you'll quickly find the open weave of burlap allows a lot of MM to fall through).

I then apply a second layer of fabric, this time burlap if the prop calls for it -- burlap soaked in MM gives a very creepy appearance when dry -- and layer it right on top of the wet sheet beneath it. That helps one adhere to the other, pretty useful if you're doing this by yourself. I smear a little bit of extra MM on the burlap to hold it in place (another benefit of the drier MM mix).

You can then use this second layer to create folds as in clothing. It looks great when you do this. Then allow the whole prop to dry for 24 to 48 hrs. and paint if necessary. When that's dry I like to use Olympic deck sealer (because at less than $8 a gallon it was the cheapest I could find) to weatherproof the prop. I apply two coats, but with waterproofing a little goes a long way.

It goes on a light, milky blue color but dries clear. When it rains, your props might get a bluish cast to it, but once it dries off it clears up again.

I recommend checking out Terror Syndicate's website where Steve Hickman gives a tutorial on Monster Mud and you can see his awesome home haunt. Also, check out The Davis Graveyard for more props using Monster Mud. They have something like 10-12 reapers -- monks, really -- in their driveway. The rest of the haunt display is awesome as well.

Hope that helps.

Rich