I have a new vice

No, I haven't taken up drugs, smoking, gambling or computer solitaire. I finally bought a larger, bolt-down-to-the-bench vice to replace the little clamp vice I've been using since I started this whole dummy-making business.

When I began, I wasn't sure I'd build a second vent figure after my first "Fred Project". Well... that was 21 dummies ago. Slowly by little, I've been upgrading my tools and adding more appropriate tools to my collection.

I'm supposed to be making a profit at this, but I keep making "capital improvements".

Oh, well. Can you say "write-off"?

I'll put a lid on it

My plea for clues to a Joel Leder book was answered by several fellow vent builders. I'd heard that his book contained instructions for making soft eyelids. Mike Brose and Ken Souza were both helpful by providing a link to Al Stevens' web-based directions for making soft blinkers. After studying the primer, I think I can pull it off (or should I say put them on).

Meanwhile, I'm about to start over completely with my hand sculptures. I have a new strategy for building an armature, which should guide me to forming hands that will look more human and less zombie-like.

Finally, my friend "Stanley" has found someone to annoy in Ohio. Good luck, little buddy.

Joel Leder

Anyone know where I can purchase a book on figure making by Joel Leder? The book is out of print. I'm interested in learning the technique of making soft blinkers and winkers.

Will work for suitcase

This fellow, dubbed "Stanley" for the time being, is currently accepting bids for his "services" on Ebay

"Stanley" schemer

He's nattily dressed, so he seems harmless. But he can really talk trash. Stanley will be seeking a partner in crime on Ebay starting Monday (unless someone makes me an offer I just can't turn down).

Slick on a stick

The toothbrush handles I used as levers worked perfectly. Not only are they better looking, they work smoothly and they force the strings closer to the head stick. I'm very pleased with the outcome.

And as I predicted, the smooth plastic surface of the toothrush handles are very comfortable on the fingers.

Dr. Kenny

These surgical tools come in handy when working in small spaces (like the inside of a conversion head). The two items in the lower portion of the picture are hemostats. These are tweezers that clamp shut at the handles. The long-nosed feature of the tools are useful for getting into those tight spaces and grabbing things (like springs, cord ends, dropped nuts, balls of Magic-Sculpt, etc.). One pair has a straight nose, the other a curved nose. Once the tweezers grab the item in question, the clamp makes sure I can hold onto it without exerting continuous pressure.

The tool at the top is useful as a probe. One end comes to a sharp point, the other end has a flat surface. It works well for skewering balls of Magic-Sculpt or wood putty. The flat end is sharp and is useful for scraping out wood shavings in the control post grooves or patting smooth wood putty or Magic-Sculpt.

Now that I have these tools, I'm amazed I ever functioned without them.

Love at first sight

I'm holding my newest niece Mia Colette. Not only is she beautiful, but she was born on my birthday. I met her only 15 minutes after she came into the world. I don't think I've ever held anyone that young before.

She has a firm hold on my little finger. I'm sure we've bonded for life.

"Grampa Carl" going to Assisted Living

Come to think of it, all vent figures require some assistance for living. So I guess it's not such a big deal that "Grampa Carl" will spend his golden years pinching nurses in Spokane.

Trying my hand at it again

The first pair of hands I semi-sculpted will be replaced in the near future with a newly-sculpted pair of hands. I'm sculpting my first model out of Klean Klay.

I started with a 1-inch-tall piece of 1-inch-in-diameter wood dowel. Then I took a coat hanger and bent it into the shape of the hand. I drilled two holes into the top of the wood dowel and glued each end of the bent coat hanger into the holes. That's my armature.

I piled on the clay and shaped it as best I could to make it resemble a hand. Now that I have the basic shape and look, I've hot-glued the dowels onto a wood board so the hands will remain upright and steady for final shaping, detailing and smoothing.

The hands will remain glued to the board throughout the silicone rubber mold-building process.

Leave it to lever

Installation of the toothbrush handles went without a hitch. It was easy to drill the axle hole and easy to install them in the control post cavities. The final test will be after I hook up the control strings, but I don't anticipate any problems. The toothbrush handles are so much neater looking than the brass levers that had a hunk of Magic-Sculpt on the ends for finger comfort. The toothbrush handles are very smooth to the touch.

Thank you, Al Stevens.

Elderly man looking for room

"Grampa Carl" is now actively seeking a companion. Well... I'm not sure how active he can be at his age... but he is looking for a roommate on Ebay.

Say hello to "Grampa Carl" (maybe you'd better shout)

A brush with serendipity

I was getting low on flesh-colored paint, so I referred to Al Stevens' helpful primer called "The Fred Project". I recall that he gives instructions on the colors and ratios required to get the right shade. After refreshing my memory about paint, I decided to meander through some of the other sections, specifically the chapters on control stick preparation and levers. You may recollect my recent whining about making levers in an earlier blog entry.

So I'm reading about drilling holes and gouging out wood and using power tools that I don't have. And then I get to the paragraph on levers. There's a nice photo of a lever made from wood. Yeah, I suppose I could do that. Maybe it would be easier than dealing with the brass. And then I notice this sentence in italics "One prominent figure maker makes levers from plastic toothbrush handles."

Suddenly bells and lights go off in my head like I've just scored 500,000 in a pin ball machine. Toothbrush handles!

So today, I went to the Dollar Store and bought this 5-pack of toothbrushes for a buck. I get 'em home, rip 'em from the package, measure an inch and a quarter from the end, saw it off and stick the thing in the channel I gouged out for a brass lever. And PERFECTO! The toothbrush handle even has a little opening for tying a string!

Tomorrow, I'm going back to the Dollar Store and buy every 5-pack of toothbrushes they have in stock.

I'll tell 'em I'm a dentist.