Tutorial: Budget Gauntlets Made from Aluminum Cans

If you’re looking for a very inexpensive way to have #gauntlets for your #cosplay or #Halloween #costume, here’s a video tutorial posted by a Korean #cosplayer who made metal gauntlets using aluminum cans! Great recycling! (The video has no audio dialog, but includes comments in both English and Korean.)

Please note that these are not going to be extremely strong: the aluminum used in beer and soft drink cans is extremely thin. While it’s very easy to work with, making folds (as he shows in the video) could result in the aluminum splitting.

We advise caution in handling the cut aluminum: the edges could cause cuts to the skin.

References

• 3D SANDAGO’s YouTube Channel

DIY: Making a Bionic Arm from EVA Foam

While we have previously shared David Guyton’s video tutorial on how to make a bionic arm from metal, he has just released a brand new tutorial on making one out of EVA foam!

While EVA foam is far less durable a material than metal, it has several distinct advantages over metal:

• Some conventions have banned the wearing of metal armor. If you’re planning to attend such a convention in an armored costume, it will have to be made out of some other material, such as plastic or EVA foam.
• EVA foam is much lighter than metal making it easier to wear.
• While metal is a rather rigid material, EVA foam is far more flexible, which also makes EVA foam easier to wear.
• Since EVA foam is a soft material as compared with metal, it’s much easier to work with than metal.
• The tools & materials are less costly & easier to obtain for working with EVA foam as opposed to metal.
• The skills required to work with EVA foam are easier to learn than the skills needed for working with metal.
• Unlike metal edges that need to be sanded so that they won’t accidentally cut into skin, you needn’t worry about EVA foam edges being a potential safety hazard.
• Unlike metal that can rust, EVA foam can’t rust.
• You’re far less likely to disturb neighbors working with EVA foam because you don’t have to hammer it as you would need to do with metal.

The biggest disadvantages with EVA foam as compared with metal are as follows:

• EVA foam is not as durable as metal (as previously mentioned), meaning it has a much higher chance of being damaged while being worn or stored.
• Greater care must be used for storing EVA foam armor than with metal to ensure that it keeps its intended shape.
• EVA foam armor is going to be much thicker than a metal equivalent, so additional allowances have to be made.
• Replicating a metallic shine with painted EVA foam will probably never be as shiny as actual metal.

If you haven’t worked with EVA foam before, we recommend reading Working with EVA Foam for Beginners.

References:

• DIY: A Metal Bionic Arm Costume Piece
• Ever-Changing Rules & Policies for Costumes & Props at Anime & Comic Conventions
• Working with EVA Foam for Beginners

The Evolution of Medieval Armor

Since #armor is an ever-popular aspect of #costuming & #cosplay, we wanted to share this video about the evolution of actual medieval armor, which is likely the basis for various types of armor used by multiple sci-fi, fantasy & gaming franchises. While this video focuses on actual metal armor, many #cosplayers wear metal armor, as do re-enactors. We will also add a disclaimer regarding the accuracy for the reasons shared in the video as to why armor changed over the centuries.

DIY: How to Construct A Metal Helmet (Video Tutorial)

For those #costumers & #cosplayers who like metal, here’s a video tutorial of how to make a metal helmet as presented by David Guyton (who provides templates). This is an advanced type of #costuming that requires experience with metal working technique known as “sinking”:

Sinking, also known as doming, dishing or dapping, is a metalworking technique whereby flat sheet metal is formed into a non-flat object by hammering it into a concave indentation.

LED’s and some knowledge of electronics is also needed.

DIY: A Metal Bionic Arm Costume Piece

If you want to build a bionic arm for your next #cosplay, David Guyton has created the templates on how to create one using metal and leather. This is another more advanced method of #costume making as it requires working with metal and leather. Thus, safety is a very important consideration to avoid injury while working with metal.

The resulting prop as demonstrated by David Guyton is very impressive.

DIY: How to Make Infinity Gauntlet

Here’s a video tutorial made by David Guyton on how to make a #Marvel #Infinity gauntlet. This is a more advanced type of #costume making as it involves working with metal and electronics. Please be sure you wear the proper protective gear before working with metal (which can have very sharp edges) and hammers.

This particular gauntlet design also includes use of a leather glove, upon which metal is riveted. There are also a lot of small articulated parts that go onto the glove fingers. Thus, patience is a must with this particular project.