Attaching Dreads

[Eagleskull]

I went through the forums and couldnt find anything. So does any one know the best way to attach dreads to the mask, i heard drilling a hole and just attaching it that way, but wanna make sure how to do it before i mess up my mask

 

[KnightPred]

well my mask is only a BIO and I made a dread helmet outta A BMX helmet and drilled holes 1/4" inch smaller then the dreads they stay in good but I still used some glue to hold them in !

 

[Savage Yautja]

Might depend on the type of dreads. I had mine glued on with contact cement and it held great for most of them. Later I drilled holes with a grinding bit on my dremel and stuck the dreads through the holes and anchored them with upolstery thread through the dreads so no one could yank them out or have the cement fail. Industrial strenght Krazy glue might work,also Goop & Contact Cement.

 

[depredador1997]

I used a hot glue gun last year, and they are still pretty strong,same this year ,so the glue gun i think it is reliable...just my experience....just make sure you wait 'till the glue is a little hard to hold the dread.

 

[Eagleskull]

Thanks for all the tips once my dreads come in, ill see what method to use.

 

[TK3467]

GOOP works for me.

 

[JAILER1955]

Let me add a couple more questions/observations.

1)
There are the dreads; Backer Rod, Soft/Cold Foam, Hollow Cast Latex.

2)
You have an indentation in the head where the dreadlock is to be placed.

3)
Place the trimmed end of the dread into the indentation and glue around the edges.

4)
Glue the trimmed end of the dread and then place into the indentation and hold until firm.

5)
Glue the trimmed end of the dread and then place into the indentation and hold until firm, then glue around the edges.

6)
If you cut a hole into the mask/dread indentation, should it be a round hole or a slit, or an 'X'?

7)
Once inserted, how do you secure the dreadlock? Glue, clip, cord, thread?


Once the dread is secured, is it again glued on the outside?

9)
If a dread if dipped(dip-it) or wet (perma-wet), will that affect the glue being used on the dread? In other words which should be done first?

10)
Which dreads are better to be glued to the outside?

11)
Which dreads are better to be inserted into the mask?

12)
With hollow cast latex dreads, should there be some form of insert used in the base of the dread to help keep its form since it could collapse so easily?

13)
Thank you

 

[Savage Yautja]

3)
Place the trimmed end of the dread into the indentation and glue around the edges.
*I wound not glue around the edge since it's likely to ooze out and be seen. Sounds too messy. I have applied contact cement to the bare latex of the headpiece and the backer rod dread. Once the surface is tacky dry align them and stick it. A few seconds to help it bond and you're done.

4)
Glue the trimmed end of the dread and then place into the indentation and hold until firm.
* Good method works well.
5)
Glue the trimmed end of the dread and then place into the indentation and hold until firm, then glue around the edges.
No.

6)
If you cut a hole into the mask/dread indentation, should it be a round hole or a slit, or an 'X'?
ALWAYS cut a ROUND HOLE or CIRCLE otherwise you risk having the latex start to rip like a piece of cheeze.
7)
Once inserted, how do you secure the dreadlock? Glue, clip, cord, thread?
First I used contact cement on my headpiece. Later I redid it after drilling holes in the latex about 1/2" diameter and carefully enlarged it to about 5/8 " in diameter. I used my dremel with a grinding bit. After I stuck the dreadlocks in the mask I used upolstery thread to anchor them, one dread to another with a large curved needle right through each dreadlock after I pushed it through about an inch. It gets squeezed if you leave the hole small enough and stays put. Every row of dreads is connected to the others. so no dread can simply fall out or off.

Once the dread is secured, is it again glued on the outside?
Not on mine.
9)
If a dread if dipped(dip-it) or wet (perma-wet), will that affect the glue being used on the dread? In other words which should be done first?
If you do the dreads as I did mine with a heat gun no Perma Wet is needed.

10)
Which dreads are better to be glued to the outside?
Personal preference Cold foam or backer rod.
11)
Which dreads are better to be inserted into the mask?
Backer rod can be done either way. I just got tired of the glue failing and the dread falling off at parties. Guess a few didn't bont well enough probably due to some paint still on the mounting area. Otherwise cotact cement really holds if you have the time to do it right.
12)
With hollow cast latex dreads, should there be some form of insert used in the base of the dread to help keep its form since it could collapse so easily?

These hollow cast are usually filled with polyester filler or something to hold their shape.

 

[1elder]

im currently getting to this point on my mask also, thanks to all of you with your ideas