Predlock Tutorial

[HorrorTime]

Hey Gang

I got the backer rod...now what ? I know to carve the ends to a stake like tip, but whats the deal with using a heat gun and getting little weights into them? What does the term "skin" mean when creating dreads? Anyone know of a detailed and effective process?

This ones gonna really get me through -Thanks in advance for your tips !

 

[MEANGENE83]

This is my experience with making backer rod dreds.

I took the heatgun, took some scissors/ a FLAT SMOOTH surface.

Take the heatgun and lay it on ur work table. Turn it on let it warm up NICE n HOT. Get the scissors and cut the tip to a point. THEN take the dred tip and and rotate it in front of the heatgun, do it quickly as u will see how easily they melt to nothing. Then after a couple seconds of rotating it, i roll the dred point tip on the flat surface spinning the whole tip around to make it nice n round.

Then some people take the heatgun and RUN it over the backer rod quickly to produce a "SKIN" which some say makes them tougher and stronger.

Personally i did this and didnt see much of a difference in the dreds i made. Its up to you. Just grab ur tools and JUMP in and experiment!!! THATS whats so fun about this stuff, figuring it out and coming up with ur own tricks - Then ya feel like a million bucks when u accomplish stuff on your own.

So HOP 2!


(if you are feeling really crafty you can take progress pics STEP BY STEP and make your own tutorial and post it in the HUNTORIALS section of the lair)

cya and GOODLUCK (post progress pics)
GENE

 

[HorrorTime]

Thanks Mean Gene,

Without question, this should be an excellent starting point.
Thank you !

One last question if you would be so kind, If the backer arches out a little bit when it is connected (to the inserts on top of the mask) is there a possible way to get them to lay perfectly straight. Maybe Im blind but the dreads on previous masks I have seen appear to lay straight down. Thanks again and when their complete I will surely post pics.

Oops- One last thing =)
Is there a standard length the dreads should be?

Your The Best
Alone In The Dark

 

[TK3467]

If I may............ Most of the time your beads on your dreads help to lay the dreads down. As far as length, I personally would say to go with the length that you like. I plan on going at least 18 inches on mine if not longer.

 

[Savage Yautja]

I agree about the dreadlock rings, they help hold down stubborn dreads. As for the length I like mine two feet long, they don't look so stubby this way. Long enough but not too long.

 

[HorrorTime]

I just broke out the measuring tape and I think I'll go with 20''
Good Look Guys - Thanks

 

[MEANGENE83]

Yea i go with 20 inches too.

Not too long and not to short.


I got my old backerrod dreds to hang straight down by just attaching them and letting gravity pull them down. The added weight of super sculpey dred rings helped to straighten them out.

goodluck

GENE

 

[TK3467]

So far I managed to squeak one single scuply ring out. LOL I need some custon ones for my blue pred mask, so I guess I am going to have to learn to make them.

 

[Galaxy Hunter]

nice tutorial

but what the hell is backer rod?
ive asked a few people that i know and they have no idea

and where can i get it in the uk?


thanks.

Richie

 

[DangerDavey]

Backer Rod is grey extruded foam tubing that is used for helping fill cracks between gaps in wood. It comes in various thicknesses from 1/4" up to 1 1/2". But 1", 3/4", and 1/2" are the best sizes for Pred dreds.
Check with companies that build log homes.

Here in the US, we have aloghome.com and doitbest.com as our retail source for backer rod. You can get it here on the Lair as well. I can't find the poster that offered it, though. The "search" function isn't working for me.

~DD

 

[Galaxy Hunter]

Backer Rod is grey extruded foam tubing that is used for helping fill cracks between gaps in wood. It comes in various thicknesses from 1/4" up to 1 1/2". But 1", 3/4", and 1/2" are the best sizes for Pred dreds.
Check with companies that build log homes.

Here in the US, we have aloghome.com and doitbest.com as our retail source for backer rod. You can get it here on the Lair as well. I can't find the poster that offered it, though. The "search" function isn't working for me.

~DD

ah ok
thanks
i'll just check in hardware stores over here