Need to increase form size 2"

Some use two part foam and rasp to shape. Personally I use earbase or wet potters clay to add swell to the neck. I never order swelled forms because it seems they are always larger than what the size is supposed to be that your ordering. For instance a 20" medium or light swell seems to fit a 20" B measurement hide. If I ordered a 20" full swell form that same hide the form would usually not fit right. So I order medim or light swell and build the swell on my own. It doesn't take long at all and customers always seem to like the end result.

 

Re: Need to increase form size 2"

Quartering is the way to go. You want to increase the size all the way around, not just in width. Use shrink wrap to build a dam for your foam.

 

buy the right size form and then alter to the pose you want,..

 

You could also just get the form and see what kind of fit you have with the hide. I needed a form for a deer that was 2 inches less than the hide measurement, when I got the form in I tried the hide on and it fit perfect, and yes I do know how to measure the hides for the correct form. Just giving you an idea that might save you some time, it always nice to have a little slack in the hides too as it makes "taxi'ing" and easier process.

 

With all the poses and sizes on the market today through all the various suppliers,,, I find it hard to believe that you can't find a 22" neck in the pose you want. But if altering is what you want to do. Do as Jared said,,, go with your first suggestion. Then add an additional back board with OSB or plywood.

 

ALWAYS test fit the cape on the form first- the forms are not always that accurate in their measurments. If the cape is only slightly to big then you can add clay, foam or paper mache to the form to build it up. If you need to quarter the form and refoam- cut 1/2 " spacers to put between the sections, screw together, wrap with plastic wrap or thin cardboard and pour the foam. To help with the foam running everywhere- dont pour it until it starts to expand- this will help with it running out all the little unsealed openings.

 

I prefer to just add mache to slightly increase a form's size. Clay is too soft and will not adhear to the foam well, while the Mache will harden in an hour or so and seems to stick to the foam much better. Just make sure to let it harden before you mount it up.

 

Jarad's got it right. b est way to go for WT especially, just too easy and best for the lesser experienced IMO. You glob a bunch of mache on the outside and it's alot harder to sand to shape. I do it but I save it for areas that don't lend themselves to quartering. Same goes for globbing foam to the outside; why cover all around and reshape completely when the reattached quarters will give you a template to shape in the foamed in areas? Easy peasy.