How to Make Foam Shoulder & Gauntlet Armor, Tutorial.

[@MaddieMadderson]

Thanks so much for these videos! It sounds corny but you have no idea how the info you give impacts my life. I am a recent amputee of the left leg below the knee. When i got my prostheitic i knew i wanted to get a cover for it because from the knee down there is no leg shape but thd 3d printed ones are very expensive. I then got the idea for foam but had no idea where to start but your videos have pointed me in the right direction, this isn't just a cos play/halloween thing for me its a journey ill be on every day the rest of my life thank you for making me capable of making a crappy situation beautiful, unique, and giving me the ability to express myself through my prosthetic.

[@EvilTedSmith]

GT Tree Trunkz Please check your messages because I wrote you there.

[@PetrifiedLilies]

I'm helping my dad make a Jonathan Jostar cosplay and the shoulder pads is really helpful thank you

[@EvilTedSmith]

Thank you for your support.

[@justsomecheeseballs3621]

@@EvilTedSmith i like your content its pretty cool

[@vernontaylor6560]

Bro that sounds like an awesome father son project

[@buddy3490]

Hey, I’m making that cosplay rn actually :D

[@kitnap4264]

thank you for such an easy to understand video! I love the fact that you actually explain why you use the tools and techniques rather than just assuming the audience knows them 😃

[@EvilTedSmith]

Thank you for subscribing.

[@echo3347]

Your tip about shaving the 1/4 inch off of the gauntlet pattern was gold. Thanks so much for making these. I've been referring back to them often in my latest costume.

[@ajkarnowski]

This is so cool. I've seen some of the movies that you've worked on, and now you're showing me how I too can make cool props. Now, if anyone asks how I learned how to make something, I can say, "Oh the guy who worked on 5th Element told me how to do it."

[@EvilTedSmith]

+Adam Karnowski Ha ha, thanks.

[@PeaBraine]

Evil Ted Smith I am so grateful for your work! I am in a dire need. What is the tub/bin/brush-canister tank you use for applying your choice of adhesive? I have been shooting in the dark at names. I've been googling random names I've guessed it being called. But I haven't been able to get the name of one. I so desperately want one. What is it called?

[@seanbrown4957]

PeaBraine it's called a glue pot

[@gabriellefloyd4689]

I don't know how people can dislike this. I just stumbled on your video while i was looking for ideas for the cosplay I'm starting, and I'm glad i found your channel! I found this SOOOOOOO informative!!! You even put so many links in the description! Super useful!! Thanks a bunch!!

[@EvilTedSmith]

Thank you a bunch for subscribing.

[@jhix1816]

Thanks man! First atempt at this. Wasted alot of foam and my wifes time trying to hold paper and make marks around my shoulder. Laying down and tracing around was so easy!

[@EvilTedSmith]

Yes you are!

[@jlucsol1947]

The measurements were a brilliant idea, thank you for this as i'm remaking a gauntlet-like glove myself.

[@EvilTedSmith]

Thank you for subscribing.

[@NashOfAllTrades]

Hey Ted, you rock! I've been living on and island for 2 years, watching your stuff, and drooling. Now that I'm back stateside, I'm putting together a shopping list, that will be mostly purchased through your links. Thanks so much for the guidance and inspiration!

[@sabrepinkt]

This was great I used both and adapted for two costumes I made.

[@EvilTedSmith]

Nice!

[@Puertorico2494]

man you have my dream job. I've been making foam armor for about 5 years now and it is just so mich fun making them whether they are for myself or someone else. Thank you for all the tutorials!

[@EvilTedSmith]

Thank you for subscribing.

[@theartmachine486]

Usually I just guess when I do things like this but you made me reallllllllllly rethink that. Brilliant work man!

[@EvilTedSmith]

+The Art Machine Thank you, and thanks for subscribing.

[@brewsaughmighty7024]

This is perfection! So clear, concise and exactly what I was looking for!

[@EvilTedSmith]

Thank you for your support and for subscribing.

[@corrupt_vault]

Thank you so much! This will help me a lot with my Princess Zelda cosplay! You have earned yourself another subscriber!

[@EvilTedSmith]

Thank you!

[@leonderprofie123]

Where do you buy your foam? I know it's just called "eva foam", but yours looks more shiny and smoother than the one I bought online. Any specific name?

[@EvilTedSmith]

Everything I use in this video is listed below.

[@aymansalah1966]

@@EvilTedSmith can you make a tutorial on how to do a foam mask cuz i wanna make carnage body and mask for halloween

[@markalfery5830]

@@EvilTedSmith where do you buy this foam? I see nothing listed anyplace.

[@RoxannaJackson]

Thank you so much for making all of these armor tutorials. I love how informative and detailed they are. I can't wait to try out these techniques!

[@EvilTedSmith]

Roxanna Jackson Thank you, and be sure to tell your friends.

[@GreekGadgetGuru]

Very well documented! Subscribed!

[@EvilTedSmith]

Thank you.

[@macernotis]

Since you mentioned it, I'd love to see you making a glove. I allways wondered how that works.

[@mrsusan6364]

I found your channel and fell in love with this style of art.... Because of you I am now getting into foam armour creation and my first project is making the Armour of the kurgen.. from highlander... Thankyou so much for inspiring me Ted Mr Susan.

[@EvilTedSmith]

Thank you for subscribing.

[@jacksonmather3305]

You have like everything I need in the description. I thought I’d have to go look for it myself 😂. Thank you, you’re a true inspiration💚

[@EvilTedSmith]

Thank you for subscribing.

[@tycho042]

Glad to see new content! Perhaps you could do a video or series of them making full arm armor( shoulder to hand) that robotic arm you have in your intro looked great

[@wherokee178]

Thank you for this video! I'm currently making my first armored cosplay (FemShep from Mass Effect) and while the rest of the armor has been fine, my shoulder armor was atrocious. This helped immensely!

[@EvilTedSmith]

RemyRems Glad to hear it. Send pix!

[@gamestep2949]

+Evil Ted Smith I found a good method tha works well ,i used a Hairdryer (dont click off yet) to heat up a brass sphere doorknob(because metal kept the heat) and pressed my floormat foam against the doorknob to bend it ,the foam kept its shape exelently. The hair dryer had a cold warm and hot setting (of course set it to hot) and set it to high ad it works well

[@marcelopetrone3669]

Thank you,Evil Ted! I've been using yours and Punished Props channels to for the great tips and tutorials. Its been invaluable information and it gave me the courage to work on my own Destiny armor. By the way, I was able to find a lot of the materials at Harbor Freight for dirt cheap. They have foam for 7 bucks for a pack of 4 and heat guns for 15 dollars, not to mention you get free stuff with their coupons.Anyway, thanks again!

[@EvilTedSmith]

Thanks for the Harbor Freight tip, and thanks for all the kind words!

[@UnstoppableForceProductions]

this channel is saving my life

[@EvilTedSmith]

Good! Please keep living and making cool stuff.

[@Korncake]

I really like how much description you put in your videos. I see a lot of people skipping things that they assume we already know and then it's a guessing game Keep up the good work! I'm trying to make shoulder for Garen from League of Legends

[@EvilTedSmith]

+Korncake Thank you, and thank you for subscribing. Good luck, you can do it.

[@Diver_Toxic]

This video was great thank you! I've never made armour before but planning to make something simple for a superhero Disney crossover. This really helped me a lot

[@destrocrimson]

Im glad you have a tool list. I have tried other youtubers to link their tools. I will for sure buy off your lists.

[@EvilTedSmith]

+destrocrimson Thank you.

[@5oundOfVictory]

I'm doing a bloodborne cosplay, and I'm gonna make the hunter gloves, which I can get the glove part, but the gauntlet is partial, so I'm thinking mold a piece of foam on just one side of my forearm, the use nylon straps to secure it, and hide the place where I glue them on with a secondary piece that goes on the gauntlet, my main grope is gonna be the design patterns on it, since it is pretty intricate.

[@consciusmachina]

AWESOME!! the shoulder piece made me think of GUYVER!!

[@JnAStudios]

Learning so much from your tutorials (thanks so much). I'm guessing it might be in the queue for tutorials to make but I'd love to see something like the cybernetic glove with claws in the 3rd set of pictures in your intro.

[@DavidM-um2uk]

That foam ruler is F'in brilliant

[@EvilTedSmith]

Learn that trick from Will Armory.

[@omu6740]

this was one of the first cosplay tutorials i watched when i was starting and i still find myself coming back each time i start a new armor project,, thank you!

[@EvilTedSmith]

Thank you for watching & subscribing.

[@kaileymiller4212]

A foam glove. I would love to see that! Thanks.

[@jofutofu8968]

Thanks for a this tutorial I learned a lot, right now I'm making a light armor, consisting of Plate Armor Shoulder Pad, a Gauntlet and Knee pads

[@EvilTedSmith]

+Geoffrey Ace Sese Glad to hear it. Thank you for watching.

[@hyperguyver2]

@Evil Ted Smith you are the man! You gave me the exact information I needed to make accurate and fitted shoulders on my Guyver armor!

[@EvilTedSmith]

+hyperguyver2 Glad to hear it. Thank you for subscribing.

[@magicat369]

Your work is amazing!!! I was wondering, if I'm walking around a festival all day, being that the item is held together with a lot of glue, will it hold for 12 hours, and hold tightly? Thank you so much for all the inspiration

[@bellamylovessomeone8261]

I'm watching this video yet again. I find this extremely useful to me, more than before. I'm about to take on cosplaying Program Soraka from League of Legends and she has a whole ton of armor. I've never really made armor except for a riven shoulder guard and shin guard. Thank you for all of your videos.

[@EvilTedSmith]

Thank you for subscribing.

[@Razzy-sr4oq]

After fruitless searching in many craft and professional art stores and finding no flexible ruler, I found an alternative. In lieu of buying or even making one (there's a KZbin video for doing just that I'm here actually) just slice off a narrow, long strip of foam from a sheet, most likely from scrap. Then use that to trace your curve. It's very easy to manipulate and can be tacked down with masking rape without any damage and for very tight, complex curves.

[@JamesPlaysGames95]

great tutorital on the shoulder peices. i hope my Doomguy cosplay will be good this year for dublin comic con

[@EvilTedSmith]

Hello Dublin. Thank you for subscribing.

[@JoeChristian02]

+Evil Ted Smith hey Ted! You misspelled Gauntlet in the title!

[@Acelious13]

Love your videos man, they've helped a first time cosplayer like me a LOT! I know you've done a helmet tutorial, but a mask tutorial would be awesome!

[@atomikpunk5585]

I was just reading some of the comments below...You guys (not all) are seriously arguing about what they're called?? Who the hell cares?? Jeez! This guy is kind enough to take time to teach this stuff and you argue about what they are called. You know what hes talking about, so leave it at that.

[@EvilTedSmith]

Ha ha thank you Atomik

[@capri_aj]

New to prop making and armour and this was very beginner friendly. Thank you!!

[@EvilTedSmith]

Glad it was helpful!

[@markdaggett]

i was looking for exactly this tutorial. I have watched all of your other videos already. You are the first channel i've ever subscribed to also!

[@EvilTedSmith]

Thank you for the sub!

[@AlexDuos]

You literally just sold me on Barge cement. Holy crap that was instant and awesome.

[@bobbysimpson5540]

Thank you so much for Posting these videos. I am doing my first cosplay and would be so intimidated without your videos. I am off to try and have some Fun. Much Appreciation.

[@EvilTedSmith]

Thank you for subscribing.

[@MultiAlphamega]

Why am I just now seeing this? This would have helped out so much two years ago when I started making armor lol. Great video probably gonna binge a bunch of yours now

[@kqtiekelly]

so much help! visual learner, so seeing it done and comparing to what I have been told is awesome. thank you so much for doing all this!

[@EvilTedSmith]

+digimonktbug Thank you for subscribing.

[@MaddieMadderson]

This is going to sound really weird but is there a video out there of a normal basic leg form sculpting video? I recently lost my left leg below the knee, i opted not to have the "skin" colored covered foam put on it as it doesnt match my skin and is a pain to put on and take off. I made a temp one out of a pool noodle to give my prosthetic leg shape so i could wear jeans, leggings, and socks, there are fairings out there but they are 300-1,000 dollars and id like something i could decorate and sculpt myself and not have to worry about destroying it.

[@becsap9151]

You might consider casting your other leg to create a sillicone replica. The sillicone will be much more durable than foam.

[@dramspringfeald]

A Gauntlet is the "Glove" the "Forearm only" piece is a Bracer. It's basically the same as A Boot and a Shin Guard

[@MaximilienRobespierre1]

Fantastic video. If I wanted to make the forearm armor in a more square shape how would I go about doing it?

[@EvilTedSmith]

Make separate parts and glue them together.

[@MaximilienRobespierre1]

Evil Ted Smith Thanks Ted

[@Soldier0fWinter]

Exactly what I needed for my Auron cosplay. Thanks!

[@EvilTedSmith]

Thank you for subscribing.

[@Schema1987]

This video was really helpful. I followed the exact instructions, then threw the pauldron away and used this video as an example of what not to do

[@MegaPB4Life]

There aren't really any good tutorials for shoulder armor out there, this one is complete gold. Tracing your shoulder when lying down and making a template off of that? GENIUS!

[@EvilTedSmith]

Thank you for subscribing.

[@goldenjoker600]

I’m working on a Final fantasy Cloud cosplay and this helped loads. Thanks mate

[@EvilTedSmith]

Glad I could help!

[@NSUBandzmen]

Thank you for the tutorial. This will make my life so much easier. Assuming shin guards are basically made with the same concept as Guantlets in mind. Attempting my first real cosplay and I want to make it the best I can, but couldn't find any videos on how to do this stuff while explaining the steps. (Just hoping the heat guns and foam aren't to expensive.) Already have my handy dandy exactoknife . :)

[@echo3347]

+Ryan Bourgeois If you have a Harbor Freight store around they have the cheapest foam (both squares and mats). You can order them online as well but have to pay shipping. Occasionally they have good sales on them.

[@TheSagitarius08]

Amazing,please,Ted, can you include some template for the shoulders...I really need it,thanks for the tutorial.

[@jjnewton33able]

These videos are great and helping me so much with my son's costume. Are you going to be making any videos, or do you have any thoughts or suggestions for making foam look like leather. Or a video about putting straps on the costume? I am trying to make LARP armors for my kids. Again thank you for the videos they are helping a lot.

[@okay_olha]

just ordered that magic round ruler! thanks so much for your tips and for the round ruler discovery!

[@EvilTedSmith]

Than you for subscribing.

[@darkcry9327]

You are a genius! congratulations ted!

[@EvilTedSmith]

DarkCry Thank you, and thank you for subscribing.

[@squeeh]

You inspire me!!! I am currently making a set of armor from mass effect 3's front cover commander shepard in N7 armor, after watching your videos over and over. I can't wait to show you when its done :D

[@EvilTedSmith]

Invader Core Glad to be of help. Thank you for watching.

[@dragonprism5328]

I love your channel very informative and easy to follow. But to help with the armour naming and truly I only really know this due to mis spent youth on world of Warcraft, but the wrist item is called a bracer, a gauntlet is a metal glove as in to throw down the gauntlet. In olden days of knights they’d throw down their gauntlet to an enemies feet. To challenge towards a duel.

[@EvilTedSmith]

Noted!

[@ophelia16mc]

PLEASE GUYS STOP ASKING WHERE YOU CAN BUY WHAT. HE HAS A LIST IN THE DESCRIPTION.

[@EvilTedSmith]

Thanks for trying.

[@incubride]

I'm currently working on a Faun cosplay, and this is super helpful for my armor! Keep up the great work c:

[@EvilTedSmith]

Thank you for subscribing.

[@jonnylasich1776]

Great tutorial! Thank you! I do have two questions for you: first, I can't find barge cement at any of the hardware stores around me, is there another glue you would recommend? Second, does regular sand paper work to sand the edges? Thanks!

[@aaronpaige4176]

if you are comfortable with it you could also use a propane torch to heat and mold your foam. :) do you have a video for an actual gauntlet or just the bracer you made?

[@bgonz]

Wow! I'm excited to try this method! Thanks for all the resources--very instructional!

[@EvilTedSmith]

Thank you for subscribing.

[@Ryu62Alpha]

Awesome!!! this was really informative!!! Loving these videos!!! Sorry to be that guy, and its me being a little OCD but that forearm piece is called a bracer. Gauntlet is only a metal glove, because because knights and other other armoured individuals have both as a single piece, it is usually referred to as the latter only.

[@EvilTedSmith]

Minh P Thank you.

[@MrMark352]

Thank you much! I’m doing my first ever work with foam. And well I started last min. Do I need to plasti dip the underside too? I have did my coats for the front.

[@EvilTedSmith]

Just use it on the outside on the parts that are going to show. No need to do the underside.

[@spiderdan2149]

Very useful..now Im more excited to start my nightwing foam armour

[@glaceonletsitgo8704]

Wow this was so cool!! You're so good at explaining things in an accessible way. I will be using these tips to make my Aura costume from Flash Gordon!! Much love xoxo

[@EvilTedSmith]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Rasproc]

Sir! I love your videos. Please keep it up. I am hoping you cover sealing and painting foam.

[@ShoujuZombie15]

Hey Ted, would you consider doing a video that does include hand armour? Kind of like Medieval Knight gloves type thing?. Thanks!

[@grimsonsouls855]

This helps so much for my Aida cosplay!

[@EvilTedSmith]

Glad to be able to help.

[@greengekko-ps3hr]

Hi could you tell me how I can make foam look like it’s made of metal is there any types of spray paint that will do this.many thanks Ted YOU are the BEST x

[@EvilTedSmith]

There are lots of good acrylic sliver paint that you can use to make foam look like metal. There is a company Montana Black that makes acrylic spray paint.

[@antharel8459]

¡Impresionante! estoy preparando mi Cosplay para la Cómicon en Argentina gracias a tus videos.

[@EvilTedSmith]

+Esteban Molina Thank you.

[@Spoofniverse]

Saw you on instagram thought id check you out i nust say your videos are so indepth! Love your work!!

[@Gwolfsoun]

Really enjoyed the vid. Would you suggest doing any detailing, ie raising sections or cutting in details before heat forming it and glueing? Hoping to make a bracer like this myself soon.

[@EvilTedSmith]

Glue it together first, add detail then heat seal it.

[@Gwolfsoun]

Evil Ted Smith Appreciate the reply! Your channel has been a great help with improving my foam crafting skills. :-)

[@AngeltashaUK]

Yes you can heat foam with a hairdryer, I think the thicker the foam the more heat you need so I guess depending on the thickness of your foam really depends on whether you can heat foam with a. Hairdryer, as you are using thicker foam its best to use a heat gun, but if its craft for!m which is thinner, you can use a hairdryer!!

[@EvilTedSmith]

tatulover01 Yes, I agree, but in all my videos I'm using EVA floor mat foam. That you'll need a heat gun.

[@dariipalacios6320]

Great tutorial, Tanks for making me inprove my Cosmaker skills every day.

[@EvilTedSmith]

Ernesto Palacios Thank you for watching and subscribing.

[@taylor_eqq]

Thank you so much for this tutorial! I’m currently working on an armoured Teen Titans Raven! So that’s for the help

[@EvilTedSmith]

Thank you for subscribing.

[@morbiusthecat7274]

would you do a video for elbow and bicep pieces?

[@kaig9895]

Circular pieces with detail and Velcro/ buckle if u can't slide it on ur arm

[@vii4971]

I think it really depends on the type of foam you're using. I've made an arm guard out of craft foam (the really thin stuff) and used a hairdryer.

[@BruceKenobi]

Hi Ted! Awesome video!! I subscribed and keep watching all the ones you make. I tried the tutorial, the pattern, the registration marks, the heat gun, everything, but maybe something you can make a video of is how to cut that darn foam! I'm going with 10 mm thick black EVA, and it's a pain to cut, is there a special technique? or is it more "practice makes master"-kind of thing? Keep up the great videos!

[@mirkodicarlo6246]

Fantastic you are an incredible artist ! One question ....which is the name of the black material?

[@EvilTedSmith]

Not sure what your asking?

[@ezracrum7781]

How do you attach the shoulder pads to your shoulder like what’s the strapping you use

[@EvilTedSmith]

I would use one inch webbing for strapping. amzn.to/4crcxWq

[@dannygrant1385]

That video helped out a lot, will you be doing any video's about the glove/finger parts of the gauntlet

[@Canvis1984]

if you just need the shoulder pads, what can you use to keep it on your shoulder? the only thing i can think of is a strap around the arm pit but i think it needs a second strap around something for stability

[@EvilTedSmith]

When making armor, I attach the shoulder to the body amour with a strap.

[@techsavvyhero]

Also, I noticed later in the video you said you did 2 thin coats of Barge on the foam surface. Did you wait til the first dried then applied the 2nd layer?

[@EvilTedSmith]

Yes, let dry before add more.

[@AmzAveGameAnt]

Really enjoying how informative your videos are. I've built costumes in the past, but have learned new and improved methods from watching your videos. Thank you! Previously I've used hot glue, but notice you and many others suggest using Barge for stronger and longer bonds. I can't seem to find the product you feature in your videos, only the newer blue "tf free" tins. Do you know if this would work just as well for bonding EVA foam together for armor crafting?

[@EvilTedSmith]

***** I'm not sure? I haven't used it before.

[@PurpleNinja-ni7ky]

Thanks! I'm working on a marvel taskmaster cosplay for comic con!

[@EvilTedSmith]

Thank you for subscribing, good luck with the build!

[@benwyness2530]

I’m making an aquaman cosplay and this is exactly what I have been looking for

[@EvilTedSmith]

Glad that it helped.

[@benwyness2530]

What material would I make a quindent out of Evil Ted Smith

[@EvilTedSmith]

Foam...

[@kliner451]

Fantastic video. I'm just getting into this stuff, and I really like the presentation style

[@EvilTedSmith]

Thank you for subscribing.

[@danoelrich5540]

Could call it a Bracer. I think that is the right word. Love your videos man .

[@EvilTedSmith]

Cool, thanks

[@MicheleMademoiselle]

How would you go about doing layered shoulder armour? I'm just getting into making costumes and I've watched all your videos at least 3 times because I learn something new each time! I'm looking to do Astrid from how to train your dragon 2.

[@andybogart2503]

Hey Ted - love your videos! Another name for that flexible ruler is a "draftsman's spline". You're an awesome artist, and I really appreciate you teaching us these skills :)

[@EvilTedSmith]

+Andy Bogart Thank you for the info.

[@cutecreeper33]

If I want the braver to be laced up, now many inches from my measurements should I subtract?

[@DracoFettX23]

so if you wanted to make greaves, would you just do the same thing to your legs, measure around the ankles and high calves, and then measure your knee and such???

[@EvilTedSmith]

DracoFettX23 Yes!

[@morbiusthecat7274]

great video! I would like to see a video on full arm armor. is that in the works?

[@EvilTedSmith]

I have patterns of full arm armor in my shop at eviltedsmith.com

[@mattkelly3669]

Hey I'm new to costuming and cosplay. I'm currently working on a stormtrooper build out of paper with a friend of mine, but I was wondering for future projects, what kind of foam do you use?