Inflatables

Has anyone had experience with creating custom-shaped inflatables? Like airbeds that you blow up with a pump, but in different shapes?

I’m considering this for a costume that needs a lot of volume, but which I’d like to keep light and also to be able to deflate and pack down small. A flat airbed shape isn’t going to work, I need something more spherical, but I guess the rubber sheeting and pump dock from an airbed could be re-used, if I could change the shape of the rubber.

I guess the key thing would be airtightness, although it wouldn’t matter if it leaked slowly, as it would only need to stay inflated for a few hours.

Anyone got a double airbed they don’t want? :wink:

Wouldn’t airbed be too heavy a weight of vinyl? Kids’ toys and blow up paddling pools are a lighter grade vinyl and may be more spherical for you to start with…

Tanya

Found this a while ago :slight_smile:

seansaidplay.blogspot.com/2007/0 … alrus.html

You really really can find anything on the internet.

[quote=“mr_westie”]Found this a while ago :slight_smile:

seansaidplay.blogspot.com/2007/0 … alrus.html[/quote]
This is exactly what my life is missing.

[quote=“mr_westie”]Found this a while ago :slight_smile:

seansaidplay.blogspot.com/2007/0 … alrus.html[/quote]
Why do I not have one of these?

I’d rather have a giant inflatable iguana… but that’s just a personal preference.

ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=inf … en+costume

These are WONDERFUL.

ebay.com/itm/Blow-Up-Inflata … 893wt_1039

He looks so happy!

[quote=“mr_westie”]Found this a while ago :slight_smile:

seansaidplay.blogspot.com/2007/0 … alrus.html[/quote]

Cool! So, some thick painter’s tarp, some packaging tape, and it’s go? I guess I need some way to inflate it and seal it shut too, as you wouldn’t use a fan. The ideal inflation thingie would be one that will take allow you to use of those hand pumps, I suppose.

I wonder how durable it would be against foam weapons. :wink:

The painters tarp they used was very thin and wouldn’t take much abuse.