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Lyte-tech — Jack Frost Staff Tutorial
Published: 2013-01-09 07:52:03 +0000 UTC; Views: 55417; Favourites: 899; Downloads: 1603
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[[If you'd like to reblog this on Tumblr, you can do so here: lyte-tech.tumblr.com/post/4010… ]] 
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EDIT 2/19/14: Wow guys, even at this point I still can't believe how popular this tutorial is. I never even imagined haha. Anywho if you like this tutorial and have used it, you can show your support by liking me on Facebook! I'm fairly new there, so I'd appreicate any support I can get. Thanks!
You'll find updates on all my other prop work as well. I do not think I will ever make a full tutorial like this again, but I will be keeping detailed photo sets of my process. Currents projects include 3D maneuver gear and Amon's royal sword from Magi.
Also, I will be remaking this staff for Anime Boston 2014 I think, though I'm going to go with a pvc/ heat gun method this time around so I can make it portable. If you'd like to try this method, just form the staff as need be with the heat gun used for the curves, and follow the rest of the steps! Simple as that. Plaster sticks and dries nicely on anything which makes it awesome. <3
EDIT AGAIN 4/17/13: OMG. How is this still this popular? I'm astounded. xD Anyways, making it portable didnt work. Plus, I realized within the last month that I made the hook waaay to big. Really wish i cut the pieces shorter...Anyways. If I remake it in a method I like better, I'll seriously be considering selling this one. So keep your eyes peeled.
EDIT1/28/13: When I go home. I think I'm going to try to find a way to make this portable. I love it as is, but. It's just not good for travel. :/ I have an idea. Just hope it works.
Okay, so this is my first tutorial I've ever made so I apologize if its not very good. 
Just a warning with my version of the staff/shepard's hook though, it does have some weight to it since it is solid wood. (Honestly though, it feels really solid. It's not breaking anytime soon.)It seems that a lot of people have gone with pvc piping for theirs; but I felt like I wasn't going to be able to do what I needed to do with that. :/
Working with wood, plaster strips, and gorilla tape to make the actual structure was just my initial idea, so I went with that; and I am very happy I did. Came out just as I imagined it would, which is just such an awesome feeling.
Only problem is that its about 6ft tall due to my 5'10" height, FFFFF. Travel WILL be difficult. @__@
-PLEASE credit me. That should be pretty straightforward. :/
-Fave the tutorial.
-And last but not least, please share your finished creations with me! I'd love to see!
Well, that's it. I hope this helps people. 
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My Jack photos here: lyte-tech.deviantart.com/galle…
Follow me on Tumblr!
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Tutorial and cosplayer: myself
Rise of the Guardians © Dreamworks
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Comments: 288
Great, thank you so much.
What program did you use to make your tutorial?
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I work with Adobe Photoshop CS5. 
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I've used this tutorial most when making my Nightmare!Jack staff. I used PVC to follow my con's regulations, and used paper mache and gauze instead. It came out really sturdy and super cool! Thank you for posting this, this one was the most helpful out of a lot out there!
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Your welcome!! I'm so glad it helped you!
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What were your measurements for the crook part of the staff? I know you said that the crook itself was too big so what would you recommend? I'm currently working on mine, although I'm using pvc pipe. I've got the angles down, I just need length measurements for each piece. Btw, your tutorial has helped loads, and it's amazing!
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My longest Id say was probably like a foot? Don't quote me on that though. My best advice is just to eye-ball it. I spent a good while putting various pieces together until I got what I wanted. Unfortunately, I just didnt realize that I actually didnt like how big it was it until it was too late. ^^'
And no problem. I'm glad it's helped!
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Not following the tutorial exactly, we found some PVC piping to form the structure of the staff and we're dong the plaster a bit differently, but I couldn't have gotten the ideas without you! Thanks, and I'll let you know when I'm done!
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Awesome. Glad it could give you some help! ^^
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I used your tutorial and my staff has come out AMAZING so far! Right now I just finished wrapping the plaster strips and waiting for it to try... painting it tomorrow. c:
When it's all done, I'm definitely showing you photographs! And I'll credit of course. <3
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That's fantastic! I'm happy it helped you! Can't wait to see!
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Thanks! Yeah, plaster can do wonders.
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where did you get them? Are they just bandages?
Also, I'm going to be using a cardboard to make the actual staff. do you think it would work with the strips just as well?
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Truthfully, they're from my art building. ^^' They are plaster strips that are normally used for casts. But you can easily by them online or from a medical store. (though i don't suggest the latter for the high price haha)
Reinforce the cardboard first. I would suggest a layer of resin on the outside and spray foam on the inside. This will make it strong and durable. The resin will also prevent the water from the wet strips from causing damage when they are applied.
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Does the plaster flake off and break?
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Nope. Not as long as you don't soak the thing in a pool. ^^' Between the paint and the clear coat, you should be golden. Plaster is awesome stuff.
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Thanks! I hope a gloss clear coat will still make it look like wood.
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Flat is preferable. But if all you have is gloss, think of it as just an icy coating.
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Yay, I'm so glad I found this in my favourites again I can actually use it this winter thank you so much for making this <3
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lol, that's always a good feeling. No prob! have fun!
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The dowel rods I got are SKINNY... also shorter than I thought they'd be.. however I want this to work.. I think I want to put three together and bind them... unsure how this will turn out... -bites lip-
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Hmmm, er. Good luck!!. Like I said. For the main, I used a dowel normally used for coat hangers in closets so I found it in another section at Lowes.
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I absolutely love this tutorial! Thank you so much! Approximately mow many plaster rolls are needed?
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Welcome!! I think I wrote it down somewhere, but I think it ended up being almost 2?
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Thank you! I'm making an Elf Druid for Naka 2014 and couldn't find a tutorial for a staff ANYWHERE... you're a lifesaver!!!
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Your welcome!! Happy to help!
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Always wanted to know how that texture was done! I've seen the masking tape sort, but I think I like the plaster strips better!
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thank you. yes! I just love working with plaster. you can do so much with it and it adds integrity to things too.
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So, I'm doing a Fem!Jack Frost cosplay and I just love how you did your shepherds hook
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Eh, I just eyed it really.
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Okay, thanks
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No problem. ^^ Thanks a bunch. i wish you luck!
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This wonderful! I've been researching Jack's staff like crazy to make one and this is really helpful! I only have one question: how heavy did this turn out to be?
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Thank you! The weight isn't that bad actually. Its obviously not as light as drift wood like how it seems jacks staff is supposed to be, but it feels good in your hands and doesn't feel cumbersome.
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Hm, do you think bamboo would work for this as a base? I found some nice long bamboo poles at a dollar store and was considering using a couple of those, but I'm not sure how well they'd work.
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Maybe get a few and bind them together? Make it nice and strong then add plaster strips.
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I want to make one but the problem I have is how am I going to travel with such a big staff ._.
So I wonder what this Idea of a portable staff is, If you could share c:
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Well, I was going to try and drill holes into it and put coupling nuts and double ended screws into the two sides, but the equipment I have was just making it to hard to drill so I gave up on that plan. I was too afraid of splitting the wood. I suggest for portability go for a pvc pipe base or cardboard tube base so it can be separated up. The PVC pipe method will just require a little ingenuity to melt the pieces into the correct curve. And the cardboard method would require a spray expanding foam inside of it to give it a little more durability. As well as a coat of something on the outside to make it waterproof before adding plaster.
Hope this helps. If not....well I've managed to fit my monster of a staff in a jeep liberty with not much problem and those things are kinda small, haha. Good luck.
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ok, I was thinking something like that too but I'm afraid of splitting the wood too cx
Well then it shouldn't be a problem! c:
Another question, how much did the brown spraycan contain? I'm afraid that if I buy one it won't last for the whole staff
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Trust me, there's plenty. My $1 paint was still half full i think. xD
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Wow you found one for 1$ ?! Here in Sweden the cheapest one costs like 14,45$ and it only contains like 300ml,and I gotta save some money and I don't wanna end up buying two D:
Does the spraycan say how many "ml" it contains?
I'm so sorry if I'm bothering you, just want everything to go right D': <3
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WHAT, really? That's nuts. I just went to Walmart, haha. Cheapest brand they got. I mean, they're pretty much all the same. I've never seen spray paint in different sizes. I used this brand. [link] Says it was 10oz, so almost 300mL. But like I said. used like half I guess?
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I wish we had walmart here, everything seems to be so cheap and they got like everything!
Ok, well then it won't be a problem
Thank you so much for answering all my questions, really appreciated! <3
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haha, yeah. it can be convenient. What's even more convenient though? Dollar Tree~~~ where everything's just a dollar
Hey, not a problem. You're very welcome. ^^ Happy to help.
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just a quick question with the plaster strips, when they dried, did the plaster become fragile? like was there any chance of the plaster chipping or breaking?
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