Diy boon

[retired]

The essence of a boon is a small disk with a small writing implement sticking out of it. This is temporarily attached to the tip of the magis thumb. (usually)

A very easy way to obtain the essentials of such a device is to obtain a TEA LIGHT candle and tip out the candle from its metal container. At the bottom of the candle is a mount for the wick. It is, un-modified, an almost perfect boon mount for a lead pencil type boon.

However it can be much improved by obtaining an upholstery thumbtack shaped nail and removing the nail part with a pair of pliers and then using epoxy resin glue to attach the tea light wick holder to the convex side of the upholstery tack. Then glue in a lead such as 2B into the wick mount. You should use a lead that is much softer than the pencil you will apparently be using to write your prediction, as you will not be able to press as hard with the boon writer as you will with the pencil. This results in a better match. The thumbtack concave surface is perfect for your adhesive. I like to use small balls of the adhesive you find on the cover of magazines giving away items such as DVDs that are attached to the cover. ( for lots of ideas on how to perform boon or nailwriter effects read Corinda or have a look at some of the effects of Richard Osterlind.)

[Misjief]

Dude!

I just made a bunch of thumb tips with the intention of making one of them a writer. I hadn't put a lot of time into how I was going to mount the lead but knew it was going to be a challenge. Thanks! Your method should work perfectly!

How do you mount this to your thumb or finger tip? Do you simply use magician's wax?

-misj-

[retired]

As I said above, I use the adhesive used to attach DVDs to magazine covers. It is extremely sticky but can be used over and over again.

[Misjief]

Oh -

I thought that was how you mounted the lead - didn't realize that was how you attached it to your hand.

Very resourceful!

I will look into what they use to booger up cd's and figure out if we can buy it!

-misj-

[retired]

I use an epoxy resin to glue the lead in. This helps to strengthen the boon as well.

By the way, a good mount for a lead in a thumbtip is the rivet section of a pop rivet. Just remove the nail section. Then drill an 1/8 th inch hole in a vernet TT and glue the rivet in place. Then file down the protruding cylinder to a satisfactory height. I personally would glue the lead in place. However if you want to be able to have a friction fit so that the lead is easily replaceable, you will need to obtain a jewlers saw blade to cut a couple of slots in the rivit to allow it to be sqeezed by a pair of pliers. Do this gently or you will crush the lead.

Also I suggest that you locate the lead in line with the ball of your thumb and not above it. I have found this gives greater control and enhances the quality of my writing.

[Misjief]

Thanks -

you have been a hell of a resource in a hurry!

This is my third or fourth go at making thumb tips and I think I finally got the hang of it. So far they are turning out really nice.

Between the two of us we should have a pretty sweet tutorial going! Nice!

Here is a quick summery of the process to make a custom thumb tip...

Step One.

Cover your thumb or finger in Vaseline, then take a paper bag torn into strips and wrap it around your appendage at an angle and glue it in place. Do about three layers, alternating directions. You will have to use squares at the tip. Use thinner strips at the tip and wider ones at the base. Do an extra layer or two at the mouth of the tip. Then work the tip off your finger and put some glue inside the tip and push a small "crushed' square into it to help strengthen it further, as the tip is usually the weakest, (followed by the mouth). I usually do this two or three times. Smooth some glue into the inside and make sure you like the shape, especially at the tip - You may have to push it out with a toothpick or like, then allow it to dry for a day.

Step Two

Thinly 'frost' the entire outside with wallboard joint compound. A little will go a long ways. I will usually do a real sloppy cover and let it sit for a short while then go smooth it out, as it is easier if it has set up a bit. The trick here is to make a nice even coat, you will probably end up with 'ridges' - don't worry about it at this step, as you sand it later. Again, let it dry of a day.

You maybe able to skip this step - the created tips will be cruder as the mud makes them very smooth and durable, but most MASTERS tell me it doesn't really matter if you are good at it. If you skip it, put in a couple extra layers of paper bag followed by tissue to smooth it out then paint it. This is how I first did them.

Step Three

Sand the outside down so that it is nice and smooth and ready to paint. I paint them with a flesh colored latex paint. For most people this maybe enough to call it done. Just depends on how detailed you wish to get.

I probably go overboard. Before I paint them I run a ring of glue around the edge of the mouth and dip it in iron ferrite to make them magnet friendly. Most people probably don't have a easy source for it - though you can often just run a strong magnet through the dirt and come up with it. I also cut a finger nail out of three layers of masking tape. Having done that I will go ahead and paint them. Let it dry for a day.

Step Four

Because... 1) I didn't like the feel of the latex (it got dirty fast and wouldn't come clean) 2) to help secure the silly finger nail and 3) to make it cosmetically look more realistic... I will put down a final layer of white tissue that is made transparent with Vaseline and glued in place with white glue with a cheap blush make up blended into it. Just put down the glue, smooth the paper on to it and then rub it down with Vaseline. If you don't use the Vaseline the paper will stick to your fingers more then your project and make a mess of things. With it, it actually blends better and becomes transparent, allowing the under-layers to show through. Looks much better. The make up causes subtle tints such as real skin would have. Before I actually put on the skin I will roll thin strips up to make knuckle wrinkles then cover them with the skin. I will smooth on a final layer of white glue, let that dry and then apply a sealant. Like I said it is probably over kill, but a nice touch.

***

The result is a very light, very durable thumb tip customized to me. I prefer these to anything I have seen at the store. Note: Most of the stores only carry the cheapies - so I can't compare it to a really expensive one but I think the only big difference they may have is that they are softer - not sure if that is a real advantage or not.

I made one that I call a THINGER because it is as wide as my thumb and as long as my finger ( I just ran it beyond the first knuckle into the second). If you look at it from the tip on you can't really tell... If you get a side view of it on your thumb the gig is up ... However it you slip it on a pinkie and you get the opposite in that you can hide the side view and get it to blend in very easily but if you get a glance at it from the tip on it will be exposed because of the width. Kind of funny! I have never seen one like it before and am experimenting. It should hold a fair load, almost twice the normal TT. LOL

I made two using my pinkie as a mold. I think the THINGER is going to work better then those, but I will have to play with all of them and get back to you on it.

I am going to make one into a boon as you suggested - another into a pull.

Any other ideas, or suggestions, oh great one?

I will ask someone to move this to the right spot later, after you gain access.
Again thank you for the help. I love both the ideas (mirrored marker & boon) you have give me so far and hope you keep them coming!

-misj-

[pcolamagic]

I like the idea of building a writer with a homeaid thumb tip rather than a store bought one. I guess its just me but I'm not real comfortable using a thumb tip not fitting real well. Even though there is no attention being brought to your hand. Thanks for the usefull information.. Eddie

[Misjief]

Hi -

I too like a custom tool made for me (by me!)...

I was rummaging around and found some plastic pop rivits used to hold a pc motherboard in place. I have to hunt around and see if I can find a fat lead to fit it but I don't think it will be an issue.

I made a couple more tips while messing around... And discovered you can get a much thinner tip wall if you alternate the paper bag which provides strength but tends to have issues taking shape and staying in place with the tissue paper which has the opposite qualities! Again about three layers of each is good. I only do one at the tip (from the outside) and then stuff in about two or three more from the inside. I also generally try to 'roll' the mouth so it becomes a little stronger. This seems to result in a thinner yet stronger wall of the TT.

Also if you go all out it is better put the iron ferrite on BEFORE the drywall - because otherwise the iron gets everywhere and is so dark it it will freckle your finger because neither the paint nor tissue can hide it. I think the drywall will contain it and bury it - Have yet to mudd this set.

I am now on my third or forth generation of TTs and can make the form for one in about 10 mins. I am getting pretty good at it. LOL

***

I have not seen or heard anything from Retired in a while... I hope he is still around and didn't abandon us as he was quite the resource. I really enjoyed having him around. Hope it is just a summer thing and that come winter everyone will come back!

On that note - Nice to have you with us PCola!

-misj-