Fake Glass Shards

Bluewave07

Bluewave07

Active member
Any ideas? I need my protagonist to be able to roll around in them and such. I was told cracked ice somewhat resembled glass shards when scattered and broken up, but ice melts and though im filming inside, I don't think that would give me much time. Anything is helpful. Thanks.

- Matt
 
Theatrical suppliers like Rosco sell breakaway bottles made of so-called "flint" glass, it can also be found in sheets, but it isn't cheap. You might try smashing up some acrylic 'plexiglass' (wear heavy gloves and safety glasses, wrap it in a blanket and ATTACK); you may still have a few sharp edges but a few rubs with emery cloth or fine sandpaper should render them sufficiently harmless ...
 
I have no idea where you would find this, but I remember there used to be this jelly like substance used for plants instead of water. I know it sounds weird, but it started as like little beads and you added water and they puffed up but had random jagged looking edges. I always thought it looked like glass. Maybe you can find it at a gardening place. Good luck.

-DES
 
Buy a few tubes of clear silicon caulking from the hardware store, pour it all out of the tube onto a flat smooth non porous surface like arborite or linoleum with half inch trim or something around the edges. once dry cut it into angular pieces or small cubes for autoglass. its soft and springy so you can throw it at your talent and they can roll in it naked and it tickles instead of requiring a trip to the hospital.
 
Thank you all so much for your suggestions. I was thinking about the sugar glass before, but that is still a sharp material so it wouldn't work.

Arson, I'm going to give your idea a try. Once we've filmed I'll post some clips to show you how/if it worked. Thanks again!

Matt
 
Arson said:
Buy a few tubes of clear silicon caulking from the hardware store, pour it all out of the tube onto a flat smooth non porous surface like arborite or linoleum with half inch trim or something around the edges. once dry cut it into angular pieces or small cubes for autoglass. its soft and springy so you can throw it at your talent and they can roll in it naked and it tickles instead of requiring a trip to the hospital.
Click to expand...

Arson, I like that! Good Suggestion.....
 
pending on the type of glass you need, or for whats in the background or foreground and generally out of the plane of fous and attention you could use auto glass. you could go to a junkyard and buy a side window or two out of a car. set them flat on the ground and put a hammer to use. or score them and then break them into larger pieces. the glass in autos is beaded so that when it shatters, its not sharp edges but instead breaks into pretty smooth edged glass chunks and pieces. you do have to be somewhat careful because you will come acrossed a little sharp edge or point sometimes, but for the most part you can play with it without worrying like you would have to around window glass which breaks into jagged edged shards that will cut you much more easily.

and if you want another way to make your own shard like peices you can use a clear epoxy. just pour it into some type of mold which you will later pull it out of, or into a flat tray where you can cut out your shapes. pour it thick and spread it thin to keep the bubble content low. and the most important part is using LESS hardener than the resin. that way it will dry but still be somewhat pliable pending on how little hardener you used. id recommend about a 60/40 mixture. 40 being hardener. epoxy is nice becaue its shiney and reflective like the pro glass in the links above. i wouldnt say its as good by any means, but it can get the job done in the right lighting.
 
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DeadEyesSmiling said:
I have no idea where you would find this, but I remember there used to be this jelly like substance used for plants instead of water. I know it sounds weird, but it started as like little beads and you added water and they puffed up but had random jagged looking edges. I always thought it looked like glass. Maybe you can find it at a gardening place. Good luck.

-DES
Click to expand...


I was just thinking the same DeadEyes! I would go this rout. Experiment is the best way in addition to open suggestions.
 
Arson said:
Buy a few tubes of clear silicon caulking from the hardware store, pour it all out of the tube onto a flat smooth non porous surface like arborite or linoleum with half inch trim or something around the edges. once dry cut it into angular pieces or small cubes for autoglass. its soft and springy so you can throw it at your talent and they can roll in it naked and it tickles instead of requiring a trip to the hospital.
Click to expand...


If you have pic of this i would like to see the end result. Anyone?
 
Head to a art store and ask for plastic sheets( acrylic) they should be like those dry erase boards but clear as glass, so all you have to do is break them and bam fake glass.
 
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