Just something for a friendly discussion not meant to be a thread arguing back and forth but I have seen a good number of folks with Indie masks mostly being NAG made from 2010, 2011 and 2012 starting to finally rot but I know a few buddies with some of the earlier run TOTS masks like the H2 that are still in just of good as condition as the day they purchased them in 2013. How do you think this will impact the resell of certain indie masks VS people leaning more towards mass produced masks such as TOTS as the sculpts continue to improve with time? For what folks resell masks for now a days ( not bashing on the resell costs mind you ) I would be too paranoid to spending 1500 plus on a mask just to have it turn in to soup after a few years BUT I wouldn’t mind shelling out 60 every couple of years for a mass produce semi accurate mask that if it should rot I would not be left with a big financial loss.
Also how many of these masks were actually given a fair amount of use and are starting to rot VS masks that were mainly purchased as displayed pieces, stored at a good room temperature and properly cared for that are still now starting to rot?
I have a large variety of pieces that are I’d say ranging from 7-15 years old none of them have any issues. I never wear them tho and they are always kept out of sunlight etc. just personal opinion but for me I’ll take my chances on Indy stuff I’d rather have something I love then just have a mass produced mask that does nothing for me.
I hear you on that one, I have only really stopped buying indie Myers and still stick to indie for my other masks / busts. Mind you a lot of the others are thicker cast display pieces that you wouldn’t be able to wear unless you cut them or are cast in silicone or resin. For me its just mainly the Indie Myers I am paranoid about.
Honestly, I don’t think there is a difference in terms of how long they last, it’s more of just the quality, it’s no secret NAG masks have softer and nicer latex but I don’t think it really affects how long it’s gonna survive though. I own a lot of indie masks and tots masks and other masks like be something studios, I’ve never had any mask truly rot on me, my original 2013 TOTS H2 does have a tiny bit of rot on the nose BUT that’s cause I used to wear it all the time and sweat a lot without even cleaning it and I was a dumbass and painted it with the wrong type of paint then forgot about it in a bag under my bed for a couple years lol but the fact it’s almost still all together besides one spec of rot, with all that dumb shit I did to it considered is quite impressive. Also think it has a LOT to do with how some people store their masks or how long they would wear them and also well they would clean them afterwards. I did have a WMP JTK actually melt on me once, the inside top of the mask legit became sticky and melted, it was the weirdest thing but I guess I wasn’t the only one either with that particular mask, so sometimes faulty latex does happen.
Yea I can understand that. As most busts are thicker latex and foam filled and what not. I can see the concern if ur talking paying over a grand for a Myers. That’s just a bad move to me no matter how you slice it as the value just isn’t there in my eyes.
I had a couple of WMP masks that got sticky and started melting even with all the precautions, maintenance, and wearing it minimally. While I do like the indy masks still, and plan on getting more of them, I’ll never shell out over $1000 for a mask second hand that I have no idea how the previous owner treated it. Buying it straight from the maker at that price would make me a lot less weary, but still hesitant. I guess it’s really individual with finding the value in something like that. Personally I don’t mind the mass produced masks, they offer a starting point for those getting into collecting, rehauling, or if you’re just on a budget. I can definitely see the appeal for some with the more budget friendly stuff rotting away and not feeling so bad about the loss.
This is a hit-home subject for me & I’m glad you brought it up. All of my masks are kept in the same environment, free from sunlight, extreme temperatures, etc. Almost all of them are in just as good condition as they were the day I bought them.
The first mask to “go bad” was my first-run Buried. The neck started to literally melt in places & I tried to save it with some technique told to me at the time - but still wound up selling it for almost enough money needed to buy a brand new one from DT. I chalked that one up to the pull because it was ultra thin - I was very apprehensive about wearing it from day one & treated it like a delicate little flower.
My two 75Ks are throwing me for a loop and it’s depressing me more than I should let it. They’ve both been stored and handled properly with minimal handling/wearing - especially the bloodtears, which was the Promo Kirk that I got from Nik. Now that they’ve started “going bad” I don’t know what to do. I don’t WANT to sell them - but I also don’t want to be without those two style masks. It’s a very frustrating situation to be in, that’s for sure.
NAG masks can be a little risky for some reason. I think it’s a downside to Nik’s super stretchy latex. I suppose there are always pros and cons. Thicker masks last longer. More accurate, stretchy Myers masks seem more likely to melt or rot sooner. The tots latex is very rigid and leaves an unpleasant smell on the hands but I haven’t had any rot yet.
If the latex is tinted,notice some nag masks have the flesh colored latex , additives can make something
rot faster depending what’s added,as apposed to rd407 bone white ,natural color latex.which lasts longer.best choices are as follows
-have your Myers masks foam filled to insure it lasts almost forever , gravity does bad stuff to latex and makes it droop over time & keep it cleaned (everyone knows those rules that’s been gone over a ton here,no sunlight,no skin oils,uv harsh lights,etc)
-makers should try out new materials other then latex,I’m testing neoprene creature cast rubber right now and it’s supposed to hold up longer(maybe forever) and has no latex allergy because it’s a synthetic rubber,also can be tinted to match the of heros/Kirk flesh tone latex.theres also stuff like urethane,which alot of batman cowl makers use.silicone wouldn’t be right for a Myers mask
-or just look into resin Myers busts.
Hope that helps some people ,just all my opinions of course.
Also heard savini talking about using silicone oil(like a spray? I assume) to keep old latex pieces fresh,maybe it keeps it moist or something,over time latex is either gonna melt and be a gooey mess of slime or it dries out and cracks like grahm crackers.
Pretty sure it’s somewhere in that video,or one of the videos distortions unlimited put out with savini as a guest,but pretty sure it’s somewhere in the tour of his school video. It’s late now,I’d have to look thru it ater to find the exact time marker.
Every mask is different. However when a brand new $50. Don Post THE MASK cannot survive for 1 year without turning into a melted marshmallow there may be a problem with the latex. In my opinion even the RD-407 on the market today is not as good as it was 20 years ago. I have a KNIFE WIELDER that was poured in Death Studios RD-407 Latex which I tinted with pigment. This mask has sat out under my porch for fifteen years with UV, snow, rain, dust, heat, freeze, etc. https://www.ebay.com/itm/143418889372
Just imagine what this would look like if it were a Don Post THE MASK.
Did you contact him about it?
I have mine up for sale right now, I have never even worn it. It was too small for me and I should be getting a replacement any time now actually.
