If you want to prank a friend or maybe you need a prop for an amateur movie, making a fake cast for an arm or leg is a nice way to create the illusion of having a broken limb. Using simple materials you can make faux plaster in minutes!
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Use a Stocking and Gauze
Step 1. Get a white stocking that you won't mind cutting
This method works well for casting an arm, wrist, or ankle. You may be able to make a cast for one leg as well, but you might need several socks, or a pair of taller socks. Find the most suitable sock for the plaster you want to make.
Step 2. Make a mark on the sock to indicate the chalk limit
Slip the sock over your arm or ankle and mark where the cast should end. You can refer to real plaster images to find the exact spot.
- For the wrist cast you will have to make a mark both at the edge of the hand where the fingers start, and on the palm at the point where the thumb arises.
- For ankle cast the mark should be roughly where the foot ends and the toes begin.
Step 3. Cut the sock to get the right size
Based on the marks you made, cut the sock to fit your cast. Don't worry if the heel of the sock creates a small bubble around the wrist, you will cover it later.
If you want to give the right thickness to your plaster, you can also cut two or three socks of the same size and arrange them one on top of the other, to add volume
Step 4. Put the sock (or stockings) back on
Once the sock is cut, you can put it back on where you want to create the cast. This is also the time to best align it, so place it in the right place at the fingers and arm or leg.
- If you use several socks one on top of the other, you should also fold the outermost one a few millimeters, so that you can tuck the edge under the others. In this way the plaster will have a rounded edge, similar to that of real plaster.
- If by any chance you have a relatively smooth wrist or ankle brace, you can slip it under the sock to add thickness to the cast, without having to ruin other socks.
- Another possibility is to wrap the area with an elastic bandage before putting on the stocking. Doing so will not only have the necessary thickness, but will also make movement more difficult, so you can play the part of someone with a broken limb better.
Step 5. Wrap the area with adhesive gauze
This type of gauze is called in different ways, for example you can find it with the name of self-adhesive gauze, patch-gauze, adhesive gauze. The material of which it is made is a breathable gauze to the touch a little sticky, and it can stick to itself. Start at the bottom of the sock and wrap it in a thick layer of gauze over its entire length.
- Make sure you cover the entire sock, except for those few millimeters of the edge you folded up. Also make sure that the gauze is tightly stretched, so that it has a surface as smooth as possible, and that you do not see the points where it has been superimposed on itself.
- You will probably need to roll out a couple of layers of gauze to add some thickness to the plaster, especially if you only used one sock.
- You can find gauze in different colors, so you can also make a faux colored chalk.
Step 6. Decorate the chalk
Once you have finished wrapping the gauze, the plaster is ready. To give a more realistic effect you can decorate it as you do for real plasters. Ask someone familiar with the joke to sign the plaster with a couple of different names, and write some wishes for a speedy recovery.
- If you've made a cast for your arm and really want to overdo the joke (while making it harder for someone to look carefully at the cast), you can also get a shoulder strap to put your arm on and put on. This will also make it easier to keep your arm still and convince everyone that it's really broken.
- For ankle or leg cast, you could also add a pair of crutches to the disguise. If you don't already have them at home, you can always buy them used or rent them.
Method 2 of 3: Use Toilet Paper and Tissue Paper
Step 1. Get a roll of toilet paper
This method of making a fake plaster requires a lot of toilet paper, so it is advisable to use a new roll to make sure you have enough. Particularly if you want to make a cast for the leg you will have to use a lot of paper.
Step 2. Tear off a strip consisting of five or six pieces
As with a paper mache job, you will need to form the chalk a little at a time, so start by tearing a strip of toilet paper about five or six pieces long.
To speed up the process, you can also double each strip of paper. Then tear off another strip of the same length as the one you already have and overlap them completely. In this way, not only will it be faster to give thickness to the plaster, but it will also be easier to give consistency to the strips by moistening them
Step 3. Wet the strips
You need to moisten the strips well, but don't get them too wet as they will become too brittle and difficult to wrap around your arm. If you have a spray bottle, use it to spray the water onto the strips instead of wetting them directly with water.
Step 4. Wrap the moistened strips around your arm or calf
Regardless of which limb you choose, start by wrapping toilet paper around the top end of the area you want to cast. For the ankle you have to start from the calf; for the wrist you have to start from the forearm.
- We start from the top because it is easier to go around the ankle or the thumb when the base has already been set.
- Don't worry about wrapping the toilet paper at the end, just wrap it around itself to begin with.
Step 5. Add water to toilet paper
Once the strips are wrapped around the calf or forearm, add a little water. Use the spray bottle, or sprinkle some water with your fingers; putting paper directly under the tap would destroy it.
Step 6. Squeeze out the excess water
With this addition of water, the paper will be more malleable, and the new layers will adhere more easily; however, the new strips will not stick if the paper is too wet, so grip your calf or forearm with your hand and squeeze to get rid of excess water.
Apply direct pressure, because if you pull the paper instead of pressing it you risk tearing it
Step 7. Roll out another double strip of toilet paper of the same length
Once the first strip is in place, you need to put a second one of the same size. Glue one end of the strip to the piece of chalk you just created. The moisture present should be sufficient for the new layer to adhere. Add more water and squeeze out the excess.
You will have to repeat this step until the plaster is the thickness you want, it will probably be three or four layers
Step 8. Add a double moistened strip of the same size around the wrist or ankle
Once the top of the cast is in place, you can move towards the wrist or ankle, depending on the limb of your choice. Using a double strip of the same size as before, moisten it and wrap it carefully around the joint.
- You will need to try to keep your ankle at a 90 degree angle from now on, otherwise you risk tearing the toilet paper.
- For the wrist and hand, you have to wrap the toilet paper starting from the wrist and around the palm (so that it passes between the thumb and forefinger), then on the back of the hand and finally again on the palm (this time, however, passing outside the thumb). This will give you realistic hand coverage, leaving your thumb and fingers free just like with a real cast.
- You will have to repeat this step until you are happy with the job, it will probably take the same number of layers that you used for the top.
- Remember to always keep the paper strips moist, and to wring out the excess water at each step.
Step 9. Wrap the chalk with colored tissue paper
If you want to create the illusion of colored chalk, you can take tissue paper of a color of your choice and wrap a layer or two around the toilet paper until you are happy with the result.
Be very careful to put tissue paper on top of damp toilet paper, as tissue paper is even more fragile
Step 10. Wait for the plaster to dry
When you are satisfied with the result in both toilet paper and tissue paper, you will just have to wait for it to dry everything. Toilet paper hardens as it wipes, giving the plaster a more realistic look.
If you are in a hurry you can also use a hairdryer to speed up drying
Step 11. Remember to always keep the limb straight
Toilet paper can tear easily, so you need to remember to keep your wrist and ankle still when wearing cast, any movement could break it.
Using a pair of ankle cast crutches is a good way to make the joke more believable and to avoid bending your ankle
Method 3 of 3: Use Toilet Paper and Gauze
Step 1. Cut a sock
Take the top half (where the fingers should be) and make it so that it fits entirely on the arm; you also need to make a thumb hole about halfway.
Step 2. Slip the lower half onto the arm, below the elbow
Step 3. Slip the top half onto the wrist
Step 4. Wrap a soft layer around your arm
You can use toilet paper, kitchen paper, felt strips, etc. Leave room for both the top and bottom edges (where the sock pieces are placed).
Step 5. Wrap duct tape around the soft material, leaving room for both the top and bottom edges (where the sock pieces are placed)
Step 6. Wrap more soft material around the arm, leaving room for both the top and bottom edges (where the sock pieces are located)
It also passes around the thumb.
Step 7. Fold over the edges of the sock
Step 8. Place a final layer of soft material around the arm, also covering the folded sock parts
Let me see some of the sock.
Step 9. Cover the chalk with vinyl glue diluted in water
Step 10. Let the plaster dry
At this point you can write on it with markers.
Advice
- Building a faux plaster yourself is fun, but you can also order one online as they are very cheap.
- Remember not to move your wrist or ankle (depending on where you put the cast) as you will get caught.
- Do not cover your fingers with wrist plaster. Simply wrap it around your palm.
- Make sure you don't get the fake plaster wet.
- Adding a shoulder strap or crutches to the joke will make it much more believable.
- Avoid people with real chalks, because by comparison it may be obvious that yours is not real.
