This collection of information is Copyright 1995-2005, by Robert C. King, Luis Antunez, Robert Goodwin (boogi), and YappyFox. Rights to individual components revert back to their respective authors as they deem appropriate. To our non-English-speaking overseas readers; If you have difficulties understanding certain words or phrases, please email me. Due to spambot harvesters and contributors not wanting to be hit by spammers, no email addresses are posted. If you wish to contact the FAQ maintainer, please see section 1.8.
If you did not receive this FAQ from the webpage, you can find updates at any of these three mirror websites;
http://fursuit.org/faq/
http://www.fursuit.info/
http://www.lycanthrope.net/~boogi/faq/
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The FURSUIT TECHNICAL REFERENCE MANUAL
(Also known as the FURSUIT FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS and answers)
Version 6.122004
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1.0 - Introduction
1.1 - Definitions
1.2 - History
1.3 - Safety
1.4 - Scratch costumes
1.5 - Fursuits
1.6 - Mascot Costumes
1.7 - Performing in Costume
1.8 - How to contact the FAQ maintainer
1.9 - FAQ Archives/Downloads
1.10 - FAQ history
2.0 - Safety
2.1 - General guidelines
2.2 - Things you should have
2.3 - Working with latex
2.4 - Flammable items
2.5 * Respirators
2.6 - Safety glasses
2.7 * Protective materials
2.8 - Working with electronics/electricity
2.99 - Other stuff
3.0 - Planning/Buying/Commissioning the Costume
3.1 - Plan your suit
3.2 - Knowing your limitations
3.3 - How much material do I need?
3.4 - Modular/Partial costumes
3.5 - One-piece suits
3.6 - Buying the ready-made full costume
3.7 - Buying second-hand/previously owned
3.8 - Commissions
3.9 - Building on a budget
4.0 - Materials and Tools
4.1 - Fur
4.2 - Latex
4.3 - Body paint
4.4 * Dyes and paints
4.5 - Tool box
4.6 - Foam
4.7 - Mesh
4.8 - Airbrushes
4.9 - Adhesives
4.10 - Workplace lighting
4.99 - Visual examples of materials and tools
5.0 - Accessories
5.1 * Character clothing and hats
5.2 * Jewelry
5.3 * Weapons
5.4 * Staffs/Walking aids
5.5 * Devices/Electronics
5.6 - Armor
5.7 - Wigs
5.8 - Oversize shoes/slippers
5.9 - Glasses/Eyewear
5.10 - Novelties
5.99 - Other props
6.0 - Patterns/Patternmaking
6.1 - Burda
6.2 - Butterick
6.3 - Green Pepper, The (from JoAnn Fabrics)
6.4 - Kwik-sew
6.5 - McCalls
6.6 - Simplicity
6.7 - Stretch & Sew
6.8 - Vogue
6.99 - Homemade patterns
6.99.1 - Duct tape dummies
6.99.2 - Mannequins/Dressing dummies
7.0 - Sewing
7.1 - Finding a good sewing machine
7.2 - Machine sewing
7.3 - Sewing kit
7.4 * Handsewing
7.5 - References
7.6 - Terminology
7.7 - Workplace lighting
8.0 - Heads
8.1 * Planning the head
8.2 - Foam
8.3 - Plastic Mesh
8.4 - Fiberglass
8.5 - Formfast/Celastic
8.6 * Papier Mache
8.7 * Wireframe
8.8 * Vacuforming
8.9 * Thermoplastic mesh
8.10 * Hoods/balaclavas
8.11 * Sports helmets
8.99 - Visual examples of fursuit heads
9.0 - Head Furring
9.1 - Gluing
9.2 - Fur-laying
9.3 - Flocking
9.4 - Hair-punching
9.5 - Shaving the fur
10.0 - Head Personalizing
10.1 - Eyes
10.2 * Ears
10.2.1 * On fursuit heads
10.2.2 * On human heads
10.3 - Teeth
10.4 * Tongue
10.5 * Lips
10.6 * Whiskers
10.7 - Noses
10.8 - Muzzles/Snouts/Beaks
10.9 - Feathers and scales
10.10 * Necks
10.11 * Horns
10.98 - Visual examples of eyes
10.99 - Visual examples of whiskers, noses, claws, and teeth
11.0 - Head Special Effects
11.1 * Articulated beaks and muzzles
11.2 * Articulated ears
11.3 * Articulated eyes
11.4 - Voice
11.5 * Snarl bars
12.0 - Tails
12.1 - Feline tails
12.2 - Horse tails
12.3 * Oversized tails
12.4 - Standing tails
12.5 * Using wire/delrin
12.6 * Using metal tubing
12.7 * Using pipe insulation
12.8 - Articulated/jointed
12.9 * Using pool noodles
12.10 * Using weight/lifting belts
12.11 * Beanie tails
12.12 * Canine tails
13.0 - Making paws, claws, and hooves
13.1 - Forepaws/paws for the hands
13.2 * Hindpaws/paws for the feet
13.3 - Hooves
14.0 - Paw Personalizing
14.1 * Claws
14.2 * Pawpads
15.0 - The Body Suit
15.1 - Before you start
15.2 * Planning the body suit
15.3 * Laying out and cutting the pattern
15.4 - Dyeing
15.5 - Airbrushing
15.6 * Liners
15.7 * Padding/fatsuits/musclesuits
15.8 - Bodysuit closure/closing
15.8.1 * Elastic
15.8.2 * Velcro
15.8.3 * Zippers
15.8.4 * Snaps
15.8.5 * Hooks and eyes
15.8.6 * Lacing
15.9 - Collars/Necks
15.10 - Undersuits
15.98 - Offbeat ways of making bodysuits
15.99 - Size charts (graphical)
16.0 - Leg types
16.1 - Digitigrade/Digitgrade/Digigrade
16.1.1 - Warnings
16.1.2 - Fake, using foam
16.1.3 - Realistic
16.1.4 * Animatronic
16.2 - Plantigrade
16.3 - Unguligrade
17.0 - Wings
17.1 * Static/nonmoving wings
17.2 - Articulated/moving wings
17.99 - Visual examples of wings
18.0 * Cross-Gendered
18.1 - Breasts
18.2 - Hips
18.3 - Bodyshaping
18.4 - Performing
18.5 - Robert King's Samantha Kemple construction details
19.0 * Four-legged
19.1 * Two-person
19.2 * Quad/four-legged
19.2.1 * On hands and knees
19.2.2 * Using hand/arm stilts
19.2.3 * Arms and legs on stilts
19.2.4 * Centaur
22.0 - Suit cooling
22.1 * Fans
22.2 * Vests
22.3 * Neckpieces
22.4 * Headpieces
23.0 - Bodypaint/Makeup
23.1 - Materials
23.2 - Application
23.3 * Airbrushing
23.4 - Removal
23.5 - Tips from others
24.0 - Lifecasting
24.1 - Materials
24.2 - Procedure for head
24.3 * Procedure for hands
24.4 - Procedure for feet
24.5 * Procedure for ears
24.6 * Procedure for other body parts
24.7 - Full-body lifecasting
25.0 - Prosthetics
25.1 * Types of appliances/prosthetics
25.2 - Adhesives used with appliances
25.3 - Application of the prosthetic/appliance
25.4 - Makeup
25.5 - Removal of makeup and appliances
25.6 - Cleaning of appliances
25.7 - Repairing the appliances
25.8 - Contact lenses
26.0 - Making your own appliances
26.1 * Lifecast sculpting
26.2 - Making positive and negative molds
26.3 * Conventional, hot-set foam latex
26.4 * Slushcast
26.5 * A-B (catalyzed)/cold foam
26.6 * Silicone
26.7 * Gelatine
26.8 * Vacuforming
26.9 * Vinyl
26.10 * Liquid latex
26.99 - Other methods
27.0 - Fangs/Teeth
27.1 * From a costume shop
27.2 - Make your own
28.0 - Electronics/Animatronics
28.1 - Circuits
28.2 - Servos
28.3 * Electroluminescence
28.4 * Remote control
28.5 * Animatronics/Articulation
29.0 - Sports fursuits
29.1 - Swimming
29.2 * Paintball
29.3 * Bowling
29.4 * Lasertag
29.5 - Horseback riding
29.6 * Snow sports/Winter
29.7 * Iceskating
29.8 * Rollerskating/blading
29.9 * Bicycling
29.10 * Rappelling/Climbing
29.11 * Parachuting
29.12 * Bungee jumping
29.13 * Gymnastics
30.0 - Performances
30.1 * Developing the furry persona
30.2 - Do's and Dont's
30.3 - Preventing injuries/health issues
30.3.1 * Heat prostration
30.3.2 * Dehydration
30.3.3 * Hunger
30.3.4 * Physical fitness
30.4 * Performing alone and with others
30.4.1 * Alone, by yourself
30.4.2 - With a buddy/spotter/photographer
30.4.3 * With a group
30.5 - Rigel's List of Lessons Learned
30.6 * Wearing fursuits at events
30.6.1 * Sporting events
30.6.2 * Conventions
30.6.3 - Charities
30.6.4 - Malls/Public shopping areas
30.6.5 * Parades
30.6.6 * Zoos/Locations with animals
30.6.7 - Airports, banks, and security-based sites
30.6.8 * Public transportation
30.6.9 - Hospitals/medical sites
30.6.10 * Private parties
30.6.11 * Educational Institutions
30.6.12 * Public Parties
30.6.13 * Theatres/Performances
30.6.14 * Renaissance Fairs/Faires
30.6.15 * Restaurants/Food Service areas
30.6.16 * Tourist Traps/Locations/Amusement Parks
30.6.17 * Dances/Raves
30.7 - Professional mascots
30.8 - Dealing with others while in suit
30.8.1 - People
30.8.2 * Security
30.8.3 * Animals
30.9 - Driving in fursuit
30.10 - Non-human hazards
30.11 - Fursuit etiquette
30.12 - Suit gender questions ("are you a boy or girl?")
30.13 - Talking in suit
31.0 - Maintenance
31.1 * Storing and transporting costumes
31.2 - Cleaning and washing
31.3 * Stain resisting
31.4 - Deodorizing
31.5 - Showering/bathing
31.6 - Insect-proofing
32.0 - Conventions
32.1 - Where to find
32.2 - What to take
32.3 * Events at a con
32.4 - Masquerades/Variety shows
32.5 - Travel reservations
32.5.1 - Airline travel
32.6 * Hotel reservations
32.7 * Other methods of transportation
32.8 * Convention history
32.9 * How to pack a fursuit
33.0 - Legal Matters
33.1 * Introduction; definition of copyright, trademark, contract
33.2 - How are mascots legally protected?
33.3 * How do theme parks protect their mascots?
33.4 * Can you copyright/trademark a fursuit?
33.5 * What are the legalities if one buys a costume from a costume shop?
33.6 * What are the legalities of performing in public?
33.7 - Why do people not talk while in costume?
33.8 - Can I wear your costume? (sharing costumes)
34.0 - Media
34.1 - References
34.1.1 - Magazines
34.1.2 - Books
34.1.3 - Video
34.2 - Entertainment in the media
34.2.1 * Movies
34.2.2 * TV
34.2.3 * Books
35.0 - Humor
35.1 - You might be a furry if...
35.2 - You know you're a fursuiter when...
35.3 - Fursuit Lexicon
35.4 - Character misidentification
35.5 - Oddball public stories
36.0 - Other types of costumes/suits
36.1 - CATS style
36.2 - Bellydancing
99.0 - Links/Sources/Resources
99.1 - Fursuit/Mascot Creators/Sellers
99.1.1 - U.S.
99.1.2 - Canada
99.1.3 - International
99.1.4 - Fursuit Specialists/Commissions
99.1.5 - Auction sites
99.2 - Fur resources
99.2.1 - U.S.
99.2.2 - Canadian
99.2.3 - International
99.3 - Other than fur
99.4 - Mask/appliance/prosthetics sources
99.5 - Accessory sources
99.6 - Cooling device sources
99.7 - Makeup sources
99.8 - Cross gendered suit sources
99.9 - Mask/head-making and special effects sources
99.10 - Dental, lifecasting, and moldmaking materials
99.11 - Feathers/Hair
99.12 - Taxidermy Supply
99.13 - Electronics/Animatronics sources
99.14 - Contact lens sources
99.15 - Pattern sources
99.16 - Plastics sources
99.17 - Pneumatics sources
99.18 - Foam sources
99.19 - Dye/ink/paint sources
99.20 - Wig sources
99.21 - Teeth/Fangs sources
99.22 - Adhesive sources
99.23 - Sewing sources
99.24 - Antron sources
99.25 - Digitgrade/stilts/related sources
99.26 - Craft sources
99.27 - Wing sources
99.28 - Thermoplastic mesh sources
99.29 - Airbrush and supply sources
99.30 - Footpaw/Hoofboot sources
99.97 - Email lists
99.98 - Online chats - IRC, etc
99.99 - Cheap ways of doing things, keeping costs low