web shooter

[MAD BOMBER]

Oh mighty halloween gurus, I really want to build a web shooter. But the Queen T (wife, boss, pants wearer, etc) wants to know if the webs are hard to clean up after the big night. Any help would, well help!!!! And how hard is it to get good results. The pics sure make it look easy. I searched the threads, but no luck. Thanks

[Otaku]

Depends on the material used to make the webs. I've seen that some web fluids state that the webs will stain whatever they're applied to, and others that are benign. I'd avoid making one that uses rubber cement as the webbing material. The hot glue method would probably be easy to clean up, since the glue webs typically are pretty cool by the time they hit a surface, so they should peel away cleanly. Still, I'd avoid webbing the expensive furniture.

This web shooter -
http://www.terrorbydesign.com/
supposedly uses a fluid that doesn't stain and is easy to clean up (no rubber cement). The customer reviews on the original TBD web site supported that claim and had a lot of good things to say about the system.

[kallen]

mine is built off of the old plans from minons web. I use his blacklight sticks with it. It is best for outdoor use. If you use it for indoor props, I would web em' outside and then put em in to avoid staining. They clean up pretty easy. just kinda roll e'm up in your hand. minion stocks colors also. If your thinking of the rubber cement style, I've been told they realy stick.

[Devils Chariot]

I just made my own web shooter and did some tests. I found that if you get to close, the glue will still be hot and will stick. Stay 10 ft away and it just pulls off. Stubborn bits can be scrubbed off with a broom. I used black glue sticks so I think that's the worst color you could use. I bet clear ones are easy to clean because if you miss spot no one will see it.

[HallowEve]

I have a web gun, the hot glue stick kind, I have found that as long as you let the gun heat up for a couple minutes then start shooting the webs are thin and easy to remove with a broom or your hand. When you notice the stream of webs coming out a lot thicker, stop and let the gun heat back up. If you don't and continue to shoot the webs I found the thick webs really stick to items real good and is hard to remove and if you start getting blobs shooting out you may need some matching house paint to touch up the small spots in the spring-after removal of course = ). Make sure you buy a "good" one with a high operating temperature, higher than your regular craft hot glue guns this will let you shoot more webs before you have to let the gun reheat and it will still function if it gets cool outdoors without cooling the glue too much as it comes out.

As for the web shooters that use a fan blade and fluid I have not used one of those.

HallowEve

[Just Whisper]

I just bought one from Jeff at Frightener's Entertainment. It uses glue sticks. It took me awhile to get the hang of it. But like others said, let it get really hot, and keep your distance from your target. I found my first attempt webs were REALLY hard to remove because I was too close and they were too thick or too hot when they hit the surface. Once I got the hang of it and did it correctly the new webs came right off the plastic surface I was webbing. So be sure to practice on a surface you cannot ruin and don't use your expensive glue sticks until you get it down. They recommend not using it on certain surfaces and never put hot glue on fabric or paper unless you are throwing it away when done. Overall, I like this gun.

[Dr Morbius]

I made a rubbercement fan-blade-on-a-drill type gun a number of years back..DON'T DO IT! I webbed something next to my house and will NOT come off exterior house paint. Also, it looks like the color of snot. Just throwing it out there in case anyone gets the idea to try it. I suppose the webs come out OK, just don't spray it on anything near your home.