Cosplay is different from other hobbies. In most hobbies you specialise using one tool and you learn to be careful with it. In cosplay we use many tools and some of them can be scary. Today we talk about dangerous tools building a cosplay
Don’t get me wrong, all of these tools can be scary and they can hurt you. However, most of the time, you would be surprised of how safe they actually are. The most innocent tools are the ones that should scare you the most.
I am going to divide this article in two parts, dangerous tools that won’t hurt you and “non-dangerous” tools you should be afraid of.
Dangerous tools that won’t hurt you (much)
I know, some of this tools look scary, I have been there. When I started using these tools I used to ask my dad for advice. Many times, I asked him to cut or drill something for me because I was afraid of hurting myself. Very soon after I started I realised they weren’t so scary. The following tools ARE DANGEROUS but less than you think.
Soldering iron
This is one of the tools that really scared me when I started building circuits, I had seen my dad many times leaving the soldering iron swinging from a table. He wouldn’t even look at it when he picked it up! Scary? Not really. I have grabbed the hot part of the tool several times with my bare hands. My hand didn’t melt, I barely felt it for a second. Not a single mark from it. It hurts, but no more than burning yourself with a candle.
Drill
First time I needed my drill was to build some wings. I really thought I was going to drill my hand and bleed to death. I was wrong. Noone is stupid enough to put a hand in front ofthis tool. Furthermore, most drills will only work if you keep the button pressed. If you stilll slip it won’t hurt more than a graze when you used to fall on the playground.
The sand belt
Another tool that will barely touch you. I have sanded my finger many times. I am clumsy like that. You will feel the heat and move your hand straight away. Not scary at all. Again, if you are using a rotary tool to sand something, most of them come with buttons that will stop it as soon as you let go. It will barely touch you.
Sewing machine
You may laugh, but some people still believe you can sew your finger with a sewing machine. Don’t get me wrong, it can happen, but chances are really slim. Unless you have an old machine with no protections, the gap to put your finger under the needle is really small. My finger doesn’t fit underneath! My worst fear is getting a broken needle in my eye, and still, that is highly unlikely. The thread would stop the broken needle from getting anywhere. You are pretty safe.
Non-dangerous tools that will hurt you (a bit)
We talked about the tools that scare you. They may look like dangerous tools building a cosplay but they are not so bad. Now we are going to talk about the tools that seem inocuous but will hurt you. Be careful with these tools, they may seem safe but that doesn’t make them hurt less.
Glue gun
The best friend and worst enemy of a cosplayer. This tool won’t scar you (probably) but you will feel the pain when a drop falls on your skin. If you are not careful you may even get blisters from it. To be honest, people overuse it, there are other adhesive methods which I prefer and don’t hurt.
Needle
Small but deadly. You will prickle your finger. If you are sewing a white dress it will get stained with your blood. Sometimes you will prickle yourself so often that the police won’t be able to distinguish your fingerprints. Maybe not so dangerous but it still hurts.
Scissors
You may think these are harmless but they aren’t. The danger comes when you are trying to cut something that is too thick for them. They will slip, and they will hurt you. Also, be careful when you cut that last piece of fabric between your fingers. I have snipped my finger or the skin between my fingers so many times I can’t count. It hurts, and it will for days.
Iron
It will hurt you when you don’t expect it. This tool will attack you when you are distracted. I’ve had friends with scars that lasted weeks. It hurts. Keep track of your hot iron at all times and never leave it on when you are away.
Also, I will give a honorable mention to the heatgun, which acts the same way and is also a danger when you have long hair, and to worbla, which is a material that will burn the tip of your fingers no matter what you do when you heat it. Always remember where you put your hot tools. Don’t touch them.
Craft knife
This is by far the most dangerous tool. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most useful ones. From light cuts all over your hands to deep bleeding wounds. They are as dangerous sharp as they are blunt. When they are sharp you won’t see them coming and when they are blunt, you will have to use extra strength and they will slip and stab you. I will include the rotary cutter in this category, a hellish tool indeed.
Conclusion
As you see, the real dangerous tools building a cosplay are usually the ones you consider safe, mostly because you leave your guard down. You should be careful using these tools and never take for granted something won’t hurt. Potentially, even a piece of paper could hurt you, but you shouldn’t be afraid of using big tools just because they look big and scary. They are in general pretty safe. The only way to feel comfortable with these tools is using them. Always remember to be brave, but also to be safe and use the appropriate protections as some of these tools can hurt you on different ways. Think about fumes, dust or flying pieces that they can create and use glasses and masks appropriately.
