Topic: Specifications for Dead Rats?

[Jeremy Lykins]

I've got an outdoor music festival coming up in June and I've talked a lady in my office into sewing up some dead rats for me, but she wanted more specific details on how to make 'em.  I printed out the pics and description from this thread: http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,103352.0.html and she wanted to know if they needed to be really tight around the windscreens or if they could be kinda loose.  I've got this T-bar/windscreen combo and she wanted to know if the dead rats needed to be a snug "sock" or if she could sew up a larger "pocket" that I could tighten at the end. 

[SmokinJoe]

They can be loose, just as long as they don't fly away, and use elastics on the bodies if necessary.  It's actually easier if they are loose because the coefficient of friction of dead rats on foam is damn near infinity, and otherwise it's difficult to get them on and off without being rough on the foam.  So, yes, pocket as opposed to socks.

Only other consideration is that I generally try to fold the fabric so you don't have a big seam right over the end (where the sound is passing through).  Instead, make the seam around the edges.

[Belexes]

I went fabric hunting tonight in fabric store...only guy in the store of course looking lost.  The only fur fabric I was able to find was "cubby bear" brown and it was as short as wolf hair. Probably not long enough, correct? Plus, I'd look like a DIY taper who traps his own animals for dead rats.

I was looking for something like this, but none in stock:

http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=cat2703&PRODID=xprd76038&source=search

[vanark]

The Joann Fabric near me had 4 bolts of "Grizzly Bear" black fur - pretty long, about 1" fuzzy black.  $15/yd, could buy as little as 1/8 yard.  I bought 1/2 yd even though I was just doing my Church Audio mics.  Figured I might actually upgrade someday.

[Belexes]

I saw that Grizzly Bear, too thin and whispy for me. I want big, fat, and furry hair like you see on outdoor booms.

[crackmc]

my wife just made a pair of dead rats for my 414s (with the black 'grizzly bear' stuff from Joann's)...

my mics look like this now:



...but at least they will be adequately protected from the wind


also: that grizzly bear fabric sheds like a mofo when you cut/sew it...

it looks like somebody threw a wombat into a blender in there

[Steve J]

Why...I'll murderize that wind!!!