Cigar Tube bodice Chillers

[LadyStitch]

A friend of ours introduced us to these this past Scarby.  I used mine and loved it.  Put ice chips in it frequently and it kept me cool during the hottest days.  We are planning on making a pouch one for the Pink Pirate to wear under his shirt and coat for him to keep cool.  He nearly took a header early in the run because he got too hot.

Here is where my question comes up.  At faire, it is not a big deal to put ice chips in them and change them out frequently. Currently I'm costuming a show where my actresses are in pleather without air conditioning.  To keep them from over heating I'm making them bodice chillers that can't be seen from the stage. Currently they are thinking of taking the bottoms of the tubes, filling them 3/4 with water the freezing them in the freezer.  During the performance, they will change them out as they melt.  I'm thinking it would be a bad idea to have frozen metal against delicate flesh. I was thinking I will have make costume matching sleeves for the tubes. 

#1 ) Should they just use the frozen water filled tubes ?
#2) If not , what should I make the the sleeves out of?


All of you seemed to be the best group I know to answer this question.

[mehan]

I can't speak to the two questions you have, but I can offer a tip in the same vein

They make ice "cube" trays that make a long (prolly 4 inch) round thin ice "cube". They are intended to put into regular water bottles.  There are prolly 20 of these tubes per tray.  putting those in the cigar tubes rather than constantly changing out the frozen metal tubes, might be an option.    I found mine tray at Wally World

[LadyShadow]

I would have to agree with the ice tray tubes.  Having frozen metal against the body, I think, would cause horrible damage to the skin where it sits.  So either have them protected in maybe a t-shirt type material or use the ice cubes.

[Molden]

Hmmm...if Mehan's suggested solution fits/works within the tubes - it might just be the most productive option.

Either way, yeah, you probably want some kind of fabric between the tube and the skin...might want to do some investigation on what kind would work best for wicking the condensation away or possibly extending the cooling effect.

For your Pink Pirate - might I suggest considering the "hot spots" as places to put pockets/holders for these tubes. Depending on overall comfort through the day (meaning comfortable/functional as possible for him) those places would be the armpits, back of the neck/shoulder/back area, and if realistic - the crotch/groin area. Usually these are the 1st places EMTs/aid workers try to cool first to bring temps down in such cases. (Also for him, they make these wrap around coolers for golfers to put around their necks. I've tried em and they work wondermous well. Could be applied during a break. Maybe have a few on hand or easy access to change out through the day.)

Obviously for the lasses, you've got that figured out in th' ol' precious pillows holders.

Good Luck! Sounds like a bonny gud idear. Let us know how it works!

[Lady Christina de Pond]

if they are pewter like the bodice chiller i purchased this year don't freeze them. the paper that came inside said don't freeze it causes them to crack i think the best suggestion is the one Mehan made with the ice cubes you could put them in a ice chest and keep them frozen

[LadyStitch]

I will look into the ice cube trays.  When the girls are off stage they could change them out if nessasary.  Then again I don't think any of the guys in the cast would mind helping them apply them either.  

I'll work on keeping my Pink Pirate cool.  If I make a harnass with pouches  that is worn under the coat.  I just put the Ice filled tubes in the pouches that might help.  If  anything it couldn't hurt.  Besides if it gets too hot he can move to just wearing his linen shirt and cape and still be in his PINK!  

Nope not pewter tubes, just stainless steel cigar tubes.  

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

I went to the local cigar store and the guy gave me a cigar tube free.  And it even had a fleur de lis on the top of it.  I used it when I went to the Olde English Faire the weekend before last.  I put chopped up ice cubes in it, and it stayed cool for about 15 minutes, but it was brutally hot with no shade and no breeze. 

When the ice first went in, the cigar tube against my skin kind of burned for a bit. It was bearable but I suggest to * not * freeze the tube, because it will stick to the skin and really burn.

[lady serena]

If you freeze the tube and then put it next to the skin you will have frost bite were the tube touched that would need to be treated. Think of getting your tongue stuck to a pole in the winter when you were a kid and then pulled away boy did that hurt.

[McGuinness]

Though they have a hole in the top of the lid, the vials for water that are put on cut flowers like roses work well also. You can always put a small piece of plastic wrap or something over the top of the vial and under the lid to help keep the water in.

If you do freeze any type of container, remember that water expands as it freezes. Don't put the lid on it under after its frozen or it'll crack or explode in the freezer.

[Marietta Graziella]

what about those gel crystals?  When dry, they can be sewn into puches, tubes, whatever.  Soak in ice water for about 15 minutes and they are blissfully cool.  They don't drip and when they dry out you just rehydrate them.  Keep a cooler filled to just swap out during the day.

The benefit of the crystals is you could sew them into a flat-ish pad (think quilted to hold the gel in place) that could be slipped into an inside breast pocket of a heavy coat, top of a hat, down the back...  Lots of military use these.  There's another chap here on the forum that uses something like this with his noble garb...  shoot, can't think of his name.

[Tink]

What gel crystals are you talking about?  This idea intrigues me!

[mehan]

Not to hijack the thread, cause its not going to work for a real theatrical production, but I buy the neckerchiefs with the gell crystals in them (wally world again, sporting goods) soak them and put them in the fridge, then carry a couple to faire in the cooler.  Then they go under "the girls".  Yes, the bodice gets damp but it lasts hours.

However, I didn't realize you could buy the gell crystals - if you could and could make your own pouches - MG has a fabulous idea. 

Master James (VARF) found a hard hat "blue ice" pack that has velcro which he sticks in his noble hat.  It has to be a hat that rises off the head, but he swears by it.   

[LadyShadow]

I've seen people buy a pack of new diapers and take the crystals out of there and use them.

[isabelladangelo]

Bodice chillers are bad bad idea.  Really, the only way to keep from over heating is to a) wear natural fabrics and b) drink plenty of water.  If you do that, you're fine.

The problem with bodice chillers is two fold -first, the glass ones can and have broken.  Do you really want reconstruction surgery?  Second, it actually will make you hotter over all.  Your body regulates it's temperature based on the overall temperature around it.   If you have something cold near your internal thermostat but your feet and hands are still warm, it can and will MESS YOU UP!  I've seen it and really, it's always someone with the ice pack or the bodice chiller that goes down.  Either that, or they are wearing polyester...

[Wolfhawker]

I help come up with some ideas for usage of coolers so that they could hang.  We came up with the idea of making a wire frame that would hold the chiller.  It allowed the chiller to slide in and out whil allowing the metal of the wire frame to help transfer the cool and keep the skin from have constant contact.  The chillers could be exchanged and all was good.  The problem with cloth is the insulation effect will cut down the ability to transfer the coolness efficient and what happens to anything that is kept wet all the time - my original pouches that were used for this rotted away over time from constant wetness and mildew and wet rot.