# How to acquire (build or purchase) a synthetic human forearm? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 28, 2008, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-acquire-build-or-purchase-a-synthetic-human-forearm/478900 "2008-12-28T01:18:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![misterW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@misterW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misterW)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-acquire-build-or-purchase-a-synthetic-human-forearm/478900/1 "2008-12-28T01:18:47Z")
I’m looking for the cheapest possible way to get a synthetic human forearm. It has to be the same size and shape. It needs to include the forearm and wrist, but not necessarily the hand. It should be tough enough that it can’t be easily ripped apart by someone tugging on/twisting it. Ideally, it should be roughly the same texture/hardness. That is, it shouldn’t be hard plastic like a mannequin, but it doesn’t need to be so lifelike that it fools anyone. That being said, I would also be interested in mannequin forearms if they could be acquired cheaply. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-acquire-build-or-purchase-a-synthetic-human-forearm/478900/2 "2008-12-28T01:25:34Z")
You can [make a mold of your own forearm](http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080407190034AA2pQHo), then [make your own ballistics gel](http://www.myscienceproject.org/gelatin.html), and then pour the gel into the mold. You may want to reinforce the casting with a dowel “ulna and radius” to give it more support. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-acquire-build-or-purchase-a-synthetic-human-forearm/478900/3 "2008-12-28T07:16:22Z")
You can look at phlebotomy and blood pressure training tools, like the ones found [here](http://www.allmed.net/catalog/category/250)…but they are quite expensive. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-acquire-build-or-purchase-a-synthetic-human-forearm/478900/4 "2008-12-28T18:50:38Z")
It’s a little gross, but your local adult store probably has just what you’re looking for. The hand part will be in a fist. I don’t wanna go into this any more–but I did run across such a thing while shopping for something else entirely. I was…bemused. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-acquire-build-or-purchase-a-synthetic-human-forearm/478900/5 "2008-12-28T19:11:43Z")
Seems like an awfully long way to go to teach someone to always leave a note. Anyway, dropping “prosthetic limb” into Google brings up plenty of paid advertisers (e.g., [reallifeprosthetics.com](http://reallifeprosthetics.com), [armdynamics.com](http://armdynamics.com)). I’m sure if you start looking through those sites you’ll find other search terms to lead you towards an inexpensive route. Of course there’s always [Ebay](http://cgi.ebay.com/prosthetic-arm_W0QQitemZ270322718770QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item270322718770&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50), though you may want to search a bit for a better match. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-acquire-build-or-purchase-a-synthetic-human-forearm/478900/6 "2008-12-28T19:18:57Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Seems like an awfully long way to go to teach someone to always leave a note. “And that’s why you don’t try to teach lessons to your son!” Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-acquire-build-or-purchase-a-synthetic-human-forearm/478900/7 "2008-12-28T21:10:27Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > “And that’s why you don’t try to teach lessons to your son!” > > Stranger 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-acquire-build-or-purchase-a-synthetic-human-forearm/478900/8 "2008-12-29T02:42:55Z")
Even though the chance of me having a good answer to the OP with the added information is next to zero, I will ask. Why do you need this synthetic forearm? ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-acquire-build-or-purchase-a-synthetic-human-forearm/478900/9 "2008-12-29T02:59:14Z")
Are you training K-9s? ---
**Author:** ![Glazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a88e57/32.png) [@Glazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glazer)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-acquire-build-or-purchase-a-synthetic-human-forearm/478900/10 "2008-12-29T03:16:31Z")
Just git yerself a sharp ‘nife, a big stick,an a bottle of Bourbon. Set yerself down on da pourch an get ta wittlein’ ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-acquire-build-or-purchase-a-synthetic-human-forearm/478900/11 "2008-12-29T14:10:27Z")
> [@Glazer](#): > > Just git yerself a sharp ‘nife, a big stick,an a bottle of Bourbon. Set yerself down on da pourch an get ta wittlein’ That gets you one. A second one will be a lot tougher and a third one out of the question. The OP should definitely go synthetic. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-acquire-build-or-purchase-a-synthetic-human-forearm/478900/12 "2008-12-29T15:39:47Z")
> [@Sapo](#): > > That gets you one. A second one will be a lot tougher and a **third one out of the question**. The OP should definitely go synthetic. **Glazer** wasn’t necessarily suggesting whittling your _own_ arm. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-acquire-build-or-purchase-a-synthetic-human-forearm/478900/13 "2008-12-29T16:02:10Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > **Glazer** wasn’t necessarily suggesting whittling your _own_ arm. :eek: I am actually LOL, which doesn’t happen all that much. I guess I misread that post completely for that is exactly what I thought he meant. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-acquire-build-or-purchase-a-synthetic-human-forearm/478900/14 "2008-12-29T16:40:15Z")
> [@Sapo](#): > > I am actually LOL, which doesn’t happen all that much. I guess I misread that post completely for that is exactly what I thought he meant. Funny! I did too. I thought the stick was for biting down on! ---
**Author:** ![mmmiiikkkeee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/edb3f5/32.png) [@mmmiiikkkeee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmmiiikkkeee)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-acquire-build-or-purchase-a-synthetic-human-forearm/478900/15 "2008-12-29T17:29:12Z")
You could build your own with simpler items perhaps; start with a 1 or 2 inch dowel about 18" long, then get some foam rubber (the tube type that slide over pipes to insulate them) and/or rags and a few tensor bandages. Put the sleeve foam over the wood and the extra bits of foam or rags where the muscles/bumps usually are. Start wrapping the bandages around all the padding to keep it in place; the tighter you wrap the harder the “arm” will feel. To finish wrap a layer of duct tape around it to keep it from coming unraveled… spray paint it pink or brown if you want. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-acquire-build-or-purchase-a-synthetic-human-forearm/478900/16 "2008-12-29T19:36:46Z")
I take it the OP doesn’t want TWIN BODY-POWERED PROSTHESES WITH #5X DORRANCE STAINLESS STEEL HOOKS!!!