Backplates have arrived!

We are happy to announce the launch of backplates for our masks, now available on all mask styles!

Concept

The idea of the backplate is that it will be a separate item that can be bought, either alongside a mask or at a later date, to convert it from a 3/4 style mask to a fully enclosing mask. It bolts onto the back of the mask making it easy to add or remove, but also making it totally optional. There is a single hinge centred at the very back of the mask and a latch behind each ear, that can be locked shut if that's something you're into, all of which is easily hidden by the hair.

How to Attach

You will require the following tool(s):

• PH1 Philips Screwdriver

The backplate will come with a small attachment set. In this, you should find the following:

1. 6x Bolts (M2.5 x 10mm)
2. 2x Capture Plates
3. 2x Small Nut Holders
4. 1x Medium Nut Holder

All nut holders already have the appropriate nuts and washers secured inside them, making assembly far quicker and the end-product much safer. They are grey on one side and purple on the other, with the purple side sitting against the mask. The backplate will come with some parts already attached, so you can check that to see how the nut holders are supposed to look when in use.

You should find some small holes in your mask, two in the top-middle of the back edge of the mask and two behind each ear, as shown in the images above.

These are for you to bolt on the relevant pieces:

• One hooked capture plate goes behind each ear, using 2 bolts each and a Small Nut Holder
• The hinge attaches to the top back edge with the remaining 2 bolts and the Medium Nut Holder

The end result is shown in the images below.

How to Wear

With it installed, simply ensure that you have the backplate open and you should be able to put the mask on like you would normally. Once you have the mask on and sitting comfortably, lower the backplate into position and use the latches to secure it. Ensure that no hair is trapped in the mask and remove any as needed.

We have found through our testing that the hair on the back of the mask will move with the backplate, making it easy to put the mask on, but once the mask is on you may want to brush the back of the hair out to ensure that it is tidy and sitting correctly.

Locking you say?

Yes, all backplates will be lockable, though it is up to the customer to supply their own locks to do so. The latches include a 4.5mm diameter hole where a padlock can be added, making it impossible to open the latch, though you are not restricted just to using a padlock. Anything that fits the diameter of the hole can be added to prevent the latch from being opened, be it a classic padlock, a nut and bolt, or even a cable tie.

Personally, we recommend cable ties. Not only are they safer due to not having any mechanical parts that could fail, they can also be easily cut to free the wearer and are made of lightweight plastic so they won’t make much noise or move around as much as a normal padlock.

If you do have a lock fail while in use, don’t panic. Just grab a screwdriver and unscrew the capture plate from the mask and you can remove the mask without removing the padlock. As the name suggests, the nut holder on the inside of the mask will hold the nuts in place as you unscrew the capture plate, though you may find that it starts spinning when you try to remove the second bolt. To avoid this, unscrew the first bolt but leave it a few twists from being fully undone, to keep the nut holder from spinning and then loosen off the second bolt. Once both bolts are loose, you shouldn’t have any trouble getting them both out. 

Whilst this can all be done solo, we would highly recommend having a second person around to help you out just in case, or alternatively, you could practise unscrewing the capture plate while wearing the mask without a lock in place. Like we said above, the key thing is not to panic, so having some practise under your belt or a second pair of hands on stand-by will help put your mind at ease in a worst-case-scenario situation. We greatly prioritised safety and ease-of-use when designing the backplate, but it never hurts to be prepared.

My Mask does not have any holes

If you currently own either an Ami mask from before March 2022 or an Anna mask from before June 2022, then it will not include any holes for the backplate. All masks brought after this should have holes pre-drilled in the mask, though they may be hard to find under the hair. If you do not have holes in your mask, holes will need to be added to it before you can use the backplate. We highly recommend our own services to have your mask modified for backplate use. Services for adding back plate holes cost £25 not including shipping, so please contact us to discuss this if it something you are interested in.

You do have the right to modify the mask yourself and the method below is a guide on how to do so. We do not recommend self-modification as it poses many risks. DAME will not take responsibility for any harm or damage modifications may cause to any persons, the mask, equipment and possessions you own.

Self-modification Method

You will require the following tool(s):

• PH1 Philips Screwdriver
• Drill with 3mm drill bit
• Masking Tape
• Pen/Pencil
• (Optional) Round Needle File
• (Optional) Glue Gun

First, place your mask face down on a soft non-abrasive surface, we recommend bubble wrap, and move the hair away from the opening of the mask. Add some masking tape to the top-middle of the mask opening and to behind the ears where the holes will be going, this is to help to prevent the paint from becoming damaged when the holes are drilled. You may find that the hair is glued close to the edge of the mask at the middle back, if so, then carefully remove the wig at this point and try and re-glue it slightly further up the mask using a glue gun.

Using the backplate as a template, position it on the mask to cover the opening and use the hinge to mark out onto the tape where to drill the holes. Remove the backplate and then drill the holes with a 3mm drill bit and remove the tape from this area.

Attach the backplate to the mask using the hinge and then, now it is more stable, use the latches and the capture plates to mark up where to drill the holes for the capture plates. Again, drill the holes with a 3mm drill bit before removing the tape and attaching the capture plates.