Yikes, that sounds time-consuming and messy. If that works for you it's fine, I'm just a big fan of foam building.
If you have a tough time and want to try something else, here's a guide on how to build Dark Knight Gauntlets, which could easily be converted into Shredder gauntlets. It's made with super cheap foam from any craft store. You just need an exacto knife and some patience.
http://www.thefoamcave.com/dark-knig...uild-tutorial/