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Post by Duke Fontayne on Oct 30, 2009 14:44:17 GMT -5
Savages, I am thinking about building a red sword because my arsenal doesn’t include one, and I’m on a building binge. I have not built a red before and I would like your expertise and maybe even your opinions on the matter.
My initial thought is to use: - 48” of schedule 80 PVC (dark grey) as the core, ¾” diameter leave a grip of about 10” - 3” long and ¾” diameter bolt for some counterweight - box the core with Walmart blue foam and DAP two layers on the flats 4 layers on the striking surface, and then maybe run a strip of double sided carpet tape and a layer of Meijer blue foam which is squishier, but could be ripped off and replaced as it degrades. - Top the tip off with 2” of couch foam
Anyone with some red building experience, I would love to hear your thoughts.
Would a sandwich of blue foam around the core be better, with a few surface sheets?
Is schedule 80, ¾” dia. PVC an okay core at 48”? Would schedule 40 work?
Are there better methods for adding counterweight?
Thank you barbarians, Duke Fontayne Novice Foamsmith
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Rowan
NS Admin
NS Chieftan
Only by death of sword will I get into heaven!
Posts: 852
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Post by Rowan on Oct 30, 2009 15:25:07 GMT -5
Schedual 80 is your best bet. It will work for a red, but only at '48, much longer and its wippy and will snap. Other than that, your plans seem fair.
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Post by Duke Fontayne on Oct 30, 2009 16:35:48 GMT -5
Only fair? What if I want superb or epic even?
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Post by stubbie on Oct 30, 2009 19:46:09 GMT -5
Superb or Epic would require you to obtain 46 inches of 1/2" diameter square fiberglass to utilize as a core....assuming you want a minimum red sword. Also to obtain epic you would need EVAlite foam (striking foam), Ensolite foam (stabbing foam) and Plasti-Dip for the flats / pommel.
Also I have helped craft / used a sced. 80 cored 54" red w/ stabby made from blue foam....it hits like a mother ****** 2x4. After break in it still wasn't the best feeling....actually a 1" BS pole made a better hitting red... in my opinion.
But hey build! You gotta try everything before you decide what you like and can only play with it if ya got it!
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Post by zeroek on Nov 8, 2009 19:55:01 GMT -5
Order you some 1/2" square fiberglass and make one from that. You won't regret it. I hear people enjoy my red.
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Post by BeoKnoch on Mar 24, 2010 23:01:05 GMT -5
Where would i order the fiberglass pole from? is it the same a the band shop that people use for pole arms?
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Beard
NS Mod
Savage
Posts: 193
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Post by Beard on Mar 24, 2010 23:39:45 GMT -5
you can order some from www.mcmaster.com/Its not the same as a bandshoppe pole. Bandshoppe is generally used for polearms only. You can order some 1/2" square fiberglass at 5' for about 6.28 + shipping but, dont qoute me on that. Just go to their web site and poke around for a bit. Beard
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Post by Furyun on Mar 25, 2010 11:26:34 GMT -5
3 grey fiberglass rods make a good red core, they are $1 each at Tractor Supply on colliseum blvd, near the truck stop.
$3, $6, $20 better learn to fight before you shave weight off your gear.
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Post by Duke Fontayne on Mar 25, 2010 14:02:48 GMT -5
Hmmm.... I never posted the outcomes of my experiemental red build.
Core: 3/4" Sch 80 PVC (grey) I did a box build with blue Wal-Mart foam. I believe I cut the core to 46 or 47 inches. 4 layers of blue on each striking surface. 2 layers on the flats (probably overkill and made it look like a brick on a stick). Couch foam for a stabby tip (wide base made it easy to attach). It looked rather anime-ish.
I broke it in a bit and it passed the hit test but was borderline failing on flex. I hit it against a tree near the handle and it would have failed. I gifted the mega-sword to my brother-in-law so he can beat his children with it (he has 4). But worry not because I have also armed all four little monsters with their own clubs and swords. The DAP-ed core did seperate cleanly from the foam at one point. The core has been Gorilla Glued and shoved back into the cavity. Further data will be collected this spring.
Red two point oh.
Core: 3 fiberglass fence posts from Tractor Supply. Wrapped lengthwise and then spiral wrapped with strapping tape. I made this one into a big club similar in look to a tetsubo. Much like a spear, I used almost 1/2 a foam football to green up the end. The striking surface is 4 layers of blue Wal-Mart foam. It is solid and front heavy (not easy for me to wield one handed, but possible). I spiral wrapped thin rope around the 3 taped cores and covered that with hockey tape over about 15 inches of core to make the handle (which I like).
It makes for a mediocre red and a fun mini-spear.
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Post by stubbie on Mar 25, 2010 21:00:14 GMT -5
I can't find the 1/2"sq on that site Beard. I did find the 1/2" round, which doesn't work "quite" as well as the square for reds.
Generally 1/2"sq is good on flex up to ~ 5ft long. Round doesn't have as much material to spread the forces out so it flexes a bit more, making reds kinda dicey.
Plus round is a bit harder to build off of because of less surface area to glue to; but that's subjective and it CAN be done, very well.
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