Help: Crafting Materials

[Henry Gondorf]

Good Evening all,

In light of the approaching calamity of the first event it is best to face such times prepared...

Flavor text aside: I am crafting my boff weapon and find there are some remarkable price gouging happening for 5/8 open cell pipe insulation in mainstream stores. I now have some helpful suggestions for where to look but it might help to ask here as well. If anyone has a reliable source or tips I am all ears.

[cathy]

Quote from my boyfriend who makes our weapons.

"Go here http://www.mcmaster.com . They have any size foam with different inner and outer diameters. Depending if you are using pvc of kite spar."

(Hope that helps ^_^)

[illuminatisvie]

If you don't want to wait for an order to come in and don't live too far from Billerica, this is a great source for the 5/8ths foam.

http://www.oconnorhardware.com/contact.html

[liahgeron]

So, technically, mcmaster doesn't have 5/8 in foam any more. the regulations have changed in plumbing in NE, so everything is 3/4 inches now. Their foam is durable, but you want to let it soften up a bit as it starts a bit hard. Lasts forever and a day though.

You can still find 5/8 inch foam for larger cores (around .7 or up) that I use for padding some of the upper parts of pole arms. You can find it on Amazon. The shipping is kinda a gauge though. Once, I searched for a large size and got a huge box I"m still slowly depleting. They don't carry it any more sadly and the shipping was a pain.

http://www.amazon.com/Thermwell-Product ... foam+5%2F8

You can cut a strip out of it and use tape to patch it together to make thinner weapons, but it leaves a weak spot along that edge you have to watch. I tend to use it to make katana style weapons by adding an extra half inch of padding over that potential flaw and replacing the blades every year or so even if I can't find a weak spot. It's honestly mostly a cosmetic difference, so stick with the mcmaster if you can as it's easier to work with. Good luck!

[Erica]

I second the recommendation for O'Connor's in Billerica. I stocked up about a month ago and they had plenty in stock.

[Madrigus]

I'd hit up building 19, or drive city streets looking for couches being thrown out. We're talking open cell yeah?

[cathy]

Not open cell, the foam that goes around the core in larp-weapons.

[Tesla]

Yeah, I dropped by Fun with Winds Kites in North Reading this weekend. Picked up some .505 fiberglass tubing. I bought the last three he had. I am amazed how small this tubing is. I'm used to big sticks of PVC. I grabbed some 5/8th pipe foam at Home Depot, but it wasn't the right type. It's 5/8th width of the foam wall you want, not 5/8th size of the pipe hole in the middle. Going to have to drop by O'connors when I get a chance. And Building 19, need a block of foam for the end/tip.

Now, I'm making a cane. According to the rules, I start with a 42 inch .505 pole.
Bottom 12 inches covered in grip tape, bottom end capped. This is the handle.
The top 32 inches covered in a single layer of 5/8th foam, formed to the pole,
an extra 2 inches of foam continuing past the top capped end of the pole.
For a long club, it states it needs a striking head of at least 6 inches, but I was going to add a second layer of 5/8th to the top 12-14 inches to make the "cane" taper down to the ground end. More striking area = safer
Then fill in the top no pole, foam part and add a open cell foam ball to the top for a thrusting tip, though it won't be a thrusting weapon to bring it to 46 inches.

That sound about right to people?

(Is not a Foamsmith----->)

[Henry Gondorf]

Thank you everyone for the wonderful help and suggestions. I found the pipe foam I need and will hit Building 19 for that block of foam for the tip. I am surprised how fast this is coming along now. I have one last question.

I would like to give extra definition to the blade of the weapon to help it have more of a wedge shape. Is anyone able to offer suggestions to accomplish this visual effect? I am looking at adding extra foam to being creative with the application of duct tape. Bonus points if people will offer pros and cons for having a unique shaped weapon. I have an idea I would have to work on a custom holster/ Sheathe for it. I would like to have a good amount of information before committing to such a project.

[Madrigus]

Ooooh the closed cell foam for the core! Yeah I go to dollar stores and pick up pool noodles for a dollar. Makes my life easier