How to make a duct tape sword

This is the second instructable in a series about how to make weapons and other equipment for LARP.
My main focus is that the weapons have to be safe, so kids can play with them without direct adult supervision, without getting hurt. And secondly so easy to make, that big kids, with help, can make it them self.

These weapons is perfect for a backyard battles or a game of LARP (Live action role play) in the nearby forests.
If you keep the design simple it is easy to make, and with adult supervision kids can make their own.

The other guides:
Battle axe

Step 1 Things needed

You will need
Sketch block
a pencil
A hobby knife, with interchangeable blades.
Extra blades
Used dull blade
a piece of cardboard or paper
a black marker
a cutting pad
contact glue
duct tape
reinforcement Tape
double sided tape
Silver tape, for decorations.
a sleeping pad
10 cm of foam tube
2 strips of cotton cloth
3cm thick bamboo, fiberglass or a broomstick

Comments

[bethcdh]

These absolutely rock! My son and his friends have been saving up for Nerf brand toys and now they can save some money and outfit their entire class. Reminds me of my dad making rubber band guns for himself and all of his friends when he was a kid.

[mcpoofy]

This is so great, I needed a prop sword for a movie I'm making and this makes a great and safe way to shoot an epic battle scene. I've got my layers glued together and I'm ready for shaping. Do you have any tips on carving and shapping? I really need this to look great.

[Dr Qui]

An electric carving knife if you have one, makes carving foam a piece of cake.  I worked in a hardware store that sold foam sheet cut to order, we used an electric carving knife as it cuts even 6" sheets of foam like butter.

If you dont have an electric knife a sharp kitchen knife with a serrated blade works ok

[morfmir]

You can make some engraving with a soldering iron, put the tape a little lose on the relief and highlight the engravings with a marker. Make some tests on a scrap piece of foam to practice.

/Thomas

[mcpoofy]

Awesome, thanks! I have a lot of small details that needed to be carved in th middle and I had no idea how to do it, Your soldering iron tip will work great!

[Dr Qui]

Impressive stuff, well done and keep it up.

[harry potter rules]

amazing i rated it 5.0

[wolfking1016]

5.0 thats an insult i rate it infinty and beyond you obbiously dont know kids

[heat700]

Where exactly can I get a bunch of that foam?

[broper]

if your wondering who your new suscriber is its me

[morfmir]

Thanks, I will make more 'ables soon. I'm very busy right now, but I have some ideas for new ones.

/Thomas

[bakumaster117]

hello thomas i was wondering do you run a nerf class?

[harry potter rules]

im soooooo subscribing to u !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nehi]

That kids sword is bigger than himself!

[nehi]

Do you know how much it costs to get all the supplys?

[Jyssa]

OMG when I saw the thumbnail of that last pic, of them up against your couch, I thought the items were resting against someone's FINGERS - and I went WTF???  Miniatures?? How the hell do you make those out of foam and duct tape?

[scistone]

Oh, I see. LOL HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[Portalman]

YES!!!! me too.

[taria]

you did too huh? that's what I thought, I was thinking gees he's making swords but they are tiny swords..lol

[canadianrock]

Thats pretty cool! thanks for all your help, im gonna use that for my Halloween costume!!

[smileys]

hmmmm.... I wonder if you could do a sephiroth style sword using this method.... better yet cloud's buster sword!!! Oh by the way if you can't tell I like final fantasy....

[skittlespider]

That could work but I see a length/weight issue with those two swords. You will have to put something pretty sturdy under the duct tape

[anex]

 Good to see you are training the kids in the way of Awesomeness early.  Then when they are older they can truly be epic larpers!

[seflynn]

i agree thoes swords remind me of the old larp swords in my group now we have new epic ways of makeing them

[tsukiyomaru0]

I'll be sre to use THIS instructable instead of the other one I found in another site! :D

[Attamet]

I made one! the one on the left is mine, the one on the right is my brother's. The method here makes really fun swords that don't hurt at all! From now on I'm making all my swords like this.

[morfmir]

That looks very good. Great design I'm glad that you like my instructable.

[Attamet]

Very good instructable with awesome results! Keep up the good work

[evenstay2]

hey i am wanting to make my own sword and im just wondering is it safe to say that ur foam is about 5mm thick?

[morfmir]

The foam I use is 8mm. If you can only get 5 mm and you feel that the sword is to thin with 5mm foam, just use 4 or 5 layers til you feel it has the right thickness. /Thomas

[evenstay2]

thanks =)

[justjimAZ]

You have done a very nice job with this. I have made many, many foam weapons for various purposes and am very impressed with your results here.

[FFVIIBOY]

well since its suposed to look like Sting and also cuz its a tutorial on makin a sword id like to know if youd join my group the Fellowship of The Ring and put this on
PS i am seriously suprised that no one else made a group called the Fellowship of the Ring

[seabananers]

maybye cuz its a straight rip lord of the rings like if you play world of warcraft and make a hunter named Lagolass then people call you a b****
just sayin

[FFVIIBOY]

ahh, kids trying to cut each others heads off with swords the size of their bodies

[Brother_D]

 Wow, these would make some sweet movie props.... Thanks!

[yourworstnightmare]

i love warhammer yours is awsome 

[yourworstnightmare]

 for the handle and reinforcing would 1/2inch pvc work as well if i figured out how to pad it

[Mirime]

Awsome I like it
though the girls wepon remark is kind of how shall i say it  sexist
my sister an i love to sword fight and we made swords out of knex now that was
and still is fun!!!
Still awesome dude

[skimmo]

larp is cosplay of roids