How to make cheap fake barb wire

I needed some barb wire for a costume prop. Obviously I didnt want to use the real stuff because of the potentional for accidents. I could have brought some of the fake stuff but the cost of P&P and the item always puts me off buying them from online stores.

So I thought I'd make use of the things I have lying around the house then I dont have to wait for it to arrive and I could get on with my prop that same evening

It's a very simple and easy technique that I hope people will follow and use in the future.

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Step 1: The Materials

You will need:

String, roughly 2.5 times more string than you want barbed wire.
PVA glue, the staple of many a project
Grey Paint, I used grey poster paint, actually white and black mixed but anything that will mix with the glue will be fine.

Make up a pot of glue. I diluted mine down 1:1 with water, which means it dries softer and is easier to work with. I mixed the grey paint into the glue at this stage to ensure nice even colouring. Roughly 4:1 is my ratio of dilluted glue to paint.

psiren says: Oct 21, 2012. 11:47 AM

This looks really good. I've had a go myself to make a headpiece for a Halloween costume, I could only get really rough string so it doesn't look as good and was tricky to work with but it looks OK. I brushed mine with a tiny amount of brown paint on a dry brush to make it look rusty and will probably add a bit of fake blood to the tips.
Thanks for the instructions :)

joetubealong says: Mar 31, 2012. 7:16 PM

That is really ingenuitive and it looks cool!

zac_9687 says: Nov 16, 2011. 4:50 PM

this is beautifully made. i was looking for some alternative to the real thing for a bracelet im making, but when i looked i didnt honestly think i was going to find something that looked so good. major props for the fantastic barb wire and thank you very much for a great ible

dadoftwins says: Oct 26, 2010. 6:32 PM

How long does it take to dry?

Broberg says: Sep 24, 2010. 6:20 PM

This is some of the best looking "barbed-wire" I have ever seen! you could even tip the ends of the barbs in red paint to get some blood on them or maybe a rust color to get an aged look.

Big KUDOS!!!

SasquatchKid says: Jun 11, 2010. 7:17 PM

This wont work like we used it in Guadalcanal i even still have my barb wire roll

jbicb3 says: Jul 16, 2009. 1:15 PM

Very cool. I do a lot of photo shoots, and was going to try to make razor wire for one coming up, but I think this will be a lot easier. Thanks for your creativity!

masterochicken says: May 31, 2008. 10:52 PM

"Obviously I didnt want to use the real stuff because of the potentional for accidents." This makes no sense to me

Shut Up Now in reply to masterochickenMar 14, 2009. 2:58 PM

barbed wire is designed to catch on clothing and such things and Cut and Rip them...

feswee in reply to masterochickenFeb 24, 2009. 11:54 PM

lol.. do you even know what barbed wire is used for??

thepelton in reply to fesweeJul 16, 2009. 1:55 PM

I agree. I was born in Wyoming, which has thousands of miles of the stuff.

msraynsford (author) in reply to masterochickenJun 1, 2008. 1:29 AM

If I ran around at a party waving real barb wire somebody could get hurt. This stuff is a whole lot softer than the real thing so wouldnt cause an accident

Sora_1_2 in reply to msraynsfordFeb 12, 2011. 5:16 PM

I think (READ: hope) he is making a comment of your spelling.
You said potentional
Instead of potential.

daninja says: Feb 18, 2009. 5:37 PM

what was the costume??

msraynsford (author) in reply to daninjaFeb 19, 2009. 1:15 AM

It's a long story, and much easier to say costume or prop for an amatuer dramatics production. PM me and I'll send you a photo if you're still interested

daninja in reply to msraynsfordMar 14, 2009. 2:06 PM

yes, very.

cosgrove says: Jun 22, 2008. 3:33 PM

Awesome, I'll maybe have to try this, One Idea, If you get silver paint, put it onto a paintbrush, then wipe most of it off, and lightly drybrush the "barbed wire" it will give it a metallic look. Creative and Well Presented 5/5

red-king in reply to cosgroveJan 23, 2009. 8:43 PM

you could even get a bit of reddish brown paint and add a small amount after painting it silver to give it a rusted look...

bigfangirl says: Dec 25, 2008. 6:30 PM

cool :D that looks awesome!

jennakp says: Aug 7, 2008. 8:17 PM

i'm going to try using thin leather strips/rolls from a crafts' store. i've been thinking of tying to do this somehow with thin wire. you just solve the problem for me. thank ya

mhavrilla88 says: Jun 22, 2008. 3:14 PM

THIS IS SWEEEEEEET!!'

scopevisions says: Jun 10, 2008. 11:55 PM

nice instructable !!! what if ... you use liquid latex (add color first) it wll be flexible and accident free. just a thought...

Sehnsucht says: Jun 7, 2008. 6:50 PM

what's the flexibility of this, asks the "alternative" dresser?

GorillazMiko says: Jun 1, 2008. 3:00 PM

Awesome and amazingly easy. Great job, this would work great on Halloween, or at school to scare friends! MWUAHAHAHA! +5/5 stars.

Juklop says: May 31, 2008. 8:34 AM

Wicked.

duck-lemon says: May 30, 2008. 2:54 PM

All your stuff is brilliant brilliant BRILLIANT! are you making a movie or something or are you just making it for the fun of it?

msraynsford (author) in reply to duck-lemonMay 31, 2008. 12:30 AM

I make because I can. And largely cos I want to impress at fancy dress parties, dont forget the Saw stuff was made last halloween and the Iron man stuff was made this year. I do have other costumes I'm working on though. Must remember to take more photos of those.