Ask a Smith a Question, cause you just dont know yet

[Draconis]

ok, this thread is for asking a question regarding weapon and armor creation/maintainance/rules; and allows smiths to answer.

Example:

Q: the PVC tip of my weapon keeps tearing through the weapon, what do I do?

A: applying duct-tape directly to the pvc will help to dull the sharp edges to the end, also you could jam a plastic bottle cap on the end and tape it down.


I hope everybody gets the jist of this


-Shredder

[Valdor]

OK so after fighting with my flail for a while the foam inside the fabric keeps getting pack toward the tip causing it to become hard. Ouch!!! Combine this with the fact that we live in Washington and it rains alot, whenever the tip get wet the flail has to be put down due to safety. Now since i cant do anything about the weather i was wondering if any smith could advise me on a way to help keep the foam from campacting and extending the use of the flail even if it does get a little wet

[gisiebob]

all I can say is talk to spanky...

[blue]

sew the foam into the cloth so its not lose. separating it into smaller section may also help prevent a large clump. spraying water retardant onto the cloth will also help with the moisture.

[Balls]

im gonna suggest to spanky to try using a newer, more waterproof fabric for flails to escape this issue
something like a poncho
this would sacrifice softness for durability

ill ask him though

Glad perhaps?

[Rasheab]

I'm planning on using waterproofing spray on all my weapons Carlos (because all our weapons are cloth covered). I'll let ya know how that works out.

[Draconis]

*not entirley sure if it'll work, but how about putting the foam head inside a waterproof plastic bag (ziplock or sandwhich bag) and then covering with cloth... might keep the foam from absorbing moisture.

-shredder

[gisiebob]

you'ld be better off with just duct tape.
also, your weapons are made out of closed cell foam (camp pad, right?), whichdoesn't take water in much (which is why it is so useful as camp pads). most of our flails have open cell foam heads, so it wouldn't be that great of an experiment...

[Draconis]

And for Carlos' sake:
All Bofferer's, never try to thaw a flail over a fire...its not a good idea.


-shredder

[Rasheab]

*laughs* Carlos tried to thaw a weapon over a fire? -Priceless-

Gisie, the duct tape solution is expressely forbidden in our rules. "The amount of tape on a striking surface should be kept to a minimum."

All told, camp pad and DAP is fairly water proof. But I hate when my covers soak up water. And our javelins & thrusting tips (so spears and stabbing swords) are made out of open cell.

(I'm not ignoring you Draconis. Someone else suggested a similar idea.)

[Draconis]

alright, a buddy of mine asked me to make him a boffer hammer...a BIG hammer. (think Ajax from the movie Troy)

Does anyone have any ideas? *NOTE* i dont have any matress foam, only pipe and a little bit of camp mat left.


-shredder

[Thief]

the way i would make a hammer would require quite a bit of camp foam. essentially a head made of near-solid campfoam with a layer of either bed foam or pvc foam for the striking edge. kind of an obvious construction method, i know.

i cant help you with the camp foam but if you need a sh*t load of bed foam-like material i have a bunch that i can give you this weekend. just give the word. there's more than enough to make even a Megaton Hammer head.

EDIT: NO COST.

[blue]

my self and at least one other person have used a plastic bottle either one gallon milk jug or standard juice bottle for a hallow frame for the center of the hammer to give it size and light weight. then just pad the out side of that. honestly though i would go with the mattress foam that thief is offering you. easy and simple.

[Draconis]

ok, thanx people, thats some good advise

yeah thief, if you can bring me some of that matress foam that'd be great, ummm...about the same amount as a roll of camp foam if possible, or if not that much then whatever you can.


-shredder

[Thief]

just watch as i hand over an entire kitchen-sized garbage bag full of it to you. i'm pretty much gonna give it all to you cuz i dont use it, ever. and i just really want to get rid of it. i'm tired of my closet being cluttered with useless weapon supplies.