How to make a LARP safe Two handed sword or great weapon!

In this video I go through the steps for how I make a LARP safe Great sword or two handed sword for a character within the LARP system of Empire by profound decisions. This technique can be applied to most large two handed weapons.
I have built this so that it complies with the two handed great weapon rules for Empire Larp here in the UK. www.profounddecisions.co.uk/e...
The initial template is from one of Calimacils great swords which had a great ratio of flame wobble to length and can be found here calimacil.com/products/flambe... I simply printed the template to the size I wanted and went from there. This came as part of the request from my friend (this is not a paid commission, I don't make these weapons to sell, I'm just sharing the process) as they liked the overall size and shape but needed something that was the correct length for the empire great weapon rules.
Here is a list of the things I use in the video if you're UK based like me.
Foam - 10mm and 1mm Polyprops CF 65 and Craft foam
www.poly-props.com/craft-foam
12.7mm carbon fibre core was from All propped up. www.allproppedup.co.uk/
Latex - www.poly-props.com/studiorang... and also www.mbfg.co.uk/liquid-dipping...
Flexipaint - www.tyges.co.uk/product-categ...
Alpha thixofix - www.tyges.co.uk/product/thixo... or amzn.to/42sxrPv
Kevlar is from MBFG = www.mbfg.co.uk/kevlar-cloth.html
Carpet tape is from amazon amzn.to/40YpYq8
Scalpel amzn.to/3Lvrg6n
Gloves amzn.to/418ynr0
Knife sharpener (similar) amzn.to/4255tJB
Hobby Knife amzn.to/3AVNf1e
ISOFLEX - www.wickes.co.uk/Isoflex-Prof... Make sure its special primer clear not the black stuff! WEAR PPE
100% go and check out TtcCraftworks channel on youtube for more in-depth breakdowns on how to make LARP weapons, he does awesome videos covering most weapon types, showing each stage with a lot of detail.
/ @ttccraftworks8469
Go check out my other bits!
Esty - www.etsy.com/uk/shop/HermitPr...
Instagram - / thehermitworkshop
Other channels that I have found helpful when making LARP weapons over the years are as follows.
Something Soon -
• How to Make a LARP Wea...
Odin Makes: 3 Different Swords • Odin Makes: 3 Differen...
And one of the first I saw years ago that gave me a lot of help was LarpWright
How to make a larpsafe dagger - • How to Make a Larp Swo...

[@sleepyyghostt]

incredible!!!

[@Deezy_Ankh]

That's a badass weapon fam. 👍🏿💯🔥🔥🔥

[@TheBolem_]

Awesome work as ever!

[@thehermitworkshop2913]

Thanks very much!

[@eleanordavidson7643]

Very good!

[@thehermitworkshop2913]

Thanks El

[@nicholasyoung4585]

Great Job mate well done!

[@thehermitworkshop2913]

Thank you!!! slow to upload new material but should get a few more videos out over winter.

[@SamBarrett-xf8ui]

Great looking sword that! Very killy

[@thehermitworkshop2913]

Thank you Sam, I think it is quite killy.

[@johnjackson7525]

Another amazing video, best weapon tutorials on youtube! Love if you'd do an amour one sometime. Many many thanks!

[@JuneRacoon]

Wish I saw that before my first nightmare attempt of Larp sword. Now I have to try it again.

[@thehermitworkshop2913]

What happened?

[@bagel_guy9495]

He hath return!!

[@thehermitworkshop2913]

HA! Thank you for the comment made me smile.

[@fasecreativa]

Thank you very much for the tutorial! You have inspired me a lot to do my projects! all the best!

[@thehermitworkshop2913]

Thank you for taking the time to comment! Glad the video could be helpful!

[@spinaljuice4596]

I love this. It looks like a sword from Warhammer Fantasy

[@thehermitworkshop2913]

Thank you! That's a great compliment! Some excellent weapons from the fantasy game, particularly the older gens that hinted more towards the absurd.

[@spinaljuice4596]

@@thehermitworkshop2913 Should try making a replica of Ghal Maraz from WHF, that'd be a pretty cool prop

[@thehermitworkshop2913]

@spinaljuice4596 not a bad shout. I'm up for the challenge.

[@nymeriarush]

This looks incredible. I’m thinking of trying my hand at building a larp weapon and am curious how the grip/hilt holds up. I’ve seen different methods (like rolling the foam around the core then wrapping with electrical tape) and am not sure what’s most secure.

[@thehermitworkshop2913]

Wrapping is really good. I thiiiiink i did this on an older weapon maybe the witcher sword. But i do that more often than the method in this video with the full pattern. I have found the main thing is to give the core a proper good rough sand with low grit paper. Then also allow the contact adhesive at least 12 hours to cure properly overnight after a heavy roll and press. I also clamp the weapon between 2 planks of wood overnight night whilst it cures. This has made a noticeable difference in the durability of the weapons. I will often wrap the hilt in hockey tape rather than electrical tape as this has a nice texture for whatever goes on top to grip to like pleather or whatever you fancied or can even leave it as the tape as this has good grip and durability.

[@nymeriarush]

@@thehermitworkshop2913 This is great information; thanks so much!

[@wajr]

I MISSED YOU SO MUCH

[@thehermitworkshop2913]

That's so kind. Thank you for your comment.

[@nauki88]

Do weapons like this maybe work for something like amtgaurd>?

[@rudybeadles9543]

Where do you get your foam at? I’m new to this and would love to get into it

[@thehermitworkshop2913]

I get it from Polycraft. Foam is 10mm and 2mm Polyprops CF 65 and Craft foam www.poly-props.com/craft-foam There are other UK suppliers of foam but depends where you are based really.

[@HecateYada]

Any tips on working with Isoflex? Trying my hand at larp weapon making since I have cosplay prop experience. All I know is Isoflex will cure once opened and to batch make weapons, which just seems like such a shame for such an expensive product!! 😭😭😭

[@thehermitworkshop2913]

sorry not to reply sooner. It is a bit of an issue with Isoflex I must say. Sometimes I can get it to last a good 6 months if I seal the tins with 3 or 4 metal tin clips. These can be bought for quite cheap I also use vinyl tape on the tins to try and reduce additional air seeping in. Its not perfect and won't last mega long but it helps.

[@viniciuslazaridelima18]

Are there any suppliers for this foam in South america?? Or the especific name to find it in local stores?

[@thehermitworkshop2913]

I'm afraid I don't know of any specific suppliers. Its EVA foam or Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer foam it is a high density foam. Its comes in different density levels the higher the density the harder it is but the easier it is to cut, sand and add details

[@Edmar_Thorn]

just a quick question, you mention using Isoflex, what is that? because when I look it up all I'm getting is whey protein which doesn't exactly say "don't get this on your skin" if it's something you drink :/

[@thehermitworkshop2913]

Isoflex is a brand of liquid roofing rubber here in the UK and I think Europe. I use the clear special primer as a sealant for the latex. This is really intense nasty stuff so definitely not the whey protein you have found. Here is a link to retailer in the UK as a reference shorturl.at/iKQV1 . Your best bet is to use a clear plastidip though if you can't find it locally. There may be other clear liquid rubber solutions out there.... Isoflex doesn't eat the latex though so be careful as other brand might. People have had good results with Platidip.

[@thesilentminority961]

Where do you get your carbon fiber tubes

[@thehermitworkshop2913]

After a few places, i have settled for a company called "Plastock" here in the UK. Pretty good price for the lengths. Lots of thicknesses.

[@arranbtag]

How would one order a commission set which is Empire legal and do you do stab safe?

[@arranbtag]

Scratch that I have found the Etsy shop

[@arranbtag]

Will be in touch 😁

[@thehermitworkshop2913]

Currently not in the workshop or able to get in, but hope to be back at things soon. Please feel free to get in touch via etsy or Instagram

[@DollopussD]

Can you use bamboo as a core?

[@thehermitworkshop2913]

No, i would not recommend this. Bamboo although flexible and strong would not have the durability that is necessary for the contact of larp combat. Weapons can easily get snagged and pulled in more extreme ways that you'd anticipate with normal fighting. Rule of thumb I use is if you can bend and snap the core by hand holding each ends then its unsuitable for a core. Daggers are much shorter and therefore can have thinner cores that if 1m long would likely be snap able by hand but due to being only 30cm long they're fine. Likewise with spears and polarms. These being much longer would also need to be thicker to remain durable. Flexibility is great but carbon fibre and fibre glass also have a great level of rigidity as well. A cheaper option for a one off build is a carbon fibre golf club. Keep an eye out for these in thrift shops and on ebay etc. I made my first 4 swords from club sicks and they're still going strong 6 years on.

[@DollopussD]

@thehermitworkshop2913 thanks for the tip 👍

[@pink_parade2900]

How long did this take to make?

[@thehermitworkshop2913]

A lot of time is spent letting things dry to be fair. Lots of layers and stages. So day 1 is cutting the basic shape and glueing this to the core. This then needs 12 to 24 hours to properly cure before sanding pr cutting into the "blank" so to speak. This can take a few minutes to hours depending on the detail or finish you're after. This is when you can add details like the skuls and other bits. Then, usually, I coat the whole thing in the thinned contact adhesive and let this cure again overnight. So already 2 days and 2 nights but perhaps about 5 hours of actual working time, i did some flip flopping with the making and details so took a little longer plus filming it all adds to my time. But with a clear plan and focus its only a few hours at this stage. Then once the contact adhesive layer has cured overnight it needs 5 to 7 layers of latex. If applying with an airgun, then this is quicker but with a brush its about 10 minutes of application then perhaos 4 hours between layers and then an overnight again for the top coat. Then paint the finishing colours so however long you wanna spend here. Layers of thin paint gives a nicer finish, so this can take time. Then top coat of isoflex needs 12 hours to cure. Then you're done. So the process is over about 5 days. And the hours involved vary depending on details and finishes your after or how skilled and experienced you are with painte and i guess foam smithing. Can get several weapons done over the same time but most of the time is drying time for the materials.

[@nicholasyoung4585]

Sooooo Monster suits next?

[@thehermitworkshop2913]

YES

[@AdamMclardy]

Love that you just straight up copied an existing LARP sword lol

[@thehermitworkshop2913]

Interesting, would you send a link? I'm curious to see it, does it have teeth and bones? I didn't intend for the final design to directly copy anything. The initial template was really simple as you can see is that what you mean by copied? This was based off of one of Calimacil's designs for their flambard sword for the proportions and was a request from my friend so the rough size and shape were something that came from that. I didn't really plan the details it just kind of evolved. But obviously being part of the community I am immersed in LARP weapons, designs, ideas etc so the skulls, bones and teeth could easily have been something I clocked and replicated without meaning to. Either way, this video is more about the process of making something LARP safe and large and sharing that process so others can potentially create their own if they want.

[@thehermitworkshop2913]

I've added a note and link to the Calimacil weapon that I used as a template for this weapon in the description. As I say this came as part of a request from a friend for size/shape and this item was not a paid commission, (I don't take paid commissions generally) I am not trying to palm this off as my own design. The video is to show the process and share my method for making LARP-safe weapons. I would still love to see the link if it's the details that you believe have been copied as this genuinely was unplanned and was quite a random process. Thank you for your comment.

[@steveroy217]

'PromoSM' 🤩