Foam for Arrows?

Making Weapons and Shields

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Foam for Arrows?

Postby Magpie Saegar » Sun Nov 21, 2010 8:57 am

So I'm looking to make some arrows, and right now I'm in the information gathering stage.

I've got the tutorial from the wiki (http://geddon.org/index.php/Constructing_Arrows), some sample arrows made with other (almost the same) techniques that I've cut cross sections of, and I have a good idea how to build it.

But I want that grey (computer?) foam. Where can I order that if I don't want to just buy an arrow kit? Or is there other foam I should/could be using? I know I've heard to definitely not use couch foam. What do y'all recommend? What's the best? Even if it's not the best, what do you use? Do you have any different tutorials or techniques you recommend?
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Re: Foam for Arrows?

Postby Prawn » Sun Nov 21, 2010 1:09 pm

http://www.foambymail.com/CharcoalFoam.html Looks like good stuff to me. and you can get it 3" thick and just cut into squares.

Though its pricey, a "third sheet" could make like 50+ arrow heads.
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Re: Foam for Arrows?

Postby Magpie Saegar » Sun Nov 21, 2010 4:10 pm

Hmmm. Any idea what density would be better?
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Re: Foam for Arrows?

Postby Arrakis » Mon Nov 22, 2010 10:30 am

PM Oznog. I think he likes the V90 or something?
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Re: Foam for Arrows?

Postby Isk » Mon Nov 22, 2010 1:00 pm

Oznog prefers the lawn balls, but they don't work as well for our game. For what we do, he recommends the V90 which I have been really happy with. It starts out about the same stiffness as the charcoal esther foam, but it lasts. The charcoal esther arrows I made have all broken down quickly while the V90 is still about the same as when I put it on. It can end up being cheaper to get the V90 as well. Order it here:
http://foamorder.com/custom_cuts.php?pr ... al&shape=1

I ordered strips of 2"x3"x36" and that worked out perfectly. You tell them you want to use V90 on the next page.
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Re: Foam for Arrows?

Postby Magpie Saegar » Mon Nov 22, 2010 5:08 pm

Awesome. Yeah, I just saw Oznog's recommendation on the Dag forums (a chaptermate of mine asked there, I figured I'd get a second opinion here).

Sounds good. I think I have some good options now. Thanks! (If anyone has any other helpful tips, though, feel free to toss them out here).
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Re: Foam for Arrows?

Postby Fitz Caliston » Mon Nov 22, 2010 7:00 pm

If your just looking for the foam components I sell arrow kits for $5 each that include:
-1pc-4lb MC base cone with a countersunk hole for the penny blunt and center hole predrilled for the arrow shaft.
-1pc, half inch cap of 4lb MC
-1pc, half inch cap of 2lb MC
-1pc, 2inch thick by 2.75x2.75 inch open cell block OR a half sphere of 3inch diameter open cell "Penn" foam tennis ball.
(so basically all the foam components you need for a safe arrow. You provide the shaft, tape(s), cloth cover, penny and

This is a shot of a modular tip (with the Penn arrow tip) before the cover is put on so you can see how the pieces go together:
Image

These are Burkes arrows that I completed with the cube/flat opencell tip:
Image
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Re: Foam for Arrows?

Postby Not Relevant » Mon Nov 22, 2010 7:26 pm

:idea:
Last edited by Not Relevant on Sun Nov 10, 2013 10:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Foam for Arrows?

Postby Isk » Tue Nov 23, 2010 12:48 am

Fitz, how much for just the MC components?

Patchiz, you're very welcome and I'll always be happy to send you directly to any supplier I have had good experience with, however shipping fees and minimum orders may take a big chunk out of your cost savings plan. In the future I will remember to add a special 150% storage and handling fee for local delivery to vikings. :devil:
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Re: Foam for Arrows?

Postby Not Relevant » Tue Nov 23, 2010 9:06 am

:idea:
Last edited by Not Relevant on Sun Nov 10, 2013 10:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Foam for Arrows?

Postby Fitz Caliston » Tue Nov 23, 2010 12:14 pm

$4 for the Cone and 2 different Cap pieces, $5 if you add a cube of open cell or half a Penn Ball. (plus shipping of course, I've got a variety pack of Flat Rate USPS shipping boxes on the way so I can figure out how many will fit per box)
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Re: Foam for Arrows?

Postby Isk » Tue Nov 23, 2010 1:02 pm

I've got to say I really liked those cones you showed me when you had your tent set up at Yestare. I'll have to grab a few of them from you next time I'm up that way. When I'm coming up, I'll PM you for that and the shield blank I wanted.
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Re: Foam for Arrows?

Postby Fitz Caliston » Tue Nov 23, 2010 2:48 pm

Sure thing!
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Re: Foam for Arrows?

Postby Oznog » Thu Dec 02, 2010 12:41 pm

Yeah. I think lawnballs DO make better, safer arrows overall, but IF you're going with cut foam, V90 is the way to go. The charcoal stuff breaking down is NOT just a maintenance issue, it IS a safety issue overall.

Image

I would strongly recommend the closed-cell backside here be the full width of the arrow. Otherwise, the outer 1/2" or whatever mostly folds back on impact, something we'd really rather not see.
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Re: Foam for Arrows?

Postby Fitz Caliston » Thu Dec 02, 2010 8:35 pm

When the cover goes on it the overlap sinches down onto the side and then is torqued down by the grip tape. If you make the cone and base the same size your looking at a 3+inch diameter arrow head.

Image
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Re: Foam for Arrows?

Postby Fitz Caliston » Thu Dec 02, 2010 8:41 pm

Oznog wrote: The charcoal stuff breaking down is NOT just a maintenance issue, it IS a safety issue overall.


I had to re-read the thread to realize you were talking about the carcoal opencell foam talked about in posts above my pic and not the grey/black 4lb MC I'm using for the bases in my design.
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Re: Foam for Arrows?

Postby Littlefoot22 » Mon Dec 12, 2011 1:52 pm

Based on what people have said before the v90 foam and the open cell foam balls are what should be used for arrows. But what would be the cheapest of the two?
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Re: Foam for Arrows?

Postby Plithut » Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:27 am

Oznog wrote:Yeah. I think lawnballs DO make better, safer arrows overall, but IF you're going with cut foam, V90 is the way to go. The charcoal stuff breaking down is NOT just a maintenance issue, it IS a safety issue overall.

Image

I would strongly recommend the closed-cell backside here be the full width of the arrow. Otherwise, the outer 1/2" or whatever mostly folds back on impact, something we'd really rather not see.



* it Oznog beat me to the punch. This is what I use now, and I will NEVER switch back to the old Edhellen Cube.

A three pack of these balls is like, $6-$8, so you get a half dozen arrows out of it.
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