Best Way to Soften Foam?

Making Weapons and Shields

Moderator: Belegarth: Forum Moderators

Best Way to Soften Foam?

Postby Kyrael » Wed Jun 13, 2012 10:34 pm

I have my Claymore now but the foam seems a bit harder then I expected. I am told after some use it will soften up on its own but it seems rather cruel to soften it up that way. I was hoping for a few idea's on how to soften up my sword
Gatekeeper
User avatar
Kyrael
Recruit
Recruit
 
Posts: 11
Joined: Wed Jun 13, 2012 10:21 pm
Started Fighting: 25 Sep 2005
Realm: Babylon
Favorite Fighting Styles: Great Sword

Re: Best Way to Soften Foam?

Postby Blitz. » Wed Jun 13, 2012 10:55 pm

Hit it against a tree? I dunno. Using a Table top?... I think the tree thing might be a bad idea.
Koom Di' Puts wrote:And here I thought the point of the game was to have fun?

Savage wrote: I find that beer often aids in this process.

Ticonderoga wrote:And if all else fails. I'm getting my mom.

Forkbeard wrote:[And]I'm going to continue being a happy sword weilding wierdo until then.
FB
User avatar
Blitz.
Monkey
Monkey
 
Posts: 175
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2010 2:34 pm
Location: Fresno, California
Started Fighting: 10 Mar 2008
Realm: Sunspear
Unit: Silverhelms
Favorite Fighting Styles: Sword and Board

Re: Best Way to Soften Foam?

Postby Kyrael » Wed Jun 13, 2012 11:12 pm

yea I don't think I'll try a tree but a table top might work if I can find one that is sturdy mine of course is made out of glass so I don't think I'll test it on that table
Gatekeeper
User avatar
Kyrael
Recruit
Recruit
 
Posts: 11
Joined: Wed Jun 13, 2012 10:21 pm
Started Fighting: 25 Sep 2005
Realm: Babylon
Favorite Fighting Styles: Great Sword

Re: Best Way to Soften Foam?

Postby Caleidah » Wed Jun 13, 2012 11:45 pm

Whack it against the ground. If you use a tree, be sure to hit evenly along the surface.
Knight of Grond
Palatine of the Sons of Sylas
"But in life, the young king becomes a tyrant, and leads his people to war."
User avatar
Caleidah
Boo Radley
 
Posts: 2055
Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2009 11:36 pm
Location: Central IL
Started Fighting: 03 Jan 2009
Realm: Grond
Unit: Sons of Sylas
Favorite Fighting Styles: Boot and Bottle

Re: Best Way to Soften Foam?

Postby Tiberius Claudius » Thu Jun 14, 2012 7:46 am

And wrap/duck tape a blanket around the tree to protect your weapon from jagged bark pieces. A pell can possibly work if you have access to that.

I actually soften up my weapon along the top edge of my pickup truck bed. It's rounded so it won't damage the weapon, but hard enough to do the job and not get damaged itself.

You don't need to go crazy, maybe about 10 hits on each striking surface. As said above, make sure its even, and don't try to kill the thing and make dents in the blade.
Remy the Wroth wrote:Just don't call it boffing/boffering. That's not what we do. We fight. With swords. To the sorta-death. I can't stand it when someone says boffering. Plus is means sexin' in the UK.



RIP Surt, Adunakhor of Barad'dun
Image
User avatar
Tiberius Claudius
Hero
Hero
 
Posts: 1431
Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2009 10:50 pm
Location: St. George, UT
Started Fighting: 20 May 2009
Realm: An Tir Dearg - Realm Leader
Unit: War Wolves of An Tir Dearg
Favorite Fighting Styles: S&B, spear, longsword

Re: Best Way to Soften Foam?

Postby bo1 » Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:45 am

use it at practices and excersize some control with your swings. or have a friend hold a shield and smash away.
Sir Beauregaurd Brutus Elevo
Knight of Rhun
High Commander of
Clan of the Hydra
That's Mr. Implacable to you.
If you disagree disrespectfully, the boards are a much better read.
Dane
User avatar
bo1
The Nightbringer
 
Posts: 2298
Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2006 8:52 pm
Location: Madison WI, AKA Rhun
Favorite Fighting Styles: whatever peter the quick is doing just like everyone else

Re: Best Way to Soften Foam?

Postby Spike » Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:45 pm

I always break mine in on my sisters bicycle.
User avatar
Spike
Grizzled Veteran
Grizzled Veteran
 
Posts: 3254
Joined: Sat Nov 22, 2003 3:52 am
Location: Portland, OR
Started Fighting: 9- 0-2003
Realm: Pyke
Unit: Horde
Favorite Fighting Styles: Spear

Re: Best Way to Soften Foam?

Postby varadin » Thu Jun 14, 2012 1:49 pm

Once again i will post this.

Foam does not break in, it breaks down. Softening the foam will just make it core out on someone quicker.

my advice add softer foam to it (marine IMO)
User avatar
varadin
Veteran
Veteran
 
Posts: 1932
Joined: Sun May 04, 2003 3:26 pm
Location: Pentwyvern
Started Fighting: 20 Apr 2001
Realm: Pentwyvern
Unit: EBF

Re: Best Way to Soften Foam?

Postby Kyrael » Thu Jun 14, 2012 5:33 pm

Varadin wrote:Once again i will post this.

Foam does not break in, it breaks down. Softening the foam will just make it core out on someone quicker.

my advice add softer foam to it (marine IMO)


~.~ I feel kinda retarded for not realizing that. Honest truth is softer foam probably would be the best but I have yet to make my own weapons (shame) I got this one from edhellen. I made my own leather armor with a kit and wasn't so bad but my first couple attempts at a blade ended in 2 fails and a half done correctly sword so I decided to just push out the dough
Gatekeeper
User avatar
Kyrael
Recruit
Recruit
 
Posts: 11
Joined: Wed Jun 13, 2012 10:21 pm
Started Fighting: 25 Sep 2005
Realm: Babylon
Favorite Fighting Styles: Great Sword

Re: Best Way to Soften Foam?

Postby Arrakis » Fri Jun 15, 2012 2:47 pm

Sort of wish Forged Foam (nee Edhellen) would go ahead and modify the design of their two-handed knuckle-breakers so they don't fail right out of the box, pass for a few minutes, and then break down into pain sticks after only a little use.

It wouldn't take much.
User avatar
Arrakis
Warning: Knows Math
 
Posts: 4784
Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:24 pm
Location: Central Jersey
Started Fighting: 17 Jun 2007
Realm: Crystal Groves
Unit: Omega
Favorite Fighting Styles: No gimmicks.
Pronouns: He/Him


Return to Foam Smithing

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 12 guests