Nick and I are looking to go out this weekend to purchase materials for our weapons. Where do you experienced players purchase your 5/8" foam pipe? We're in Virginia but we're planning on shopping in the Raleigh-Durham area. This is Nick's best weekend out of the month for us to be able to get this done before the play test.
Thanks guys!
We located everything we need with the noted exception of the 3/8 pipe foam. We purchased 1/4 pipe foam and there is a huge difference. 1/4 is unsafe. In the hands of my 6 year old, who doesn't pull his swings, it feels like a bat wrapped in duct tape.
As far as the tape goes. Gaffers tape is so unavailable that we have made the executive decision that duct tape will be permitted in weapon construction. If not for any other reason but the price. Gaffers tape is approximately $12 a roll plus shipping and handling. Duct tape is $4 at the local hardware store.
That being said, don't go out and recover your finely made boffer weapons in duct tape. If they meet specs you can swing just about anything. A lolly pop comes to mind.
To paraphrase Gandalf: Is it simple? Is it safe?
Anybody I've already talked to on the subject already knows my policy. There are people who can swing real weapons safely in mock combat (i.e., live steel) and there are people who can seriously injure another person with just about any object, no matter how padded. As long as your weapons are reasonably safe, they will be permitted. If you start hurting people with them, it'll be on you, not the weapon.
That being said, don't bring anything you think you might hurt someone with. In case you need to know what constitutes "reasonably safe," Nick's working hard on those guidelines, but the above is an obvious one: 1/2" pipe foam is too thin.
Thanks for all the hard work, bro.
I've got a sword made from Chip from Talan (I think that's his name) it's a big 2 hander, it meets inclave standards so I assume it'll meet yours. I've got an arse load of other weapons too so I'll bring em all just in case it dosen't
"she looked into your eyes / and saw what lay beneath / don't try to save yourself the circle is complete."
In response to the pipe foam question: For small orders I buy my pipe foam from Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000DZHD0W (I recommend the "Deerso" sellers, they ship SO fast and have always come through for me). If you're going in for a mass order you can special order it by the case from Ace Hardware, but most players do NOT want to make a ton of weapons or shell out several hundred dollars for materials.
Gaff tape is tough to find in stores but there is a place around Durham that sells it online by the roll (http://www.buytape.com/). I've bought from them a few times...they don't have a storefront but I'm pretty sure they would not object to picking up an order at the warehouse in Chapel Hill if you want to skip the shipping. Have also heard rumors of a hardware store in the Raleigh area that sells by the roll but I have yet to find it!
-Casey-
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I reject your reality and substitute my own!
I typically buy all my supplies at Lowe's or Home Depot. if you guys need pvc pipe I have a pipe and some extra pieces I'm not using as well as couch foam for hammers and such.
"she looked into your eyes / and saw what lay beneath / don't try to save yourself the circle is complete."