Boffer Creation

Ok so I said this would be done a couple weeks ago but I got swamped with school work and sickness .Boffers are the simple homemade weapons of larping they may not look pretty but they´re cheap and they get the job done. Ok to be fair I know some one who makes boffers and they look very nice but most of the time if its your first one and you´re making it, it won´t be pretty.

Note: I am not at all a professional larper (yet) and a lot of the time I will connect things to Z-World automatically so often times I must say read the rules of your larp and ask people from that larp for help, this blog is mostly for people who are interested in Z-World. Thank You (please consult your larps rules before me, sorry for saying it again I'm just trying to hammer it in.)

Materials:

- Regular Pool Noodle/Woggle (For you brits out there)

- 3/4 inch pvc pipe/other (This will be the core)

- Duct tape (Lots)

- Hockey/Electrical tape (Hockey tape preferably)

- Open cell foam ( Sponge)

1. Cut your pool noodle and core to the desired length, the pool noodle for the striking surface should be shorter than the core but be long enough to go from the handle to about an inch off the end of the core. The pommel for the weapon should also hang about an inch of the bottom of the core.

2. Fill the end holes of the pool noodle with pieces of whats left of the rest of the noodle, once that is done tape over the ends with duct tape and secure the noodle to the core. Cover exposed foam with duct tape ( a few layers will do fine). Attach block of open celled foam to the tip of the weapon this is a thrusting tip so that in case you stab someone with it it won´t hurt. Cover thrusting tip with duct tape but use a safety pin to poke holes in it so that air can escape when it squishes.

3. Wrap handle in hockey/electrical tape for grip and you´re done.

You have now completed your boffer it will serve you well in battle, now go practice your fighting stance so you can effectively use it. Good Luck

BONUS: Whoa another boffer option? No way! Ok lets get going.

Materials:

- Blue or green foam camp mat (Check Bass Pro)

- Pvc/other for core

- Duct Tape (Again Lots)

- Hockey/Electrical tape for grip

- Magic marker

- Belt sander/Rotary tool with sanding drum

- Contact cement

1. Layout camp mat and draw basic weapon shape on foam. Cut core to desired length and put duct tape on both ends. Trace core onto basic outline of the weapon (there should be atleast an inch of clearance from the end of the core to the end of the foam), cut out basic shape and core shape.

2. Trace basic shape of weapon onto foam atleast 2 more times (depending on desired thickness) then cut them out. Glue the piece with the shape of the core onto one of the other pieces and put the core in the core shaped hole. Sandwich the other piece of foam on top glueing it down in the process. Allow time for contact cement to get tacky before sticking pieces together.

3. Using belt sander or rotary tool, sand foam to desired shape (<----this part isn't necessary). Once in desired shape cover all exposed foam in duct tape.

4. Wrap handle in whatever tape you're using for grip and you are finished.

While this method can provide some better looking weapons it can also make weapons that may not pass any safety tests. This method can be used with any sized core and any desired weapon shape.

This is actually the end now, nothing else here, goodbye.

January 28th, 2015: Found a person who made a better tutorial http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-safe-and-sturdy-Boffer-Sword/?ALLSTEPS

Image Sources:

http://imageshack.com/f/69/boffer2.jpg

myself