Stabbing Tip Tutorial

[Swordbrother Nova]

Keep in mind that I've only made a stabbing tip like this once and I had the supervision of Devaryn, who may have used his jew magic on my sword while I wasn't looking.

Materials you'll need (AFTER you've made your sword):

open cell/stabbing tip foam (I used a hunter's cushion)
Spray adhesive 77
Strapping tape
Volara foam (http://www.foambymail.com/Volara.html)
Hockey tape

When making your sword keep in mind that if you want to make this kind of stabbing tip you need to leave the tip square.

If you are using the sammich style (Izad made a tutorial for it) stop once you've put together the rectangular blade. Instead of beveling the tip leave it square and cut out two pieces (pieces/step numbered 1) the length and width of the striking surface then glue them on to finish the blade, once you've done that cut out one layer of foam the same size as the top of the sword (piece/step number 2) and glue that piece on. like thusly:


Once you have you're square tipped sword you can begin making the stabbing tip. Cut a piece off of your hunter's cushion (the brownish thing in the picture below) that will cover exactly the tip of the sword, spray the glue on both surfaces to be put together and attach the stabbing tip.



Put two layers of strapping tape (the yellowish strip around the hunter's cushion foam) around the spot where the sword and the tip are glued together, try to get it half on the hunter's cushion and half on the sword itself. Next step cut a strip of volara foam (the black arch) out as wide as the blade is, this will be glued on to go up and over the stabbing tip, it should go down past the stabbing tip about 3 inches on but sides of the flat of the blade. Once you've cut it out carefully glue it on, make sure that there are no spaces between the volara and the sword/stabbing tip. You want it on snuggly, but you don't want to make it so the foam can't compress the way it should!



Once you've got that glued on all you have left to do is wrap hockey tape around the volara so that the tip doesn't move around too much when you stab. Don't go above where the strapping tape on the hunter's cushion stops. And that's that, cover you're sword when everything dries and your ready to stab the shit out of people.

Pardon the lazy paint job.

[Vors Nymphkilla]

i think a few of us should chip in on this if it gets too expensive. for me right now, 1 cent is too expensive

[Swordbrother Nova]

Yes, it gets expensive, the biggest costs are the volara, and the hunter's cushion, at least you can get a lot of stabbing tips out of the cushion.

[Grimdell]

Howdy. I am from Corvalin, way over in Ohio, but was lurking on some boards and saw this....

Open cell foam, it's easy and cheap if you live in or near a decent sized city. (it might even be worth a trip to one if you are not) Find out what day is trash day and visit the night before.. look for thrown out couches and take any cushions in decent shape. Free is good.

For stabby tips I was told by a few people on the main Dag forums that "marine foam" is great for them, and it seems to be... a very cheap source for that is a thrift store... Goodwill here sells life vests for $2 each and those make five or six stabbies.

How this helps out some. ;-)
We're all in this together.

[Swordbrother Nova]

Yeah, marine foam, I forgot about that. We were out of it when I made that sword, thanks for adding that. Listen to Grimdell, he tells no lies.

[Swordbrother Nova]

Here we go! Another stabby tutorial that's way prettier than mine! dagorhir.com/HowTo/GvK_thrusting_tip_design_November_2008.pdf

[Vilkas]

i actually found another good one that may be even more secure. here is the link for it. the only thing it may have problems with is allowing air to escape so the foam can compress, but i don't know for sure cuz i haven't seen one yet

geddon.org/index.php/Constructing_a_stabbing_sword

[Swordbrother Nova]

Probably far more secure.

[Dro]

would a nerf ball work if the base is large enough?

[Vors Nymphkilla]

id say it depends on the weapon. my dagger is topped with a small cut up nerf football but on the end of a sword id think it might hit too hard. i guess it depends on what type of ball and the sixe of it you use

[Swordbrother Nova]

Precisely. And make sure that if it's a nerf football you cut off the point on BOTH ends... -_-'

I always forget geddon.org.

[Vors Nymphkilla]

i cut the tips off and cut them in half. that gives you 2 stabbies

[Vilkas]

nerf balls wear out pretty quick though, you'd need the second one to replace it after a couple months use.

[Vors Nymphkilla]

i've had my dagger for over a year and the only thing i've had to replace is the blue foam. the nerf head has stayed strong.