pantomime sword

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pantomime sword

This topic has 18 replies, 14 voices, and was last updated 2 December 2021 at 17:02 by Howard Lewis.

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29 November 2021 at 22:37 #30180
duncan webster 1
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@duncanwebster1
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29 November 2021 at 22:37 #573567
duncan webster 1
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@duncanwebster1
For my sins I'm part of a group who act out a traditional Souling Play (Cheshire's answer to mummers). I've been dragooned into making a replacement for the Saracen's sword. The current one was made from plywood with the outer ply running longways, but it didn't stand up to being struck sideways. The end bit flew off, fortunately it didn't hit anyone. The handle is also on the verge of coming apart. Question is what do I make the replacement from? Ash? How do I get it to curve? Steaming it and bending in that plane sounds difficult. Anyone got any bright ideas? Obviously it has to be lightweight and non lethal, we have to bring the Saracen back to life after he's been killed by St George
29 November 2021 at 22:45 #573569
pgk pgk
Participant
@pgkpgk17461
Kitchen foil covered plastic? Find an old square tall kitchen bin for stock?

pgk
29 November 2021 at 22:48 #573570
Mark Easingwood
Participant
@markeasingwood33578
Try using "Birch Ply", which is a better quality Plywood than the "Far Eastern Ply" usually sold.

Or make a former and laminate strips of Ash, as when making an Archery Bow.

Mark.
29 November 2021 at 23:28 #573578
Dalboy
Participant
@dalboy
Look at RC model shops for some decent ply as Mark said Birch ply and probably best for something like 6mm for strength
30 November 2021 at 00:08 #573581
duncan webster 1
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@duncanwebster1
I like Mark's glulam suggestion, but birch ply sounds a lot easier. I'll send a picture when it's done. Thanks all who replied
30 November 2021 at 08:30 #573597
Martin Connelly
Participant
@martinconnelly55370
Could you use ply with a doped outer cover to make a composite material? I think radio control model aircraft use a doped layer over polystyrene for lightweight but stiff wings.

Martin C
30 November 2021 at 13:04 #573647
Phil H1
Participant
@philh196021
The boat modelling world also have water based resin to cover a thin and friendly to use glass fibre cloth. I think they use it to cover balsa wood or plywood hulls to give them a little bit of 'ding' resistance plus strength of course..
30 November 2021 at 13:07 #573648
Phil H1
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@philh196021
Can't you also ditch the Saracen bit and replace with a Viking or Anglo Saxon character. Nice straight swords???
30 November 2021 at 13:42 #573652
geoff walker 1
Participant
@geoffwalker1
Duncan,

How about a piece of upvc cladding.

Eurocell on Winwick road often have damaged fascia offcuts at the rear of shop on the car park.

Widest boards are 9mm thick and 250 mm wide.

Geoff
30 November 2021 at 14:10 #573656
Mick B1
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@mickb1
Posted by Phil H1 on 30/11/2021 13:07:02:

Can't you also ditch the Saracen bit and replace with a Viking or Anglo Saxon character. Nice straight swords???

The saexes on the Essex flag are at least as difficult…
30 November 2021 at 17:44 #573690
duncan webster 1
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@duncanwebster1
Ditch the Saracen? wash your mouth out, this is hundreds of years of tradition we're talking about. We've gone all PC and rewritten the 'foul Moroccan dog' line, but that's far enough. St George has a straight sword, this has got to be curved.

I'm tending towards birch ply wrapped in glass fibre, I successfully mended the horse's skull using GF after SWMBO managed to break it. Plastic might be a bit heavy.

If you want a laugh go to EOS. We usually go round the pubs collecting for Halton Haven Hospice, but not the last 2 years for obvious reasons. This performance was for the videographers college course
30 November 2021 at 17:53 #573692
old mart
Participant
@oldmart
Toledo steel, actors are expendible.
30 November 2021 at 17:59 #573694
noel shelley
Participant
@noelshelley55608
A sign maker locally uses an ali/plastic/ali sandwich about 3 or 4mm thick and quite strong. sand it to remove white coating and your there ! Good Luck, Noel.
30 November 2021 at 21:52 #573752
Neil A
Participant
@neila
You could always go out and find a branch of a tree with the right curve, just as they used to do for ships frames many years ago, to get the grain running in the right direction. But don't let anyone see you cutting it off !!

Neil
30 November 2021 at 21:55 #573753
Mick B1
Participant
@mickb1
Posted by old mart on 30/11/2021 17:53:56:

Toledo steel, actors are expendible.

Ladder Damascus for a Saracen, surely!
1 December 2021 at 10:53 #573819
Tim Stevens
Participant
@timstevens64731
Fancy – the very idea of changing a Saracen for a Viking for the convenience of the props dept!

Whatever next? Jesus as a white man?

Tim
1 December 2021 at 11:49 #573830
Speedy Builder5
Participant
@speedybuilder5
How about a nice old "French Curve" Not that I would donate, but I have all my Dad's curves for wing profiles etc in the 1930s. These were cut out of perspex and made in the workshops.

Bob
2 December 2021 at 17:02 #574059
Howard Lewis
Participant
@howardlewis46836
Now that's a thought,

Cadge an offcut of acrylic, and file / sand to shape and paint before attaching the handle.

Howard.
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