pantomime sword

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

[duncan webster 1Participant @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

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

Kitchen foil covered plastic? Find an old square tall kitchen bin for stock?

pgk

[Mark EasingwoodParticipant @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.

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

Look at RC model shops for some decent ply as Mark said Birch ply and probably best for something like 6mm for strength

[duncan webster 1Participant @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

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @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

[Phil H1Participant @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..

[Phil H1Participant @philh196021]

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

[geoff walker 1Participant @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

[Mick B1Participant @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…

[duncan webster 1Participant @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

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

Toledo steel, actors are expendible.

[noel shelleyParticipant @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.

[Neil AParticipant @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

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

Posted by old mart on 30/11/2021 17:53:56:

Toledo steel, actors are expendible.

Ladder Damascus for a Saracen, surely!

[Tim StevensParticipant @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

[Speedy Builder5Participant @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

[Howard LewisParticipant @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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