Polearm Tutorial

Administrator

Informations

• Publié par: Irro
• Nombre de lectures: 287
• Langue: English

Extrait

How to Build a

Basic Amtgard Polearm

A brief tutorial by Baron Sir Gorin

MATERIALS

1 Pool Noodle

Pool noodle is very inexpensive and, in the summer season, can be

purchased at Fred Meyer and Wal-Mart for less than $2 each.

I

recommend stocking up in the summer.

During the rest of the year

it can be purchased at The Toy Quest, but they cost about $5 each.

1 Core (Fiberglass tube)

While there are other materials that can be used as the core for an

Amtgard weapon, we’re going to be using a fiberglass tube or spar

in this tutorial.

They are fairly inexpensive, lightweight, flexible

and very durable.

They can be purchased online at goodwind kites

(the specific link is below).

I usually recommend an *outer*

diameter of .602” or .745”.

The smaller diameters (.412” and

.505”) work great for swords and short weapons, but are too thin

for polearms.

http://www.goodwindskites.com/merch/list.shtml?cat=framework.tubularfiberglass

Dust mask

These are inexpensive and can be purchased at almost any

hardware store.

They are a must have if you’re going to cut

fiberglass.

Camp Pad and Open Cell Foam

These are the rolls of foam that you place under a sleeping

bag while camping.

It’s a stiff blue foam with great

durability.

Wal-mart is the best place to pick up this foam

(get the darker blue foam) and usually runs about $5-6

each.

Open cell foam can be found at Fred-Meyers and

Joann’s Fabrics

A great alternative to the Open Cell Foam

is a stress ball (the kind given away as a promotional item).

Fabric for a cover

Choose a light, durable fabric.

Avoid the colors yellow and

red.

Anything else is fine.

I recommend an inexpensive

broadcloth.

A poly/cotton blend will keep it’s color longer.

TAPE

You’ll need a roll of each of the following:

Duct Tape:

I recommend Scotch/3M duct

tape.

It’s a little more expensive but a LOT

easier to work with.

Electrical Tape:

Any brand of inexpensive

vinyl electrical tape will work fine.

Clear Packing Tape:

The kind of tape you

use to tape up boxes.

This tape is incredibly

light.

Hockey / Athletic Tape:

The tape you wrap

a hockey stick with.

This tape is optional,

and can be used to provide a grip for your

polearm.

Hack Saw and Utility Knife

Used for cutting your core, foam and tape.

A standard hacksaw will work just fine, but you’ll

need a retractable utility knife of the design pictured

in order to easily shape the foam as detailed in this

tutorial.

You might also find a pair of scissors

handy.

PART 1 – Preparing the Core

STEP 1

Cut the core down to the desired length with a hack saw.

If you purchased a

fiberglass core from Gorin, feel free to leave it uncut.

Always wear your mask when performing this step!

STEP 2

Wipe your core down with a damp paper towel.

STEP 3

Next, cut or tear some duct tape into 1“ x 2” pieces.

Place these pieces over each end of

the core, put the next pieces down at slightly different angles from the previous pieces.

This will help prevent creating a square tip, which will break your foam down faster.

Continue laying pieces over the end of the core until it fits snugly into the hold in your

pool noodle.

PART 2 – Preparing the Foam

STEP 1

Cut the pool noodle into a piece that is about 1/3 the length of your core and a piece that

is 3” long.

Alternatively, you can use a piece of noodle as short as 12”, however, you

must still cover the top 1/3 of your polearm with padding (pipe insulation).

STEP 2

Taper one end of your pool noodle pieces with a long-bladed utility knife.

Take care

when using the knife.

STEP 3

Trace 3 circles onto your camp pad using the end of your pool noodle.

Cut out the circles

and set them aside.

Cut out two small circles that will fit snugly inside your pool noodle

and set them aside.

STEP 4

Cut a circle the same size as in STEP 3 out of your Open Cell Foam.

If using a stress

ball, cut it in half along the seam.

PART 3 – Assembling the pole arm

STEP 1

Slide the long piece of pool noodle over the core.

Place the small piece of camp pad into

the end of the pool noodle.

Place a small piece of duct tape over the end of the pool

noodle.

STEP 2

Take two pieces of duct tape 8” long and cut them in half long-ways so that you’ve got 4

pieces that are 8 inches long and 1 inch wide.

Place one of your camp pad circles on the

top of your polearm and use two of your duct tape strips to affix it to the end of the

polearm.

Repeat with another circle.

This will form the tip of your weapon.

PART 3 – Assembling the polearm

(CONTINUED)

STEP 3

Using two more pieces of 8” x 1” tape, affix the stress ball or open-cell foam onto the tip

of your polearm.

Make sure that you do not compress the foam when taping it to the

polearm.

STEP 4

Place a piece of duct tape around the tip of your polearm so that it covers the edges of

your circles, open cell foam and overlaps onto the pool noodle.

STEP 4

Cover the entire pool noodle in packing tape by laying tape down the length of the pool

noodle leaving no gaps in the tape.

STEP 5

Start wrapping electrical tape down around the noodle starting just above the taper.

Using firm and even pressure to create tension as your continue wrapping the tape down

the taper of the blade.

Continue wrapping the tape down onto the core.

STEP 6

Repeat Steps 1 through 5 with the small piece of pool noodle and the other end of the

core to create a pommel.

You’ll only use 1 foam circle on the pommel as opposed to the

2 you used on the tip.

STEP 7

If you’d like, you can add athletic tape to the core of your pole arm to provide grip,

though it isn’t necessary.

Your polearm is basically complete, now all you have to do is cover it!

PART 4 – Creating a cover

STEP 1

Cut out a piece of fabric that is 10” wide x (Length of your Funnoodle +6 inches) Long.

STEP 2

Fold the fabric over and stitch a single line along it’s edge leaving a ¼” seam allowance.

STEP 3

Close each end by stitching curves on them as shown below

STEP 4

Cut the fabric so that you create a piece long enough for the blade and the pommel.

Then

turn the fabric right-side out.

STEP 5

Slide the cover over the blade and pommel and use electrical tape to secure it to the

polearm.

Congratulations, you’ve successfully

built a basic polearm!!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at

[e-mail]