need sword help

[fathomak]

I'm gonna be making my first sword to go with a costume I just finished, its a squall costume and I wanted to make a gunblade. I have a lot of woodworking experiance but I wanted to ask what type wood should I use? I want to make something that looks good so I am not worried about makeing it affordable to much. What I would really like is something heavy sturdy and very durable and not to porus. I was thinking purple heart but I havent worked with it. What is usually used? I need suggestions. Thanks!! :)

[Horizin]

what about ash?

[Chef Wun]

Depends. Are you just making this sword for show, or do actually intend to whack things with it?

If its for show you'll be able to make it out of a lighter springier wood that is easier to carry round, but might snap if it gets hit against something. Probably Ash in that case.

But to make it sturdy you'lle need something that can take beating but not break your arms if you carry it, Pine can be ok but it's hard to cut thin enough for a sword. Maybe Beech?

[fathomak]

Well I want to make it so its something that looks good for display and can take hits. I am not to worried about weight, I can carry a heavy sword around its no problem, but the sword can't be to heavy that it can't support itself well. So something that will support itself and take hits if needed, but still something showy. How well does oak work?

[Chef Wun]

Oak is not a good idea, it is quite brittle and hard to work with.

I'll find out some good materials to use and PM you about it.

Also is it a straight or curved sword?

[Shiroiyuki]

Also is it a straight or curved sword?
The Gunblade (Squall's sword) is straight--here is a nice picture of it.

http://www.ffplanet.com/ff8/gunblade-vero.jpg

It is literally a sword attached to a gun (hence the term Gunblade).

As for the wood--I have no idea :P. Not really into woodworking myself. Good luck ^_^.

[spookyruthy]

Hm...making it out of wood, any wood might be a bad idea. Do what LARPERs do, make the centre out of a metal bar then shape latex around it.

But if you're set on woodwork, perhaps you should try plywood. Light and durable.

[Chef Wun]

I'm clueless, unless you get a toy gun and make a metal blade then join them together somehow.

[Animematt55]

wow, just wow. It is amazign what soem peopel can do with stuff. That gunblade looks great...

[Cotmweasel]

I'm gonna be making my first sword to go with a costume I just finished, its a squall costume and I wanted to make a gunblade. I have a lot of woodworking experiance but I wanted to ask what type wood should I use? I want to make something that looks good so I am not worried about makeing it affordable to much. What I would really like is something heavy sturdy and very durable and not to porus. I was thinking purple heart but I havent worked with it. What is usually used? I need suggestions. Thanks!! :)

well I haven't made a wood sword before but I have made some knifes (and the handles) so if you want some thing really hard that wont break on you I say Bodark might be a good one to try....but make sure you have some extra saw blades (i've broken a few on bodark before -_-; ) but if the wood is going to show then cocobolo looks really good and is hard BUT it is expencive and don't breath the dust.
Purple Heart might work but I haven't worked with it too much though...

[fathomak]

Ok, I bought some wood for the sword today. I bought some pine boards from the wood store, it seemd sturdy enough and it was really cheap to!

[Ditto]

my friend made a gunblade that I helped him out with a little bit. It's (basically) made out of foam, tape, and fiberglass.
http://images.cosplay.com/showphoto.php?photo=686242
http://images.cosplay.com/showphoto.php?photo=704269

[Nano]

why bother, I've seen the actual sword on some sites, it's a real sword, it's heavy and expensive though, so it might not be for you.

[Chef Wun]

I think the only way to get one that looks really good would be to order it off the internet.

[spookyruthy]

I say try it with the wood since you bought that. It might take you some time to carve all of the details out of it. I really think it would have been easier to make out of foam or latex and a lot lighter to carry around. And a lot less breakable.

Good luck with the woodwork! ^^