Could someone instruct me on the making of a baseball bat

For the next Nightmare Circle game I want to wield a Larp Baseball bat, however, I do not have any experience in making Larp weapons. Could someone please tell me what I need to get to make it, hopefully where to get it. Once I get started I’m planning to keep making stuff.

I would purchase a Pool Noodle from Payless Plastics / Warehouse / Plastic Box. Cut the noodle to size, bearing in mind that the noodle will be that bat section only, and does not include the handle. Cost about $8.

Noodles conveniently have a circa 20mm hole up the middle.

Get about 800mm (or more/less depending on how large you want the bat to be) of PVC pipe and insert it into the pipe. Not sure about size, maybe 20mm. Just take the noodle to the plumbing supplies shop and check to make sure the pipe has tight fit inside the noodle. Use lots of hot glue on the pipe when you insert it to make sure it sticks well. Cost about $5 ? Not sure, maybe AJ has an idea.

Leave about 100mm gap at the end of the noodle in case you end up thrusting the bat at someone (so they are not hit by the pipe). Make sure you have plenty of pipe out of the bottom of the noodle to become the handle.

Next, I’d get a belt sander and sand the noodle into a bat shape. Don’t make it too thin where it tapers because you don’t want it to lose strength.

Paint the noodle the appropriate wood colour. You’ll need to fill in the hole at the top of the noodle first and maybe tape the end up so it appears regular and smoothe.

Wrap the handle in leather to make a grip, and use some noodle offcut to make the “pommel” thing at the bottom of the grip. Paint that too.

Sounds wicked, would love to see that in a punky modern day/future setting too :smiley:

My immediate thought is that these nearly exist already - I’m sure you can get kids/practice bats that are soft all over and have a hard core. You’d need to remove the core (and this might be hard) but it might be doable. Replace with PVC pipe.

Alternatively, grab some PVC pipe and rubber pipe cover. Or a swimming pool “noodle”. Hardware/plumbing stores are your best bet, or a Warehouse for the noodle. Get a good carving knife and taper the rubber as it gets towards the handle - then wrap grey electrical tape/duct tape/what have you around where your hands will go. Follow it with brown string to create a “grip”.

Use some closed-cell foam to create the “dome” head for the bat and attach it with Aidos F2 or hot melt. Spray the whole thing (aside from the handle) matte finish black spraypaint and follow it with brown.

[edit: Nice, Mike and I described nearly exactly the same method.]

Once you have the shape, make a cloth covering for it from brown fabric. Cover it and draw or paint a wood grain effect on it. Make yourself a baseball bat “sticker” and glue it on.

Then maybe sign it… :slight_smile:

Thank you all muchly, looks like I have some shopping to do this weekend.

You might be able to get coverseal (adhesive book covering) that has a woodgrain pattern. This would probably be the best way to achieve a shiny wooden finish.

I would spray the foam dark brown or black then drybrush it light brown with long strokes for a wood finish.