How do I make a Bo Staff?

I’d offer to come round and help, but I’m afraid that will just give people the wrong impression.

offering to go round and assist with their poles? :smiling_imp:

Everyone is welcome (if they have a mental age greater than twelve) :wink:

damnit :frowning:

Nope, sorry. I cannot come over and be beaten with blunt weapons because I have a prior appointment here.

Phew. :smiley:

We had a play with them this evening. Nobody cried :smiley:

Pictures:
The true face of evil!

And the weapons…

The last six are the ones we started this evening.

They are looking great, love that wood effect.

Bryn.

How I wish I could of made it along :frowning: damn the evils of work.

On the other hand your work is awesome Derek.

Almost tempted to just ask how much it would cost to have you make some weapons? :slight_smile:

oops just asked!.

but seriously they look awesome and I hope that I will be able to get out to your place for the next weapon making evening/day/whatever.

Zane

Thanks Zane, you’re not the first to ask. I was going to offer a few items for sale coming up to Christmas. But I picked up each of the oriental weapons I’d done and looked at it and decided I wanted to keep it :laughing:

They do look pretty, and I’m really happy with what I’m producing, but until I’m confidant they’re not going to fall apart, I’d rather not sell them. I don’t want the headaches of people returning tham and expecting them to be fixed or replaced because they fell apart after five games.

As way of example, the sword I made for Le Stirge began to delaminate after only three weekend games and a couple of day games. Only a small amount, and not to the point of being dangerous, but enough for me to pull it apart and see what was going on inside it. At the moment, I’d rather not have to deal with that type of problem when I sell stuff to other people. Especially since I know they won’t be paying as much attention to the weapon as I do (having created them).

While I’m pretty sure I have most of the issues ironed out, I would still recommend going through Ryan (paddywack.co.nz) to get weapons. The stuff he is bringing in is very well made and certainly no more expensive than what I’d be charging.

On the downside, I don’t stock giant spiked Oni clubs.

Judging by the photo with Erin holding that awesome club, I think the staves are thicker than they look in the full-length photo. So my concern over the amount of padding was probably misplaced.

Tetsubo. They are called Tetsubo.

I know, but spiked Oni club has a much better ring to it.

I’ve started making a pair, but it’s a mystery to me how you’d actually use them. I suspect I’d just treat them as short swords and use the side handle as a quillion :smiley:

I used 10mm fiberglass rod for the main body of the tonfa and a piece of 15mm alkathene piping for the handle. I just drilled a 10mm hole in the pipe and it was a nice tight fit. I filled the end of the alkathene pipe with builders bog in the hope they’d be glued together (it was what I had on hand … :unamused: … a two part epoxy resin would be better)

Nice, they’d be handy for a police brutality larp too.

They’re used in pairs. I think you hold the side handle and have the long part running up your forearm, and use it to block blows. To attack, you spin it outwards. The speed of the spin it supposed to generate a lot of force. They can also be used for some sort of crazy arm-lock, but that wouldn’t be larpsafe.

[quote=“Ryan Paddy”]Nice, they’d be handy for a police brutality larp too.

They’re used in pairs. I think you hold the side handle and have the long part running up your forearm, and use it to block blows. To attack, you spin it outwards. The speed of the spin it supposed to generate a lot of force. They can also be used for some sort of crazy arm-lock, but that wouldn’t be larpsafe.[/quote]

Oh, I’m aware of the theory behind using them. But in practice, it’s a whole new kettle of fish…

Here are the finished items:

Very nice! Thanks Derek for posting the pictures up, and instructions/ ideas.

Girly question - do you just get fibreglass rods from Bunnings or somewhere like that or do I need to aim for a somewhere else? (I’m also on the North Shore if that’s any help.)

… now do I start my study early and try and make weapons/larp safe stuff just before the next St Wolfgang’s or do I start trying to make stuff now, get addicted and then have that and my studies taking up my time… :open_mouth:

[quote=“Alice M”]Very nice! Thanks Derek for posting the pictures up, and instructions/ ideas.

Girly question - do you just get fibreglass rods from Bunnings or somewhere like that or do I need to aim for a somewhere else? (I’m also on the North Shore if that’s any help.)

… now do I start my study early and try and make weapons/larp safe stuff just before the next St Wolfgang’s or do I start trying to make stuff now, get addicted and then have that and my studies taking up my time… :open_mouth:[/quote]

If you’re on the North Shore, there is an RD1 in Albany (farm supply store) it’s on the Oteha Valley Rd Extension in Albany. a 1200mm long 10mm diameter piece of fiberglass rod costs $6

I can give you some offcuts of alkathene pipe if you want to save you buying a 50m roll. I’m in Albany as well. If you’re making a trip out let me know the night before. If I’m not home I can leave a couple of pieces in my letterbox.

Ahhh! I finally have a bit of internet access! Your work is looking beautiful Derek. Gene and I are interested in doing a bunch of different things. Would there be a convenient time to come round with beer after the New Years?

Can I come too? Still looking to make that staff we talked about.

yes

yes - but I still haven’t managed to track down fiberglass longer than:
a) 1200mm x 10mm diameter
– or –
b) 1400mm x 14mm diameter (which I think is too heavy without lots of work)

So it’d help if you could do some footwork to track that down if you want a staff longer than 1200mm

I’m in Auckland over Xmas --> New Year and not working (yay) so maybe between Xmas / New Year ???