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There are many reasons for why folk would want to make a wooden sword. Might be to use as a toy for your kid. Might be for using as a prop in a play or theatre. Might be for use in some sort of sword games or can even be just as a hobby for someone that would prefer working with wood than metal and enjoys the art as such. Either way and for whatever your motives are lets look at how to make a wooden sword in a few easy steps.
1. First off you want to find a decent design or picture of a sword that tickles your fancy. Try find some that have a good angle on the sword especially close ups if possible to depict the details. This way you are more likely to make something that you really like than ending up with something that you weren’t really after to begin with.
2. Now go ahead and sketch the shape of the sword as best you can on a large piece of paper or cardboard.
3. Next you want to cut out the sword omitting any trivial jag thereof.
4. Depending on the type of sword you have chosen to make, its sometimes best to separate the handle from the blade. In this step of how to make a wooden sword you can glue the two parts together afterwards with a good epoxy. It just makes it easier to handle the entire project this way dealing with two individual pieces rather than one.
5. Once you have the designs done, go ahead and find yourself a nice long shaped piece of wood that would fit best for the blade. You will need to calve the wood using some wood tools such as a push knife or wood chisels etc. The next step is to sand the blade down with a rough sandpaper, keeping in mind that the course sandpaper will be used for the shaping of the blade and later a fine one to finish it off and smoothen out the blade.
6. All the while keep note of your original design and make sure you are following it as best as possible. Then move onto the handle part, where it would be best to try use a different material to make the frame of it such as paperclay or dremel. Again this is not imperative, it just makes for a better finish to the sword.
7. Now go ahead and sand every part of the sword smooth again with fine sandpaper.
8. After this is done its time to paint the sword. In this last step of how to make a wooden sword you will need to coat it entirely with a couple of layers of gesso, sanding in between each layer that you have applied. Once this is completed and dried you can color the sword with enamel paint. You can choose whether you want to paint it by hand or spray it which can more than often give a better finish to the end product. Once this is dry go ahead and give one last coat of clear enamel to protect it from corroding and also makes for a nice shinny effect.
9. As much as you will want to use the sword immediately after this has dried, do yoru best to be patient and wait a few days – maybe 2 or even 3 days if you can. This way the paint will sure to be dry and you wont mess up your new sword and hard work. Lastly, enjoy your hand made wooden sword and try not to poke someone’s eye out with it!