So i have been explained a few things on this but i have a question on the type of foam to aim for my larp shield. i am noramly heading for play mat foam to place apon the shield core but i also just stumbled apon Spray foam that exspands and allows you to cut into it and make shapes. the foam is springy but not fully hard.
Is this a good material to use for a shield?
Thanks
The foam you need is plastazote LD 45. This is firm enough to hold a strong shape that a latp weapon or shield needs without being to dense. While there are certainly other suitable materials out there, any kind of expanding foam or Karrimat foam is not it.
A decent larp shield will be two or preferably three layers of foam.
It normally comes in sheets 1000mm x 1500m so depending on the size of your shield you might get away with just one sheet but you might need two.
Glue it together with evostick, (solvent based if you can get it) and fashion a grip from either wooden downing (20mm thick at least) and either cover with cotton canvas and paint or latex and paint.
It is definitely possible to make a good professional looking shield for under £50, but that assumes no wastage, which when doing anything for the first time is quite an assumption.
Apologies if I’ve shot ahead and answered questions that you didn’t actually ask…got a bit carried away. Take anything I say with a pinch of salt, it’s been a few years since I made shields.
T
That’s exactly the stuff. I’d do 3 layers of 9mm, which will give you a nice strong shield. Cover it in canvas and it’ll last you years. Personally I think a smartly painted canvas shield fits in with the Empire aesthetic nicely.
To piggy back off this topic a little, I’ve got a shield from a broken stuff pile that needs a handle of some sort fitted to it, any tips for fixing one to it without having bolts etc coming out the other side?
You can reglue it using EvoStick. Reinforce the join with strips of suede glued across the point they meet.
You may also want to peel the lastex and isoflex from the back panel where you need to fix the handle and then add a couple of layers of latex over the join once the new handle is stuck on. It adds to the flexibility of the join so it will survive getting a battering in a fight better.