Remember, just following the instructions is not enough to guarantee a safe weapon. Each weapon should be tested through a series of impacts getting gradually harder. If the weapon could cause bruises or injury, it is unsafe and should not be used!
Please note that this should be a good quality camping pad which is closed cell foam. It should be a bit spongy in nature. Do not use the _hard_ blue Styrofoam like ones which are sold in places like Walmart. You can get a good one at most camping stores.
| | " | | || | " | | || | " | | || | " | | || | " | | || | " | | || | " | | || ,-----. | | ||________________\ PVC \|________________| | \ - 2"- \\ Pipe \\ \| \_______________\`-_-_-'_\________________\ \ \| \________________________________\ | - 4" - |
| | | | | | || | | | | | || | | | | | || | | | | | || | | | | | || | | | | | ||________________| | |________________| | | \ \ ,-----.\ \| | \_______________\\ PVC \\________________\ | \ - 2"- \\ Pipe \\ \| \_______________\`-_-_-'_\________________\ \ \| \________________________________\
| | | | | || | | | | || | | | | || | | | | || | | | | || | - 4" - | | | || |_______________________________| | | || \ \ | | ||____\_______________________________\____| | | \ \ ,-----.\ \| | \_______________\\ PVC \\________________\ | \ - 2"- \\ Pipe \\ \| \_______________\`-_-_-'_\________________\ \ \| \________________________________\
| | | | | || | | | | || | | | | || | | | | || |_______________________________| | | || | |\ | | || |_______________________________| \____| | || \ \ |\| ||____\ \____| \ | \ \ \| \ \ | \ \| \____ ____\ \ \| \________________________________\
| | ._ | | | || | / `._ | | | || | / `._ | | | || | / `| | | || | / .\ | | || | _____----/ ./ | | || |------- / /-__ | | || /. / /. --_| | ||/ .. .. ... .. ./. . ... .. . ./. . .\/\|| . ___/ / . .( ||. .---- / /_ . \ | \ / / / `-._ . \) \ | / / \ . | \ | / /_ \ .} \_ \ | / -_ | | `-. | / \ | _,-' `._ \ / | / / `.\ / | /_,-' \ / | /-' \ / `-._ / \ / `-./ \ / / ) -_ . / | --__| {-__ . } | --__| ( ./| | / | ( /" | This drawing not |___/ " | to scale, your | " | handle should be | " | longer. ,-----. | \ PVC \| \ Pipe \ `-----'
| " | | " | | " | | " | | " | | " | |_,---._| ,-' `-. | . . . | | . . | | . . . | | . . | | ..... . | | . `.. | | . . | | `.....' | | | | _,---._ | |,-' Foam `-.| / ,-----. \ | \ Foam \___| | \ \ | \ `-----' / `-._ _,-' `---'
_______________________________________________ {\ ` | { | : | { | : | { | (inside out) : | { | : | { | : | {/..........................................' | {_______________________________________________|
There should be no point on the blade at which the core can be felt. It should not leave bruises, break bones, break noses, or even hurt very much when swung full force. The best test is to give it to a friend and have him/her hit you with it as hard as he can. If it is unsafe, you will know. If it passes the test, it is ready to use.
The sword will need minor repairs every few months of use, and most need to be completely replaced after about two years. How long a weapon will last depends heavily upon how one fights and careful one is.