I don't have the tools nor the workshop for wood-crafting, but I'm going to try to make a cheap longbow for a prop, with elastic strings so it cannot be drawn. Anyone got some ideas what materials I can use? I'll post my progress and shit if you guys help guide me through this. All I have is a home depot near me. Anyone know any materials that are flexible that can't be wood, like say some kind of bendable plastic stick
You could use a PVC Flat Bar, like this:
[url]http://www.wickes.co.uk/Flat-Bar-White-PVC-23-5mm-x1m/p/188234[/url]
It cuts easily with a hacksaw. As for making it look like a wood bow, you'd probably need to pick up shellac (or known as button polish) to prime the plastic before painting. Otherwise the paint will just run off and crack.
Or, use some high density polystyrene, which is basically the same stuff they use for insulating wall, carve out a bow shape and then scrim it. (Scrimming is the process where you use cheap cotton weave fabric drenched in glue and applied around the outside of the object to give it strength.) From there you can texture and paint it. Obviously painting right onto polystyrene runs the risk of melting it so you'd want a barrier between it.
If you can find something similar to this, use it. It's like a thick plastic coating and it will set with a bit of flexibility.
[url]http://www.wickes.co.uk/Ready-Mixed-Textured-Coating-6L/p/220999[/url]
I will check out the flat bar, thanks! How's the flexibility on that? I don't want to full force tie the bowstrings.
Also I don't have a hacksaw. I hope it's soft enough for a knife.
[QUOTE=GURREN LAGANN;44644576]I will check out the flat bar, thanks! How's the flexibility on that? I don't want to full force tie the bowstrings.
Also I don't have a hacksaw. I hope it's soft enough for a knife.[/QUOTE]
Well PVC has some flexibility, go into the DIY shop and test it out :v: (I didn't know if you wanted the bow to actually fire an 'arrow') The problem with the PVC strip is that it won't really look like a bow. It'll just be a flatbar with string tied to it. :v:
If you just wanted a static, yet realistic looking bow, go for the polystyrene and carve one. You'll get better results that way.
As for cutting PVC, you'll need a hacksaw. I had a look on home depot website and they cost $4. Either that, knock on your neighbours door and ask to borrow one, or buy a $2 replacement blade pack.
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