How to Make Padded Swords

Pirates and their adventures always attract children with active imaginations. Swashbuckling kids make eye patches and dig up yards in search of buried treasure. No pirate is complete without a sword, but they can be dangerous. The solution is simple-a padded sword. Thrill your child by presenting him with his own cutlass for his epic battles.

Things You'll Need

• 3 feet of ¾-inch diameter PVC piping
• Hacksaw
• Sand paper
• 1 camp foam mat
• Electrical or duct tape
• Scissors
• 1 penny
• 2 pairs of tights or pantyhose

Instructions

1. Create the base of your sword by cutting a 3-foot-long piece of PVC pipe. Sand down any sharp edges and tape a penny to the blade end of the sword. This helps keep the PVC from poking through the foam.

2. Cut two identical blades out of foam. You can make a template out of cardboard or trace the first blade to make the second. The shape of the blade depends on what kind of sword you are making but should be at least 30 inches long.

3. Sandwich the PVC pipe between the foam blades. Leave enough room on one end of the pipe for a handle, approximately 6 inches. Cover the other end completely with the foam. Secure the foam to the pipe with duct tape, keeping the blades as flat as possible to retain their shape.

4. Cover the foam with a pair of tights. Knot the tights at the base of the sword, where the foam meets the handle. Tape the exposed end of the PVC with electrical or duct tape to create a handle for the sword.

5. Test the sword to make sure that you cannot feel the PVC through the foam. If you can, remove the tights and add another layer of foam.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not let children handle hacksaws without adult supervision.

• Do not use your sword to hit people in sensitive areas such as the face.