How to Make a Foam Shield!
Вставка
- Опубліковано 4 лют 2025
- Learn how to make a foam padded shield that is easy and inexpensive in this video tutorial by James H. Fullmer. For more LDS themed games and activities visit www.BookOfMormo...
For more on the supplies check out: www.bookofmormo...
I made a pair of these when I first started Dagorhir. They lasted five months of heavy, heavy use by my group. I had to put them both to rest after practice last Sunday. It was a sad day, but I can attest to this design's simplicity, safety and durability. I recommend it to all my new players who want to create a shield quickly and cheaply without dealing with plywood or other exotic materials. I plan on making four more with the same design, but using DAP. Thanks for the great videos!
I love how well laid out this guide is. Not much fluff, tells me what I need to know, and easy to follow along. Cheap materials simple design. Great guide.
Very clean project thimbs up 🎉
Don't normally comment but just wanted to say thank you for making it. Used this guide to make my oldest a shield for her costume this year. We used dollar store foam core instead of cardboard and an old nylon belt of the kids for straps. Other that that followed it to the letter and its amazing.
Gosh you're so good at this. I've made 3 shields now and none of them have turned out quite this well. But they are getting better :) Great tutorial my friend.
I just made a shield using this video and I am impressed. The thickness and the weight is just right. For a design, you can use acrylic paint and seal it with a light coat of varnish.
Best tutorials for LARPING n this channel. Thank you for leaving a great legacy.
This shield is very nice...I used the same design for mine, and it has held up a beating. Thanks for making this video and I just used the same concepts for a bigger one. Thank again.
I'm just glad your doing these vids, they are vary easy to follow.
Personally, I like to use latex milk (a few layers without paint) and then some layers of acrylic paint or concentrated paint mixed with latex milk. With a brush, you can do kind of a wood effect thing by simulating the ''grain''. For the final finish, use topcoat. The thing is: latex doesn't go well with duct tape and with certain kinds of glue, so maybe, if you want to make it easy for yourself... just use fabrics and sew them to the shield. Looks pretty neat, too.
Thanks, it's the first video on making "soft shields" I've ever seen. I'd like to make my first one! :)
@tomballom yeah, this is the same tactic I used to make a cardboards sword. The problem lies with the foam. You'd have to wrap the foam around the shield in a different manor or leave it out all together based on on the shape.
@Raguel22 I've tried the string but what works better for me is to tape two sharp pencils at the radial distance to a yard stick. Personally I have a larger compass which is essentially what I described but the scoring parts are adjustable. The yard stick works great though. I freehand cut them from there. Just follow the lines.
You wouldn't think so but you'd be wrong. It's surprisingly strong. And the cardboard core makes it very light, much safer and requires less padding.
Thanks i really appreciate the feedback. I recently made one using this tutorial, provided an excellent addition to my boffer combat thanks alot!
Either Lowes or Home Depot will have them. Its just a simple nylon strap similar to a tie down. A cheaper alternative is a nylon belt but break in it and felx it quite a bit so its good and soft.
@TheDagguy They are the ame foam. I think the black looks cooler. Also if you plan to use it for Realism it may be better.
@uberownageman This is a great question. The larger you make your shield, the weaker the cardboard will be. My advice is if you go larger than 24" in any direction, use 1/8" or 1/4" plywood. I would also recommend padding it where your arm straps would be and maybe another layer around the edges.
As far as the cardboard is concerned, yes, it is just regular corrugated cardboard like you would find in box construction.
WOOT!!! I've been looking every where for a good Cheap shield Paturn.
THANK YOU!!
THANK YOU!!
THANK YOU!!
THANK YOU!!
THANK YOU!!
THANK YOU!!
THANK YOU!!
THANK YOU!!
@meertch the thing about those sleds is the straps are on the ends of the sled i think...at least the on i have is...but if that works go for it..u may need new straps idk...
Good tutorial. We use "fluteboard" or "coreflute" (like they use for real estate signs) instead of cardboard. But the principle is the same.
Question: If you (meaning I) can't find closed cell foam do you think using the pool noodles would work. I'm talking about cutting them the long way and gluing/ taping them to the cardboard. Giving the shield a "wooden plank" look.
It's next on my list. I've got 3 other shield styles I want to show. I'll try to do them by Christmas. Thanks for your patience.
another good base for sheilds is 2 stacked really cheap snow saucers the ones that bend and dent easy. if you stake them on top of eachere and fill in gaps with foam its a very light and effective sheild =]
"You can see the back side is still messy. But, who cares!?"
XD
Thanks for the tutorial!
I'm in the process of planning out the construction of two large tower shields.
Any advice you can provide would be lovely.
You can use leather or heavy cloth. Nylon strapping is quite common, however, and I think you should look again. It can be found most easily in a camping section of a store as replacement sleeping bag straps. Hardware stores have them for strapping equipment securely or just go to a fabric store - they may have lengths of it. Home improvement centers likely have it by the rope section. Good luck.
Bucklers and medium shields hold up great but for large shields definitely use plywood.
best video i've found on this so far!
thanks
Acrylics are pretty tough but latex paint may actually work best for you. Both adhere very well by latex paint will have more opacity and coverage (like house paint).
@Toamata77 Yes both sides of any piece being stuck together should have spray glue on it.
@sigloz11 many larps use plywood for the core. You would want to check the rules of the game you're going to play beforehand. Pro tip for plywood: Get a nice garage door handle, wrap it with nylon rope and grip tape instead of a strap.
Hardware stores have it usually but if not check out camping supply stores. They have sleeping bag straps that are the same thing.
Taking advantage of the ancient Roman shield design I see. Makes it much stronger. Good design.
Great vid, love your channel. The stuff you post is great for begginers (like me) to make.
cool idea, I perfer wooden shields.. google viking shield construction for example and there are great tutorials for ones that are made out of plywood but looks really great and last a long time even when sparing with battle axes
Informative video. How long does it last though? Cardboard?
is it possible to make an evenly surfaced shield without the huge rim? like add another smaller diameter circle of foam to make it look even
Hey :) I've made and finished the shield, but i have to ask- how do I paint over the foam and duct tape? I need it to be hard wearing as well :) thankyou
yes you sure can. 1/4" or 3/8" can be very light and effective.
MAKE MORE TUTS PLEASE!!! you are soo professional! thank you my lord~!
thx im usin same idea for my viking shield only im using plywood so i can bolt a peg to it (not a fan os strapped shields) same concept essentially great vid dude
so this is for making a round shield, do you think I can make a heater shield with the same materials and procedure?
Probably should coat it with something like latex or isoflex just to prevent larp weapons from being damaged when they strike or rub against the shield though
@tomballom (A quote from Raising Arizona) "Baloons! Hey these blow up into funny shapes at all?" "Well, no - Unless round is funny."
Try any shape you like. I like round.
Look guys. I've built a number of different styles of shields (plywood and boogie board core, closed and open cell padding) and even though I would consider this a beginner shield, it holds up incredibly well. Don't knock it 'till you try it.
can i use a sled? it might be curved, but it's easy to foam over and it has hand straps.
I have used Masonite board instead, much sturdier. I also made one from oak planks in the case of my battle shield. Both stopped a real sword. As I do SCA and full contact. But for a light boffer stopper yeah this thing works well to a point.
your tutorials are really great... time to make a red level weapon? or a spear maybe? haha i use your stuff to help me build dagorhir gear, you're my unofficial mentor
You can use EVA foam and some white Elmers glue ( PVA) to close up the cells. After that, paint how you see fit. For that wood look, you can use a hot knife and put the groves in before you use the PVA.
Also, can rubber cement substitute for spray adhesive.
one more question, any ideas on how to make a safe boss in the middle of the shield?
how do i make my shield curved ive tried soaking the cardbourd over a trashcan lid then letting it dry but the cardbourd gets rather fragile. any hints or help?
I had a question, I want to make this, but I was wondering which was the best way to create a sword "sheath" in the shield. The greeks used to sheath their swords inside the shield, so I was sondering if 2 more straps would do...
Dude..Your amazing! I need to make a Roman type shield but with the green land flag on it! anyway thank! and the knife thing makes it so much better
this is a pretty sick shield
Yeah i figured that... but i was wondering if i should go out of my way to use plywood, or should i just use cardboard. Btw great video
Would making the core out of plywood make the shield any more durable, you think?
@jjfullmer Seems like it would be flimsy to me as well, but I'll give it a try. Also, regarding hand guards. In the few videos I've seen, hand guards were just made with a few layers of foam and then duck taped over. That seems really flimsy to me, is it?
Welp, gonna have to work with light pegboard and some old EVA foam mats for the sides, but this idea works. Also making mine a center boss, because people like to throw down at my long legs. Freakin' tall people problems.
Wish me luck, boys, I'm goin' in.
And how much of the black foam did you use and what was the price of that foam?
oh ya, and also, it i put a piece of the foam completely over it and stuff it with news paper will this help with recoil? i battle friends with nerf swords, and the shields they sell just dont do the job, my friends play very aggressively
will this work for different shaped shields? i wanna make an triangle shaped one.
Great video!
Any tips on where to get the cardboard?
great tutorial. very easy to follow.
i've seen some tutorials for foam bows and do you think you could make a tutorial for those as well?
what kind of rules do you use that let you have cardboard shields?
These are very beautiful
Is there a website Were I could find Larp players in my area?
hey could you do a tut on a bow and arrow and maybe a full suit of armor
would I use the same presses to make a teardrop shield??
can you show us a video about making shield covers from cloth
How would you recommend making a center grip shield?
Try it and see. 4 layers of cardboard at 18" in diameter is quite strong! Excellent for moderate use and for kids. If you are LARPing, use plywood. Better yet, follow plans created by your LARP group.
Good guide, very usefull. My only critiscism is that a shield that size should have a central grip with a boss, not a strap.
Where do you get the cardboard? He said each piece is a half inch right?
Would it be at all possible to maybe make a tutorial on building a square punch shield?
Would it be possible to craft a kite shield using these techniques?
@F0rKilVtHero7ld You can do it - Theses videos are just supposed to offer techniques. Take those techniques and build yourself an awesome square shield or whatever shape you want. If you want to make a bigger shield try using 1/4 inch plywood cut to the shape you want - sand the edges well and don't skimp on the padding around the edges. I'm sure it will be excellent!
i want to make one that is not circular, is there any tips out there to help me?
These Level 1 (beginner) projects are only intended to personal fun and are not for actual Dagorhir battles. Higher level shields and other projects will be coming in the next few months (yes, with boards and sleds)
As far as the use of cardboard - it's great! No, don't take it in the rain. Some Dagorhir groups have cardboard shield battles with the intention that the shield gets trashed, but if you finish them, like I've showed, they hold up great.
Grab knowledge where you can. This is cool stuff.
do you put the spray glue on both sides of the center card board parts (please respond)
Dagorhir has better foam shield designs using a single piece of PVC that is embedded in the foam. A simple cloth cover can be adorned with whatever crest you like. If maintained, they can last for decades. I haven't made any weapons or shields myself since I was released as YM 1st Counselor.
@BlueDwarf2010 You can make it based on your variations but it will not be nearly as sturdy. Trust me - this design is worth the time you put into it.
is it durable and good against piercing attacks?
I used a different kind of strapping that works just fine!
one quick ques how much does the camping pad cost??
@James Fullmer Do you plan on making a level 2 shield?
Get your cardboard from a TV shop. Usually tv's come in very tough cardboard boxes that are ideal for a shield...and it's FREE!
With these widescreen tv's they even come towershield sized.
;^)
@brrskater
Solar is in Georgia. I used to play there years ago. It was awesome fun. Look up Solar: Southern Organization. It's at Hard Labor Creek.
when are you going to make a level two shield?
Where did you get the cardboard? I really wanna make this one for a skyrim cosplay but can't find any cardboard big enough
is the second layer of pipe insulation really neccisarry?
How does the cardboard compare in durability to lets say plywood?
Could you do this without it being a circle shape?
would anyone recommend useing DAP for a sheild? or should i use the 3M spray like he said
Love this. Good for the common man who doesnt want to go expensive or complicated
how durable is the shield against heavy blows?
Question for the author or anyone else who might know. is there a link to a website for you crafting of roleplaying weapons or are you just using youtube at the present time?