| On one film I worked, I needed a Celtic sword | | | | various characters and stamped the icons into the |
| and the director wanted some runes on the blade. | | | | clayso they ran down the length of the blade. |
| Obviously buying a real sword would have been | | | | I baked the sword (it would just fit diagonally in |
| expensive and I couldn't one at the various prop | | | | my oven) to set the polymer clay. After sanding |
| houses around town that would please the | | | | the blade to make it look smooth, I used Silver |
| director. I realized I was going to have to create | | | | Leaf color of Rub 'n Buff to make the blade silver. |
| one from scratch. | | | | I got Rub 'n Buff at my local craft store, but you |
| First I got a wooden martial arts practice sword | | | | can order it online here: |
| (these can be found wholesale for around $20). In | | | | The sword looked fantastic and got many |
| a pinch, I imagine a wooden staff or broom | | | | compliments from cast and crew. I had to keep a |
| handle could be used. However, make certain you | | | | sharp eye on the it though, because everyone |
| use a hardwood or the sword could catch fire | | | | wanted to play with it. I don't know how it would |
| when you cure the outer layer of the blade. | | | | hold up for fighting, but such a sword looks very |
| I cut and sanded down the blade until it was an | | | | realistic for non-actions scenes. |
| eighth of an inch thinner than the final sword I | | | | Further, the wooden core gives it enough weight |
| would need. When I had the sword the shape and | | | | and heft to look realistic. Sometimes fake swords |
| width I desired, I coated the wooden blade with a | | | | are made with a foam-core base. That means |
| layer of polymer clay. Polymer clay is available | | | | that when the sword is moved suddenly, it can |
| inexpensively at most craft stores. I prefer the | | | | wangle. I saw this just last night in a big budget |
| Sculpey 3 brand, but FIMO is also very popular. | | | | Chinese film and it was very distracting. |
| To add the Celtic runes, I found rubber stamps of | | | | |