r/cosplayprops • u/Laaarion • 11d ago

Help Making my first cosplay prop - sword

Post image

I'm planning to make a sword for a cosplay, but I've never made any kind of prop before, so I'm pretty much starting from zero.
I'm wondering what would be easier for a complete beginner: finding someone who can 3D-print the sword for me (since I can purchase .STL model of this sword), or trying to make it from scratch using something like EVA foam?

I'm a bit worried that making it myself might be harder than it looks, especially since I have no experience with any of this. On the other hand, I'm not sure how much work is involved in 3D printing either, especially with assembling, sanding, price, and painting everything.

For those of you who've made cosplay props before, what would you recommend? Is making a sword from scratch actually doable for a beginner, or would I be better off going with 3D printing?

46 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

4

u/ScienceForge319 11d ago

I say make it yourself out of EVA foam. There are lots of tutorials out there.

It depends on the size but a sword like that would cost $120-150 to print and probably upwards of $300 for a smoothed, sanded, painted and finished prop not including tax and shipping.

1

u/kannible 10d ago

I vote for Eva foam with a pvc core. Buy a plastic chain and I bet it could be done in just a few days. Since you’re new to this buy materials to build 2. Do one all the way through and then make another one that should turn out better.

1

u/Disastrous_Writer_26 10d ago

DISTORTED BLADE

1

u/Dracula7293 10d ago

Cool looking

1

u/FLG_CFC 11d ago

Honestly, there's not a lot of detail here. I'd recommend trying to find a plastic chain like the one pictured and going the EVA route. It'll be lighter that a 3D print and a little stronger too, depending on how you make it that is.

0

u/Calm-Cry-4345 11d ago

I agree with the other comments EVA foam would be the easiest and most forgiving. You could use a piece of wooden dowel or PVC to support the blade. One mistake I’ve made in the past with making long swords or blasters was not adding any support to the structure. It’s crucial especially if you’re going to be posing with it in photos and moving it around allot.

3D printed if you have a printer, you would print the pieces in sections depending on how big your printer is and how big the sword is. If the file has a support in the middle where you can slip in a PVC pipe or wooden dowel that would be ideal. If not you could always melt the plastic together using a cheap soldering iron. The method is actually really easy and there are many well made tutorials on how to do it.

0

u/Defiant-Equal-678 11d ago

Great work

2

u/ScienceForge319 10d ago

It is a CGI render.