| Custom Wooden Bo Creation
- By Steve Andrews
The Bo staffs are perhaps the most widely used of all Performance Weapons. Due to the fact that the moves are spectacular but don't require as much time as let say nunchuku. Even so require a martial artist's skill. But to add flare to the Bo staff why not create a custom built weapon. Created for Performance and Sheer Look, and custom to your height and needs.
Materials Needed:
- 2 Metre length (6ft) of wood (preferably a pole)
- Large amount of Wood Varnish (I use floor varnish for sheer endurance)
- Sand paper
- Acrylic Paints
- Transfer paper or Vinyl designs
Things to take into consideration:
- Heavy or light wood – is the Bo going to be used to strike or block or is it strictly a performance weapon or it the handling of the Bo better with a certain weight.
- Look of the Bo staff - What is the look are you after, are you looking for a beaten up look, or a clean fresh look, plan the designs to account for that.
- Varnish layers- Are building the Bo to last? If so apply loads off varnish on average I apply about 5 layers and thick amounts each time.
- Designs /pictures – You can use the transfer paper to place designs to fully personalize the staff. Place the designs at key points to add another level of cool to the staff
- Quality of the wood – Make sure the wood is in good condition no cracks or warping
Part one
- The wood your using needs to be cleaned and shaped to what you need , I recommend that are person keeps the Bo staff to the standard size of 6ft (2 metres) due to the fact a lot of the tricks require a large amount of handle and grip. But you can have about 1ft wiggle room both sides so you can have a 5ft Bo or 7ft. I recommend also the ends be tapered for safety and the wood smoothed down.
- Make sure all wood is cleaned and ready for painting
Part Two
- In my experience wood is best painted with acrylic paints due to the fact wood soaks the paint quite well and is the easiest to cover with varnish. But tryout different paints on scrap wood to see different effects. The base coat usually takes about 2-3 coats and any patterns or Writing should be applied now after the base coat has dried. Trying to paint on varnish I have found can be a nightmare.
- Remember Customize and accessorise. You want a custom, unique Bo go crazy with the colours and get some cool ideas going.
Part Three
- Adding the transfer paper or the vinyl is the part of the creation in which makes the design phase complete. You need to apply a base layer of varnish then place the transfer paper on. Vinyl is different as you can place this after al the varnishing if complete but it is up to you what order you place the designs.
Part Four
- Varnish until You satisfied that the Bo is strong enough to use. Usually the Bo requires about 5-6 layers.
Ok that's a Summary of the stuff required to create a Bo staff.
Any questions : Bodyhammer_blackrage@hotmail.com
Happy Forms and Trick peeps
- Steve Andrews
Contributed on July 10th, 2005 |
