Thread: Machete

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Anyone try grinding the sharp edge off of a machete, and then use it as a prop? Would this be unsafe in any way? I bet it'd sure look convincing...

maybe the grinding might make it sharper....what about the thin black rubber guard that goes on the egde of car doors,maybe put that on the edge of the blade?

Rahl over at Frightstuff has created some terrific safe machetes. He is doing some finishing touches to get these as screen accurate as possible and at a very competitive price IMO.

FRIGHTFORUM of frightstuff.com ~ Log in

Originally Posted by GrahamWellington

Anyone try grinding the sharp edge off of a machete, and then use it as a prop? Would this be unsafe in any way? I bet it'd sure look convincing...

what would you do with it?? If it's just sitting where ToT's can't get to it, then you're fine, but if someone is running with it or swinging it, it might not be worth the risk.

It still would have a point on it at the end right? Sounds dangerous to me.

The "point" on a machete is not a sharp point. A little work with a grinder and you can put a round edge on the blade and round off the point a little. You would have a "safe" machete in so much as you wouldn't have to worry about cutting yourself if you picked it up in the dark. It can still do a significant amount of damage if you accidently swung it into someone. The blade on a real machete tapers slightly before the final edge is developed. Even though it's not sharp, imagine what a 1/16" wide piece of steel would do if someone knocked you on the head with it!

Like others have said, if it's going somewhere that your "guests" aren't able, in any way, to come into contact with it, then go for it! You can get cheap machetes from Harbor Freight for less than 10 bucks, IIRC. If you want someone running through your haunt with a machete, then I vote for a foam machete.

I used a grinder to flatten the edge of a machete but it still very dangerous.

Just use the foamcore method and make your own safe machete.
Safe foamcore meat cleaver.

Instead of acrylics I would use Sophisticated Finishes Rust Kit.

I grinded the edges flat,then painted the edge with latex. I then painted the latex like blood and put on blood paste. I would carry it at my side pointing down , never raising it. Never had a problem cuz people would not get close to me.

The site has a tutorial somewhere for making foam blades look realisitc...