The Armour Archive

Carmel

THANK YOU!

Carmel

It's at:

http://www.davidrumsey.com/amico/

Just wondering if it's any good. Does it have photos of all the works of all 20 museums listed?

Thanks,

Carmel

Carmel

OH MY GOD! I can't believe I missed that in your original post! Congrats Ugo! Why didn't you tell us?

Next question, What did you wear to the wedding?

-Carmel

Carmel

I had trouble finding an open Starbucks on Sunday in downtown Portland. Downtown is a ghost town on Sundays. Portland is nice but it is a very sleepy and small town with very little surrounding it. Great place to be if you like the great outdoors. Weather could be a problem for you if you're used to...

Carmel

Oh, and I forgot that with certain metals, you get the exact opposite effect as you do with steel. For example with copper, what you stated is true. It gets harder if you let it slow cool but if you quench it, it gets softer.

Carmel

Carmel

raistlin_majere100 wrote:if memory serves me right heating the metal and letting it cool slowely will anneal the metal and make it hard and brittle

This will make the metal softer not hard and brittle. Cooling it faster hardens it and makes it brittle.

-Carmel

Carmel

I use a Nimba anvil and I love it. It's the most usefull item in my shop. I have the 260lb Centurion but I would like to have the 450lb Gladiator. Great for blacksmithing I would guess but I just love it for the working surfaces. http://www.anvils.nimbaforge.com/centurion.php

-Carmel

Carmel

Josh Warren wrote:http://josh.mediumaevum.com/library%201%20088.jpg

That's the only photo of my pauldrons in motion that I can find. Really, they move very well and are nowhere near as restricting as people seem to think...

That's a great shot and an awesome harness.

Thanks,

Carmel

Carmel

Knitebee, I've had some small (30lb) anvils cast in tool steel and I haven't hardened them yet. They are still pretty soft so if you are going to invest the time, effort and money in casting a custom anvil of that size, I would definitely plan on getting it hardened. I own a Nimba anvil http://www.a...

Carmel

RedLeg wrote:It is actually an epoxy floor. It is cool sometimes, but if I had to do it again I would not do it in that room.

Can you elaborate on that? I just did an epoxy floor in my grinding/polishing room and was considering it in the other areas of the shop. Why don't you like it?

Carmel

Carmel

I FINALLY figured it out. I'm not telling how I did it!

SAFETY PIN !!!

I'll post some pics when I get some time - must sleep now.

Carmel

Carmel

I think you are referring to a standard spring pin. I am enquiring about what I guess is called a spring post? It's the post with an integrated spring and catch that is used to snap pauldrons onto the gorget common in 16th century examples. I'll attach a photo.

Thanks,

Carmel

Carmel

Hi all,

I'm having a hell of a time trying to figure out how to put the spring into a spring pin post for attaching pauldrons to a gorget. Anyone ever successfully done it? Anyone willing to share their methods?

Thanks,

Carmel

Carmel

Awesome!

Thanks guys.

Carmel

Carmel

Where in the heck can a guy get some metal around here? Do I have to drive to Pittsburg or something?

Carmel

Carmel

Ok, It's been a year and the shop is about ready. It's about 500 sqft total and is in my basement in Ashburn, VA. The grinding/polishing room is done. I'm currently constructing dust hoods for my buffers and grinders and will add a dust control system as soon as I have it all figured out. There is p...

Carmel

Then you must be REALLY bad, Jeff. I don't usually knock other peoples work but that guys armour is nasty. Apart from it being wrong in many ways, the finish is about the worst I've ever seen. I think he needs to invest in some equipment.

Carmel

Hound5150,

You better watch it! That's exactly how I became obsessed with armouring. Here is the harness I made for my wedding:

http://www.carmelemanuel.com/16th%20Cent%20Harn.htm

Here are some of our wedding pics. There are 4 pages - you have to click the next page thing on the left to see them all.

http://www.carmelemanuel.com/Photos/Hal ... index.html

Good Luck!

Carmel

Carmel

Check back with me in a couple months. I just got a house in Ashburn, VA and a large shop will be set up soon. Once I'm back in action I would be happy to host an occasional armour day and maybe get some heavy shaping done for free

Carmel

Carmel

I'm wondering why people don't insist on using some sort of e-escrow service for armour commissions. It seems like the honor system is failing often enough to warrant a change in business practices. Maybe the AA should offer such a service for a nominal fee.

Carmel

Carmel

I knew it would be better out here. I live in Northern VA and will soon have a shop in Ashburn.

Carmel

Carmel

Beautiful work James. Please keep adding new works to the site so we know what you're up to.

Carmel

Carmel

If you don't want to quilt the entire thing, how about spot stitching it every few inches or so?

Carmel

Carmel

Maybe the sheets provided to the armourers were so inconsistent in thickness that the armourer simply chose a piece from the stack that best met the needs for the piece he was forming. Regardless, we have to draw the line somewhere. In this case, expending so much energy in attempts to discover the ...

Carmel

Thanks guys. The most difficult part about valuating this thing is that I don't have a shop rate. I've never made anything for anyone before. Any suggestions on who the 3rd party should be? James, aren't you a full time armourers? Also, do you think the person doing the appraisal will have to see th...

Carmel

Someone on the archive must have some experience with this. I'm buying a new homeowners insurance policy and I would like to add some coverage for a suit of reproduction armour I made. How do I get an accurate appraisal for the insurance company. The agent made it sound as though just about any 3rd ...

Carmel

RalphS,

If a material other than magnetite is used that will enable the temperature of the crucible to rise even higher, do you think it would be possible to combine several magnetrons and waveguides to do a large melt of steel?

-Carmel

Carmel

If you get as excited as I do about melting metal, you should enjoy this:

http://home.c2i.net/metaphor/mvpage.html

Carmel

Carmel

Thanks Pad. I wonder why he is trying to stiff me. I would rather have it done by a pro but for that price, forget it.

I've had my share of Makers Mark whiskey as well as Crown Royal. I'll take the Crown over the Makers.

Carmel

Carmel

Master Ugo

-Carmel

Carmel

I requested a quote for a1/2 stamp from Microstamp and he quoted me $235. Doesn't that seem a little high?

Carmel

Carmel

Hot Damn! That is some serious talent.

Carmel

Carmel

We are talking about two different issues in this thread. We should differentiate between hammer marks and dings. What Klaus the Red mentioned sounds like dings or low spots. I don't think these are covered by the 10ft rule that James mentioned. Low spots or dings reflect light differently from any ...

Carmel

I've done long days but I like to keep it at about 4-6 hours max. Make sure you wear good shoes/boots made for standing on cement if your shop has a cement floor.

Carmel

Thanks for that compliment, James!

I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy!

http://www.carmelemanuel.com/Etched%20G ... 0Arlen.htm

Carmel

Re: Dusting off the cobwebs

Has anyone used the AMICA library?

Spring pin style post for attaching pauldrons

Metal suppliers in the DC area?

Why not use escrow for armour commissions?

Armour appraisal for insurance purposes

Microwave Foundry!