The Armour Archive

InfinitySteel

I'm going to experiment with this at some point. Commercial pitch bowls are godawful expensive and small. I'll probably go buy a commercial weld on pipe cap. You can get the suckers half an inch thick, hot forged steel, and up to ten inch diameters. Weld a couple of traingles drilled for a bolt to t...

InfinitySteel

Cheaper is not always better. And all you have to do is look at somthing to tell if someone is cutting corners. Send him pictures of REAL armor to look at. I just can't take anyone seriously who puts a crease up the center of a chunk of metal, wraps it around a log and calls it a "breastplate". That...

InfinitySteel

It was rather confused and things migrated to the oddest places. We do know from surviving records that there were local and state guild structures. Guilds controlled prices and quailities by authorizing makers to produce in various localities-without a warrant you could not sell your goods. There w...

InfinitySteel

There is evidence from surviving pieces that late roman technology was spinning infantry helmets, using water mills for power. Fifteenth and sixteenth century manufacturers were using trip hammers and screw presses to pound and press plates. I imagine that they if they had powered drive shafts, pret...

InfinitySteel

The only thing I use a hammer for is adjustments for fits and rivets. As far as hammering to a rythm? Kinda hard to do to classical music. I generally don't listen to anything with lyrics.

Too distracting.

InfinitySteel

Modern makers seem to stick to "safe bets".

As far as the rest,what is represented in collections is mostly what the purists have to go on. They would be greatly surprised at what is stuck away in undocumented private collections.

InfinitySteel

I pretty much never anneal.... I'm a lazy git, and if it's going to nead anealing, just easier to shape it hot anyway. Yeah... dead soft then, no work hardening, but theres still boughing and planishing. Works good for me. When one dishes with a press,it's not usually an issue. The piece is going t...

InfinitySteel

I've found that a useful tool in my armouring is what I refer to as "armourer's ADD" (in the sense of attention defecit disorder). It seems to work well for me to work on 3-4 projects at once and kind of jump back and forth between them as the mood strikes me. Sometimes I get on a roll and stay wit...

InfinitySteel

You see. I recall doing a really deep dish elbows years ago. I was one of those sixteenth century conicals with the blunt point. Took a while and a couple of annealing to get there. The geometry was correct....but I was suspicious of it. So O took it to the bandsaw and zipped it in two up the cente...

InfinitySteel

Greetings Mr Infinity, I am glad you are tooling up to show the rest of the world how it is done. I realize this is your full time profession and I wish you the best of luck, your overflowing confidence should assure your success. I am hopeful that your disparaging remark in your new sig line "I do...

InfinitySteel

I like the strength factor welding them makes. I'm more concerned about durability then speed. Holy crap! Someone that understands! Frankly, I think they're faster too. I don't use a press, but if I did I'd probably still do the center weld. :P Well,I cannot afford to raise. And dishing steel that ...

InfinitySteel

I keep getting pestered about my 'fly by night website" too.

Which is why I am setting up a new one this coming month.

InfinitySteel

Excellent work,you got the design very close.

InfinitySteel

$45 for elbows,$100 for knees.

I'll post prices when I put up the commercial site this coming month.

InfinitySteel

hmm.........

InfinitySteel

I sliced a civil defense hemet up for the rim once. It was eaiser than forging one out ,with the internal flange. Then forged a skull of the proper shape with bands to finish it.

Mine was riveted.

InfinitySteel

Well I'd be very much interested in the 2nd generation elbows. I can point a few other people your way as well. I'm curious what software you will be running to drive the CNC cutter. I have a few patterns kicking around that you might be interested in. Sean Wer'e picking up the torchmate package, r...

InfinitySteel

Hmmm, I'm thinking a set of those in mild would be nice. Although you have my interest piqued with the thought of your next generation of those. Especialy if a set of knees and a cuisse were to become availible. I'd be hinting at a matching greave as well, but have personal feelings about greaves a...

InfinitySteel

$45 a set in mild. $60 set in stainless. Others will probably be about the same. We are working on getting a cnc plasma cutter in this month. So I am refining patterns preparatory to milling other dies and support tooling to mass produce. The customer responses to the delivered goods have been very ...

InfinitySteel

Ugo wrote:Nyuck, nyuck, I just had to give you crap ya tooo chuk!

AND pickle barrels....um yeah...quite...If that's how you want to be seen in public, go right ahead.

Dang,you'll be rippin people in purple carpeting next!

InfinitySteel

Ugo wrote:Ummm....Why not just buy pitch? BUY TH' DAMN PITCH!!!! then you'll be done &... done.

What???!!!

Use the correct material? Heresy!

I bet you'll be telling them that pickle barrels aren't REAl armor next!

InfinitySteel

I'm getting asked more and more for patterns that are closer to origionals. I think it's cool that you're offering a line of product in a more historical lean. Kudos and much success! I'm going to be completing my 14th Cent Bohemian kit (planning for after the holidays) and I'll keep you in mind fo...

InfinitySteel

I've seen center creases on knees and that makes sense as a knee needs to deflect attacks from the front off to either side like a boat prow. I've never seen elbows with a center crease though. If this is supposed to be closer to "original" to what original is it? Have you considered dishing and ro...

InfinitySteel

Minotaur wrote:When I press stuff like that I just let it wrinkle. I find it faster to get out the wrinkles then welding it.

I like the strength factor welding them makes. I'm more concerned about durability then speed. I just price them acordingly.

InfinitySteel

Sasuke wrote:They look very nice.

I am curious why you went with welding instead of using a press? Does the press thin the metal too much?

Thanks.

Chris

They are stainless steel. The stuff is a nightmare to get that deep.

InfinitySteel

I'm getting asked more and more for patterns that are closer to origionals. This is is the latest attempt at that. They have a mounting lame and short rerebrace, Intended to finish out into transitional leather arms. The inside shot shows where I have sliced away uneeded metal to lighten them and im...

InfinitySteel

It may not end up being a personal issue. Just found out My supplier will sell rems to me for $1.65 a pound.

InfinitySteel

I understand now Brian,I take things way too seriously. :D I have never been able to get my hands on annealed brass, so it was always half to 3/4 hard. Which is where my saying to anneal comes from. If it came soft, I can see where it would be no issue-I haven't had that luxury in my suppliers to da...

InfinitySteel

I'm not trying to be dismissive Brian. But I have trimmed dozens of pieces in my time, including full suits. And I have always found that sheet brass will fight you in forming to even simple curves without being softened.

Some things are only found under your hands-not in books.

InfinitySteel

Provenance on things not from documentable sources can be very difficult. During the Victorian period there was a glut of makers who were catering to decorator markets. Thier fakes were very good, using origional methods-and they had acess to wrought iron. Some of it can very easily fool professiona...

InfinitySteel

Interesting what an image search will come up with. Gotta love Google.

And 650 for a xerox copy?

InfinitySteel

Real pieces have some sort of verifiable provenance.

What is the reputation of the seller?

InfinitySteel

And here we were just leaving it where the dog could get at it.

InfinitySteel

People seldom understand how involved edgework can be. Firstly,you can't just hack up brass straight off the shelf and put it on. The rolling process work hardens it. It has to be heated red hot and quenched in water to soften it first. The comes the pattern. Each edge must be traced to posterboard...

InfinitySteel

He's trying to summon trolls from the woodwork out.

Re: Armourer's ADD

new elbows