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by Derian le Breton
Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:32 am
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: Largess
Replies: 21
Views: 624

We (the Moneyers Guild of An Tir) provide every reign with 240 hand-struck pennies (one pound), made on dies that are cut with period methods. Each reign gets a new design, based on a period coin from their time/place of interest. I've got some examples here: m At our Kingdom A&S competition thi...
by Derian le Breton
Tue Mar 03, 2009 10:02 am
Forum: Historical Research
Topic: Rumeli Hisarı
Replies: 3
Views: 168

So cool! I saw this castle from the ferry, and have been kicking myself ever since for not checking it out.

-Donasian.
by Derian le Breton
Mon Mar 02, 2009 11:34 pm
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: etching brass
Replies: 10
Views: 329

I just tried a couple of cuts on steel, brass, copper and sterling. The brass is a little "crunchier" feeling than the copper (it's the zinc, I suppose), and not so sticky. Both are easier going than the steel. The type of steel matters a lot, but it's all pretty rough. I do almost all of...
by Derian le Breton
Mon Mar 02, 2009 10:24 pm
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: etching brass
Replies: 10
Views: 329

Brass is a lot easier to engrave than steel (you're gon'a love it). I generally use #260, (which I get as .032" shim stock from McMaster) for applied brass work. Is it "sticky" like copper? I tried that once and really didn't like it. Engraving 18k gold and sterling silver sure is ni...
by Derian le Breton
Sun Mar 01, 2009 11:58 pm
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: etching brass
Replies: 10
Views: 329

SO how is engraving done? I would like to learn, as I think that it would eliminate the acid part of my method. Engraving is essentially the art of removing material with a brittle hard steel tool. There are many shapes of engravers, each with a different purpose. I use primarily round, oval, and s...
by Derian le Breton
Sun Mar 01, 2009 9:25 pm
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: My attempt at a Turkish Tug, Tugh, or Rossschweif
Replies: 24
Views: 685

Total tangent, but this thread reminded me of some nifty standards I saw in Istanbul:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/derianlebreton/2455333552
http://www.flickr.com/photos/derianlebreton/2455333306
http://www.flickr.com/photos/derianlebreton/2454503893

:D

-Donasian.
by Derian le Breton
Sun Mar 01, 2009 9:15 pm
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: etching brass
Replies: 10
Views: 329

Probably a good place to start:

http://www.google.com/search?q=etching+brass

-Donasian.
by Derian le Breton
Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:44 am
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: Photos of covered armour
Replies: 87
Views: 7986

<A HREF="http://www.flickr.com/photos/derianlebreton/594212885/in/set-72157603245951449/"><IMG SRC="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1193/594212885_1fde74f55f.jpg"></A> Fabric covered shirt of mail. Belonged to the Grand Vizier Mahmut Pasha (? - 1474) From the Istanbul Military Museum. -Donasian.
by Derian le Breton
Wed Feb 25, 2009 12:12 am
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: A giant pile of coins
Replies: 8
Views: 468

<A HREF="http://www.flickr.com/photos/derianlebreton/3308582856/"><IMG SRC="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3329/3308582856_cba9b9952e.jpg"></A>

All done!

-Donasian.
by Derian le Breton
Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:31 pm
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: Chasing & Repousse - Newbie Help
Replies: 8
Views: 379

Don't buy an expensive pitch bowl, a small cast iron skillet works perfectly well and is much cheaper. Place it on a sand bag and you'll get all of the maneuverability of a commercial pitch bowl too.

-Donasian.
by Derian le Breton
Mon Feb 23, 2009 2:37 am
Forum: Historical Research
Topic: Coat of Plates: Tinned or not?
Replies: 16
Views: 336

Where can I get good tin? I've bought 99.9% pure tin from the following folks before; good service and fair prices: Action Bullets & Alloy, Inc PO Box 189 Quinter, KS 67752 (785) 754-3609 They'll do custom alloys, as well. I'm not at all surprised that dipping the work in acid aids in tinning. ...
by Derian le Breton
Sat Feb 21, 2009 10:22 pm
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: mmmm...Crusader helm... thingie
Replies: 70
Views: 6512

So awesome.

Halberds wrote:How did you get the designs and patterns in the bronze?


After looking at the high-res photos on Flickr, my guess is a chemical etch.

-Donasian.
by Derian le Breton
Sat Feb 21, 2009 12:17 am
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: Blackening copper/brass?
Replies: 13
Views: 291

Ammonia gives a nice green too (on copper at least.) :)

-Donasian.
by Derian le Breton
Fri Feb 20, 2009 10:35 am
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: Chasing & Repousse - Newbie Help
Replies: 8
Views: 379

Clamping the material directly to your anvil wont work, the metal has nowhere to go except "out", so you'll just stretch the piece. You want a semi-soft backing of some sort. Pitch is ideal (I highly recommend pine pitch from <A HREF="http://www.northwestpitchworks.com/">NW pitch works</A>...
by Derian le Breton
Fri Feb 20, 2009 10:31 am
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: Looking for tutorials on decorative chisel work
Replies: 20
Views: 541

Lorenzo is right on the money. Engraving and chasing are very different techniques. I like to call chasing "artfully denting the metal." Regarding the many light taps vs fewer harder hits, it really depends on how comfortable you feel with the tools, and how fine you want the detail to be....
by Derian le Breton
Thu Feb 19, 2009 10:44 pm
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: Looking for tutorials on decorative chisel work
Replies: 20
Views: 541

Chasing?

1 - Specialized, POLISHED tools.
2 - Practice
3 - Many whacks with a light hammer, under magnification preferrably

-Donasian.
by Derian le Breton
Thu Feb 19, 2009 10:21 am
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: New Nordic hoard at Estrella war A&S
Replies: 22
Views: 704

A hoard without coins? Bah! ;)

Seriously though, nice work! I've been wanting to do some of those stamp decorated bracelets for a while myself.

-Donasian.
by Derian le Breton
Thu Feb 19, 2009 1:36 am
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: First repousee project - too ambitious?
Replies: 20
Views: 796

Donasian: you're right on with both points. And yes, I expect that using pitch will make it easier both to smooth out the piece and to get the corners and points more crisp. The trouble with my setup is that I have to a) align the piece over the end of the 2x4 I was hammering it over, then b) pin i...
by Derian le Breton
Wed Feb 18, 2009 9:58 am
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: First repousee project - too ambitious?
Replies: 20
Views: 796

For a first project that's great, Kase. Here are a couple of tidbits I've picked up in my brief forays into repoussé. 1 - Some parts of the design look a little lumpy still. Working with pitch may make solving this much easier, as you can planish from the outside with a flat tool, then work the ins...
by Derian le Breton
Tue Feb 17, 2009 10:36 am
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: Heraldry -- Opinions wanted
Replies: 14
Views: 223

I recommend the following for pretty much anyone making new heraldry: Print it out and tape it to your fridge. Leave it there for one month. If you still like the design at the end of the month, submit it. I like the basic design, but I agree that the rose will be a pain in the neck. Less so than th...
by Derian le Breton
Tue Feb 17, 2009 10:31 am
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: Exposed plastic-what can we do about it?
Replies: 278
Views: 6083

Well, the first thing I'd do is perform some searches on the archive for the dozens of threads we've had about getting armoured up on the cheap.

I think Freiman the Minstrel started one not too long ago... ?

-Donasian.
by Derian le Breton
Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:07 pm
Forum: Historical Research
Topic: Celtic patterns and Runic characters
Replies: 10
Views: 223

Egfroth wrote:Certainly no evidence of tooled leather armour, but tooled leather, yes. See this thread.


For some reason I assumed the question was about tooled leather armour. Apologies!

-Donasian.
by Derian le Breton
Sun Feb 15, 2009 2:44 pm
Forum: Historical Research
Topic: Celtic patterns and Runic characters
Replies: 10
Views: 223

I don't think there's any evidence for tooled leather armor in medieval Scandinavia, but if you want the right aesthetic, using the runestones as inspiration is a good start. Some of the <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stave_church">Stave Churches</A> have fancy intertwining animal forms too. ...
by Derian le Breton
Thu Feb 12, 2009 9:38 am
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: heres a site with various conversion tables
Replies: 1
Views: 66

Google Calculator works for many unit types too:

http://www.google.com/search?q=troy+oz+per+pound

-Donasian.
by Derian le Breton
Sun Feb 08, 2009 2:38 pm
Forum: Medieval Combat and Weapons
Topic: Question for fencers
Replies: 55
Views: 868

I didn't even realize there were kingdoms that still did "light rapier..."

But yeah, it'll depend on your local kingdom law.

-Donasian.
by Derian le Breton
Sat Feb 07, 2009 4:40 am
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: Is this shield boss worthwhile?
Replies: 7
Views: 263

Fine for a foam LARP. Way too thin for SCA.

-Donasian.
by Derian le Breton
Fri Feb 06, 2009 2:07 am
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: riveted cauldron
Replies: 8
Views: 415

Nice! Here are some big riveted Ottoman ones we saw in Topkapi:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ursulageorges/783624520/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ursulageorges/740001848/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ursulageorges/740001922/

-Donasian.
by Derian le Breton
Fri Feb 06, 2009 12:11 am
Forum: Historical Research
Topic: Da Vinci Experience in San Diego Museum
Replies: 5
Views: 133

It is very cool.

-Donasian.
by Derian le Breton
Thu Feb 05, 2009 11:12 pm
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: Want to construct the "Ultimate" Ger/Yurt
Replies: 11
Views: 219

Where's the link?

If I were building something, I'd go for exact measurements, not approximations. And believe it or not, most people in the US know how long a meter is.

-Donasian.
by Derian le Breton
Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:55 pm
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: laurel wreaths & charges for laurels
Replies: 27
Views: 604

Well, I know that in some kingdoms you can't wear heraldry with the laurel wreath unless you are an entitled representative of the group the arms are registered to. You have to instead wear a laurel wreath free populace ensign of some sort. Typically groups register a populace badge sans laurel wre...
by Derian le Breton
Wed Feb 04, 2009 12:08 am
Forum: Historical Research
Topic: Da Vinci Experience in San Diego Museum
Replies: 5
Views: 133

The An Tir Moneyers' Guild did a live coin striking demo (as part of a broader "life in the renaissance" demo) at that show when it was at the Museum of Flight up here. It was fun, and we got to see the exhibit for free. :D

-Donasian.
by Derian le Breton
Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:01 am
Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
Topic: New Viking Helmet
Replies: 20
Views: 907

That's a great work of fantasy art!

-Donasian.
by Derian le Breton
Tue Feb 03, 2009 1:42 am
Forum: Historical Research
Topic: Medieval armour found in tombs
Replies: 58
Views: 3106

Baron Alcyoneus wrote:Are the ones you mentioned etched, or stamped/engraved/cast?


IIRC, chasing and inlay were the dominant techniques. The former is essentially a fancy method of stamping, the latter uses engraving as a component step.

-Donasian.
by Derian le Breton
Tue Feb 03, 2009 1:36 am
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: A giant pile of coins
Replies: 8
Views: 468

I'd presume stamped since: a) that's how it was done in period b) Donasian is a properly period moneyer, and c) he said his arm was getting tired. Correct on all counts, but we say "struck." Cast coins are appropriate in China, and pretty much nowhere else. Beautiful spread! Thanks! -Dona...
by Derian le Breton
Sat Jan 31, 2009 7:17 am
Forum: Interpretive Re-creation
Topic: A giant pile of coins
Replies: 8
Views: 468

A giant pile of coins

<A HREF="http://www.flickr.com/photos/derianlebreton/3240310366/"><IMG SRC="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3501/3240310366_3dffde88b6.jpg"></A> There are 785 of my Henry III replicas in that photo, the order is for 1000. My arm is tired, but I'm almost there! Way ahead of schedule too. -Donasian.

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