The Armour Archive

Otto

New area to me, so please forgive the stupid question.

So, is it that you "raise" the general shape of the design that you're making from the back, then you use a small sharp tool to "chase" the details in from the front?

Otto

I dunno... I think I spent 3-4 hours hammering and planishing all together. Welding and grinding didn't take maybe an hour. I'm gonna see if I can't get a nice mirror finish on it as I've already made this customer wait longer than he should, so a special touch would be nice. I suspect that, doing i...

Otto

Well, I spent today hammering out and welding a 12 gauge top for a Sinric style sugarloaf. It came out pretty good, I think. I'm forced to wonder though... I can get 12 gauge tops from Ironmonger and others for like $75 give or take. It's an awful lot of work shaping 12 ga. steel. I wonder if, in th...

Otto

Wassa big deal? If it's the thickness it appears to be... secure a bar to the bench top, slide it through the opening... cover it with a thin piece of leather to preserve the finish... with one hand on the center and one on the far corner, push down until the bar regains it's original shape. The onl...

Otto

The pattern is drawn on graph paper... I'm guessing that the squares are meant to be 1 inch wide each.

Confirmation?

Otto

Lucien, my normal ordering procedure is half up front, half upon completion... but for the sale itself, I've been saying that it has to be paid before the month ends to qualify for sale prices.

Otto

Last days for the sale prices.

Otto

Last couple days of the sale... so if you want it cheap, get it now!

Otto

I'm not real fond of it, so it costs about 50% extra, but yeah, I do stainless at customer request.

Otto

Well, making mirror finishes on things is kinda fun. I don't mind sitting and applying a bit of elbow grease to the situation. I think I may even add it as an option on my website when I get around to it. I will note that it does seem to take too long to do it just for giggles on munitions stuff tha...

Otto

The month is almost up and I'm pretty sure I won't likely be doing this again til late summer at the earliest... so if ya want the sale prices, now's the time.

Otto

I haven't found diddly-crap for angle grinders... which due to their high speed, make good sanders sometimes. I've only found up to 220 grit for my sanding pad for my drill... the 400 and 600 I use has been by hand... though I'm sure some lovely power tools speed the process, I just don't have them.

Otto

the month is running out and so are the bumps!

Otto

Otto

I am but a poor lowly armourer... barely gett'n by. I shall have to rely on a bit of elbow grease and my own two hands for now... but they seem to be sufficient to the task.

Otto

Belts? what's this sillyness?

I just cut out some scraps of sand paper for a little hand held finish sanding. No electricity required!

I'll debate using the polishing compounds and such... I seem to have gotten a pretty good result just using the paper.

Otto

hmmm... 600 was the finest I found at the hardware. Where would one find 1200? Would it actually do further good?

Also... is the effect easier to achieve in mild or stainless or does it even matter?

Otto

Well, that has proven easier to do than I thought it would. To be honest, I'm not sure I was even aware that 400 and 600 grit existed or perhaps I'd have worked this out long ago. I've placed a near mirror finish on a stainless helm top. I'm quite satisfied. I suppose the process does wear on one's ...

Otto

Ah, I see... seeing as I rarely stray further than say... 120 grit... perhaps that's why I'm having problems with it.

Otto

I recall a thread on this years ago, but I don't recall the contents. I'm trying for a really nice finish on a helm and have gone as far as 220 grit sand paper but still am not getting what I consider a really nice finish. Where do I need to go from there to get that smooth homogenous finish that's ...

Otto

Bailar bailar la bumpa!

Otto

LaBumpo!

Otto

A simple neck measurement... wrap a tape measure around your bare neck and give me the result... also, I like to know if you have any special considerations like a particularly long or short neck.

Otto

Just a reminder...

That'd be only $20 each on:
Gorgets,
Basket Hilts,
Shield Baskets,
Simple Elbow

Eyeslot Barrel helms for only $80
"Celtic" styled spangenhelms for only $160

Otto

bumpy!

Otto

Don't forget my lovely sale

Otto

Great guy to work with.

I've made some helms for him recently and things got a bit bogged down for me. He was very understanding and such. I'd have no worries at all about ordering from him.

Otto

been answering as quick as I can

Otto

Of course I build to each customers size... as best I can anyway. With helms, I generally don't build them until after they're ordered and sized for each customer

Otto

OK, things have dropped off since the March sale... and since I'd love to keep a roof over my head and food on the table, I'll run a 20% off April sale for the rest of this month. Sale prices apply to things ordered and paid for in April. For those folks who ordered in the March sale, I'm cleaning u...

Otto

k

sale's over

ya waited too long

ya missed it

too bad

so sad

bye bye!

Otto

I make shield bosses... today's the last day of my sale making it $20. (after that, it's $25)

Otto

Oy!

Last day for the sale.

If you want the cheepy prices, today is it!

Otto

Final note... if you want in on the sale, time's almost up!

Otto

eeyup!

12 ga. tops

Sinric Sugarloaf Pattern

Mirror/High-quality Finish on steel

Otto's Armoury 20% off APRIL sale!