The Armour Archive

Mad Matt

Ok so lessee. That's down to about $400 for gas round trip.

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The budding mid 14th century German Transitional guy.
Mad Matt's Armory

Mad Matt

Looks good. Looks like a kettle hat to me. Sallet's are a lot different shape. Could you post the pattern for the top halves? I've tried a few times to get it but haven't been successfull. Or just point to where you got the pattern online if that's the case. ------------------ The budding mid 14th c...

Mad Matt

I'd suggest posting on the want ads board here. It'll probably be a lot cheaper. Of course by now you know that 18gauge won't be SCA legal. So you can decide if that matters or not. Don't use stainless for your first one. It's not going to be perfect you might as well screw up some much cheaper mild...

Mad Matt

Ok the masonry hammers I've seen are the same length on both sides. Not the same weight though. And roughly 2# $30 CDN for one. It would take a bunch of grinding but that never scared me. Plus I've been itching to buy one. So I think I'm gonna try it. Ok that explains pic #4. I hadn't thought of tha...

Mad Matt

The washers on the inside are not necessary. You can do without the ones on the outside if you're using leather. If you're using fabric then go with leather washers. You can get em from rj Leahy or you can buy two leather punch sizes and make em yourself. ------------------ The budding mid 14th cent...

Mad Matt

What's the stuff sticking out of the end of pic #4. I've got almost the same setup as you. I've got a 12# shotput that I took the plug out of and inserted a bolt. And the shotput goes into my vice. For a T stake I've got a piece of 2.5" dia metal dowel that I stick into my vice. Makes me think I sho...

Mad Matt

Well I'd REALLY REALLY like to go. But 33.5 hours driving to get there and the same to get back is just a teensy bit prohibitive.

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The budding mid 14th century German Transitional guy.
Mad Matt's Armory

Mad Matt

I prefer to use about 5-6 oz leather that's got a medium temper. (has skin not suede). Check brettuns they usually have something along those lines. Also you'll want to get a side that's got about 20 sq feet in it. That way you'll have an easier time finding a way to get the pieces you want from it ...

Mad Matt

Dalewyn: If you look at the main german transitional page there is another type of CoP offered which does cover the hips and butt. This one is the cheaper version. Also it's historically accurate to add a scale skirt to it. I don't include strapping as a standard thing because strapping is generally...

Mad Matt

Well a plasma cutter isn't a torch and it's about the best way to do it. If you just want a straight cut then go to a small metal fabrication shop and they'll have a horizontal bandsaw. Basically you stick the piece of rail in. Clamp it down. Turn the saw on. Come back in a little bit and it's cut. ...

Mad Matt

Ok we'll I'm gonna put together a forge for sheet metal. Obviously burning down the house is a bad thing so I want to find out how not to do that. Here's what I'm planning. sheet of 14ga mild steel propped up on something so it works like a table top. Layer of firebricks. Hollow tower of firebricks ...

Mad Matt

I could get you a boss for one by then.

8" dia 6" dished dia 2" deep 14ga mild steel.

$25 plus $5 shipping.

You can see pics in the accessories section of my site.

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The budding mid 14th century German Transitional guy.
Mad Matt's Armory

Mad Matt

Michael: In some places you have to be a certified welder to buy acetelyne (sp for sure) and equipment for it. Derick: I plan to use my 500,000 btu tiger torch along with some stacked up firebricks and a makeshift stand for the torch so the flame can come from the bottom. Tiger torch cost me about $...

Mad Matt

Ok sorry I didn't post to this earlier I thought it was just about rondells and figured I didn't know enough about em to give a good answer. I do know about what you're asking though now that I've actually read your question instead of just the topic. Basically yes you can hold the couter in place w...

Mad Matt

Some people do add an abrasive and some don't. If you don't it'll deburr the edges but not the holes. If you do add an abrasive it'll deburr the holes as well. Silica sand is a good abrasive choice. Note though that you're not going to have a mirror finish on the plates. It'll be a fairly flat satin...

Mad Matt

Great looking hat Mike. My only question is. Can I see pics of YOUR tools. The ones you used to raise this helmet. I'd like to see the stakes and hammers you used as well as sinking form(s) if anything other then a stump. I've just realized I've got the equipment to heat metal (just need some firebr...

Mad Matt

On the armor mostly. I already know I suck at page layout.

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The budding mid 14th century German Transitional guy.
Mad Matt's Armory

Mad Matt

POD I've got a deal with my wife. When she looses 30 pounds I'll shave back down to just the goatee and mustash. Untill then the beard just gets longer. As to wether or not I'm getting good. Don't make me spend an hour or two pointing out the thousands of flaws I can see in the stuff. I'll crop the ...

Mad Matt

How does it move technically? or how well does it move. I'll do how well. It moves great although they really need to be well strapped and pointed so that the point of the elbow and knee are right in the centre of the cop otherwise at the extreme ranges of motion you get a teensy bit of gaposis. The...

Mad Matt

Ok well I've added a bunch of stuff to the german transitional section of my site. To be specific I've added a Greathelm, gorget spaulders, simple (and cheaper CoP), leather belt pouch and steel arms and legs with floating "soupcan" style cops. Anyway go have a look and I'd be happy to hear any cons...

Mad Matt

Ok well I've added a bunch of stuff to the german transitional section of my site. To be specific I've added a Greathelm, gorget spaulders, simple (and cheaper CoP), leather belt pouch and steel arms and legs with floating "soupcan" style cops. Anyway go have a look and I'd be happy to hear any cons...

Mad Matt

Well there's good and bad news. The bad news is there were no batteries for the camera. The good news is that I brought the arm and leg in to work with me today. You'll have to wail till after lunch but there'll be pics today. Look for a post from me about new stuff this afternoon. -----------------...

Mad Matt

Fearghus: Telling a big image to be small with html only makes it look small. Ie. you just made a page that takes aeons to load. Since you're still loading the entire big image. Ie. you should use real thumbnails that link to the bigger images. It's much more dialup friendly. ------------------ The ...

Mad Matt

I actually made one of each on the weekend (one arm and one leg still have some strapping to do though). I'm planning to try and remember to snatch a digicam from work today and take it home to take some pics. Guess I'd better take some of the inside for ya. They work really well. And are fairly eas...

Mad Matt

I can do steel legs for $90 and up and down. Basically if you go to the bare minimum (just the knees) it's $30. Add more features for more money. The $90 knees cover the thighs and top of the shins as well as the knee. I can also do a gorget for $30. This is custom made to fit stuff. ---------------...

Mad Matt

I don't think we have Aces in Canada. I'll check at home depot and crappy tire as well as princess auto tonight though.

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The budding mid 14th century German Transitional guy.
Mad Matt's Armory

Mad Matt

Ok well nice price and all but. They offer them with only 1/2" flange. When I went to check out or something like that just to see if there are more options and what shipping etc costs it asked for hole size. Which I assume is the size of the hole in the fabric and has nothing to do with the size of...

Mad Matt

Vladimir: Would you consider adding me to your list for new fighters. I'll be offering full armor starter kits soon ranging from $450-$685.

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The budding mid 14th century German Transitional guy.
Mad Matt's Armory

Mad Matt

Well it sorta looks like a really long cervilere (sp?) Doesn't look like a bascinet. If someone were to cut off the bottom and possibly squash it from side to side a bit it might make a passable cervilere. It's at $33 right now. For about an extra $20 and cheaper on shipping you could get someone li...

Mad Matt

I need buffing wheels that are 8" dia and will fit on a 5/8" arbor. I've managed to find 8" wheels but only for a 1/2" arbor. I've got this nifty 3/4hp 8" bench grinder I bought specifically to use as a buffer. And now I can't find the damn wheels. Preferably something in Canada. Now on to the armor...

Mad Matt

Well you'll have to be more specific. Ie. Exactly when and where. Different fashions for different areas and different types for different time periods. Although floating articulation would probably be a safer bet. I've never seen circular fans for that time period but that doesn't mean they weren't...

Mad Matt

I'm offering a full starter kit for $450-$685. And of course you could add things on to that untill the cows come home. The more expensive one is fancier and covers more. The cheaper one is simpler and covers less but I'm happy to help you add to it by giving instructions. Still not finished my prot...

Mad Matt

Sasha why not use scaffolding if it's for a castle frontage/towers. They're really cheap to rent and can be piled into a pickup truck. You can still wear the safety harnesses and scaffolding is pretty lightweight but at that height you'd have to disasemble to move unless you got the ones with the wh...

Mad Matt

Ok I didn't bother to read other peoples suggestions so I may be repeating things here. Painting: Don't use spray paint. It goes on too thin and will scratch easily just from the plates rubbing together. What you want is a brush on rust paint. Dipping the plates would probably work well and it would...

Mad Matt

I study armor. I want to learn as much about it as possible. Part of that is knowing how it functions and feels while being worn and fought in. Yes I know SCA isn't accurate for fighting etc. But it's better then nothing and I can't afford any of the live steel people around here. ------------------...

!!FIRE!! Questons on how to not burn down my house.

Site update Lots of new stuff available.

Big site update want constructive criticism on the new stuff

Buffer questions supplies parts etc.