The Armour Archive

Mad Matt

I've had very good results with "Black Magic" gun blueing compound (it's basically just selenic acid). Anyway don't use alcohol to clean the metal use a proper degreaser which you can get from any auto parts store. First degrease the armour then wipe clean with a piece of an old t-shirt. (use a t-sh...

Mad Matt

That's Eric Dube (the "e" should have a little accent on it I think) He's been around here a little bit and there is an english copy of his site somewhere. He's from Quebec not sure if his prices are US or CDN. But definitly great work. ------------------ The budding mid 14th century German Transiti...

Mad Matt

Actually Hemp is not Marijuana. It's very closely related but is different. One of the major differences is the almost complete lack of THC (the active ingredient in weed). The fibers from the hemp plant are very stong and usefull in making things like rope and fabric. In Canada it's now legal to gr...

Mad Matt

Tig welding gloves are on sale now at princess auto for $9.99 Don't worry I've got lots of black leather dye. http://www.princessauto.com/_osn.cfm?CTRY=CAN&output=OSN&Factor=2&Starter=113&PageSearch=ALL&CurrentPage=8 Is the sale page they're located on. Lemme know if you need the directions to the s...

Mad Matt

Well I'm looking forward to taking them apart. Or at least watching you do it since I can't really do anything because of my thumb. Peening rivits is really easy. You don't want really heavy leather gloves under them. I don't think I've got a bookmark but look for master cad's site it's got some det...

Mad Matt

Ok well I've been trying to get my wife to make me an arming doublet for quite a while now so hopefully some answers to these questions will give me some ammo since she's thinking of selling clothing on the net. Now here's what I want her to make me. It'll be a test basically and if sucessfull then ...

Mad Matt

Well I was just about to mention the wool stuff and realized Lord Jack put it in. BTW my Mom said she recieved your cheque and will have the batting ready to mail out in a day or two. Now if you're thinking of using the sewn channels idea then my Mom also sells wool roving which is basically a big l...

Mad Matt

I have a similar shear that I use often. It's great for making things like splinted stuff and COP's. It will cut outside curves nicely. You just have to hack around the curve first leaving about 1/4" of metal around the area you want to cut and then cut it with the propr curve. It'll save you some t...

Mad Matt

Well sadly I don't have pictures of the mangled thumb. It seems every time I break something I don't manage to get pictures even though I want them. And of course my thumb isn't really mangled anymore just some pretty purple colors but it's straightened back out thanks to the doctor re-setting it. I...

Mad Matt

Actually I was winding rings and wound my thumb into the coil.

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

Mad Matt

Or maybe just postponed. I badly broke my thumb on Saturday and can't bear the thought of all the fun arnouring going on without being able to participate. I'll hopefully fing out tomorrow how long I'll be out of comission when i go to see the plastics specialist. In the meantime if anyone wants to ...

Mad Matt

Ok so I managed to try out my weed burner. The 500,000 btu propane one I mentioned getting a little while ago. Anyway I tried it on a shield boss blank that was bolted into my shiled boss dishing form. The metal got hot but it never got red or anything. I think this is because of a few things. One I...

Mad Matt

Can't remember if you're comming to the Armourers gathering I'll have to go check. But if you are could you pick one up for me.

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

Mad Matt

As soon as my dog stops growing I plan on making him a transitional harness. Maille splinted stuff and Coat of plates. He's not gonna get much taller then he is now but he's got another 2 years of weight gain ahead of him. He's an 11 month old rottie and currently at about 95 pounds. I think I might...

Mad Matt

Try sporting goods stores and outfitters.

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

Mad Matt

Get a ball hitch with the flat top. Cut off the threaded part so it's a ball with 2 flat sides.

Weld a stake to the side of the ball so that the flat parts are on the sides of the ball.

There ya go.

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

Mad Matt

I forget which LARP group it is but there's a LARP group with really cool armour rules. Basically you have an AC. Now your AC directly reduces the damage delivered from each blow. Ie. If you're wearing Full plate. Lets say it's got an AC of 5 being the max for non-magical. And someone's attacking yo...

Mad Matt

I swear by 5/16 16 gauge. I make it and I fight in it. Works just fine for me. It's gotta be tailored properly though. The wire type will make a bit of a difference. If it's stainless you're laughing. If it's annealed mild steel you're in some trouble. If it's electric fence wire you're good but ele...

Mad Matt

You need enough expansion so that it doesn't bunch up when it hits your shoulders. Expansion starts about 1/2" above the shoulders. Start by making a pattern for the leather strip. Make a straight piece of maille no contractions or expansions that's 3-6 rows long. Do the fitting to the leather strap...

Mad Matt

You'll need to supply more info if you want a better answer. When and where.

You see the splinted greaves were a mostly german fashion.

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

Mad Matt

There's a gun blueing compound called black magic. If you put it on generously it'll give you really nice and really black results.

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

Mad Matt

Well you could do a full back. I've got all the tools. And a little bit of know how. I'd say polishing them is definitly something that needs to be done. And of course if all elce fails. Give em to me. My offer is better then Frederick's since you won't have to pay any shipping. http://www.armourarc...

Mad Matt

At princess auto for all you canucks. I picked one up on friday but haven't had a chance to try it out yet. I'll let you know how it works as soon as I get a chance (hopefully tonight). Anyway this thing is basically a portable and instantly and safely built propane forge. It'll run up to 500,000 bt...

Mad Matt

Looks great. Here's my suggestion though. Replace the face plate on the Sallet. I think it should stick out further then the skull of the helmet. Basically take the pattern for the face plate and add another inch to the sides. Would look a lot cooler. ------------------ The budding mid 14th century ...

Mad Matt

It's too strong. But it'll work it'll just be stiff. Preferably you want something that's in the 4-6 oz range with a medium temper. And something other then veg tan since it's much cheaper. The leather is basically just there to hold the splints in place. ------------------ The budding mid 14th cent...

Mad Matt

Gasoline. It cleans off tar and even duct tape glue.

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

Mad Matt

Prices are pretty good. Thumbnails would make dialup people a lot happier. Don't tell people you're drunk in the pic at the bottom. Just happy and in armour. Don't tell people your stuff is low quality. Go ahead and say munitions let people judge the quality from the pics. ------------------ The bud...

Mad Matt

Go with Ld. Charles. He's reliable and fairly quick. For the attachment thread a piece of leather lace through the top row of rings. Then sew around that lace and into the leather strip with sinthetic sinew or waxed linen thread. ------------------ The budding mid 14th century German Transitional gu...

Mad Matt

Tom that would be wonderfull. Both the source material and the pics of your unfinished sabatons. But especially the unfinished sabatons. Now as far as realizing down the road when I look back at these sabatons and say. Man I can't believe I liked those. I know exactly what you mean. I've done that. ...

Mad Matt

Tom thanks that was great. I am indeed a novice armourer it's good to hear someone say that for a change. The sabatons are meant to be worn overtop of modern english riding boots. I've got a pic of them actually on the customer I'll try and get it posted sometime today. Yes I know I really do need t...

Mad Matt

Ok Malaki yup they definitly look like they could be some sort of cool fantasy spaulders. Now for the greaves question. I can't remember how far down the bottom of Dkardal's greaves come. Having the greaves sit on the outside of the sabaton if they do come down that far at the sides wouldn't work al...

Mad Matt

Samuel: Don't worry I asked and do want constructive criticism. The pointy issue. Doesn't show in the pics but there is a radius on them ie. They don't come to any kind of a sharp point. The heel shaping. Well I've thought of dooing this before. But the problem is that I'm an artist for a living (no...

Mad Matt

Ok list of tools necessary for these actual sabatons. something to cut the steel with. something to polish the steel with vice piece of 2.5" dia metal dowel approx 8" long Or thick walled pipe of the same dimensions Anvil or anvil shaped piece of metal trailer hitch ball stake 2-5/8" dia. Ironwood m...

Mad Matt

Ok flaring: Hold the piece after it has been curved to shape against the edge of the anvil with the amount of steel that will become the flared part up above the anvil. Rotate it so that the part you're gonna mash down and make into the flare is about 30 degrees off of the face of the anvil. Now mas...

Mad Matt

To paraphrase what Norman said when I recently posted pics of my harness.

"Matt you're one scary lookin bean-pole"

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

Gambeson questions.

Ontario Armourers gathering is canceled.

Weed Burner forge. How do I make it.

Really cool torch on sale.