The Armour Archive

Mad Matt

There's stainless blueing solution from caswell plating. I've seen it used and it looks great and won't flake or chip like paint will.

Mad Matt

Updated the pics. Currently is waiting for the paint to dry so I can assemble it tomorrow.

Mad Matt

The bolt cutter idea is great. Too bad I'd already done all the work with a chisel already. Lots more to do though since this is just the test breastplate.

Thanks for the help guys.

Mad Matt

Yeah abrasive wheel is sanding Since I've never used greaseless didn't realize 80 is equivalent to 640.

This doesn't really work on mild just on stainless but I sand to 400 then wire wheel then black then green.

Mad Matt

They have a large size welding glove in them which is the same as an xl work glove. The glove can get swapped out and go smaller or bigger by a bit.

Mad Matt

What knitbee was describing is the plates that sit on the shoulders flare at the top so that they're vertical and the lames attach to that. It's a kind of large rounded flare you'd probably need to do hot. Basically your first vertical lame is part of the plates that sit on the shoulders instead of ...

Mad Matt

I've never used greaseless compound but you might want to check out caswell plating's abrasive wheel system. Basically you use special glue and glue the grit onto spiral sewn buffing wheels. Comes in 80-320 grit and works great. And is also the cheapest abrasive I've found. Only drawback is you need...

Mad Matt

Thanks Wade hadn't thought about running out of thickness. Chisel and then file it is.

Mad Matt

So I have these wisby type stainless fingermittens available for sale $550 plus shipping. Also my instruction sets are still available in pdf format. Splinted greaves $10 Splinted cuisses $10 Soupcan knees and elbows $10 Or all 3 for $25 Plus kussnasch coat of plates $10 They're very detailed instru...

Mad Matt

So I've never done any before. I'm making this breastplate. http://www.allenantiques.com/A-156.html

The grooves don't look very deep and the parts between the grooves don't look all that rounded. Wondering if I should go about this with a file or a sharp chisel or a combination of the two?

Mad Matt

I've read a few different numbers on the heat treat but the most common suggestion is 200 celcius which you can easily do in your kitchen oven. It should be noted that if you're going from a solid helmet to a valsgard the bands that make up the skull are going to dent far easier than a solid helmet ...

Mad Matt

Yes that's rant worthy. Quota systems based on any of those attributes are illegal here. Actually asking any of those questions anywhere besides a social setting is illegal.

Was thinking about these guys http://www.upmet.com/index.shtml but wanted to see who other people are using first.

Mad Matt

Wow really? In canada it's illegal to discriminate based on sex, race, age, sexual orientation or religion.

Mad Matt

If you're getting dents in 12ga it means you're getting hit hard enough that you need a heavy helm. Don't go less then 14. Also should note that welding 410 isn't the easiest thing in the world. You need to preheat. If you're using 410 wire or rod then you need to do an aneal and a heat treat or the...

Mad Matt

Be careful. I sometimes make very silly things and post pictures. My daughter HATES my fuzzy red heart shaped underwear.

Mad Matt

Everything seems to be pointing towards paint for the black. The areas will be left unpolished and roughly planished and then painted black. Unless something else comes up as an alternative for paint.

The white parts are sanded and polished.

Mad Matt

Have you actually dealt with them? Looks dicey since it states on the front page of the website woman owned small business. Who the hell cares if a woman owns it. Seems really unprofessional to me. I did already find a source online but best case scenario I don't have to have something shipped. And ...

Mad Matt

I think at the end of the day the answer to this question is "It depends"

Mad Matt

The prototype one (the one in the pics) fits me. I'm 6'1 and 180 pounds.

Mad Matt

Trying to find this stuff is a little difficult. Any suggestions on finding a local source or a good online source that will ship to canada would be really helpful.

Mad Matt

Actually this is terrible. It's a slappy learning project. The real one will be much nicer. well so will this one when it's finished.

Mad Matt

Making a black and white suit. Currently working on some prototyping in mild steel but it's going to be spring stainless.

Anyway will be posting progress pics on a regular basis here https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 869&type=1

Feel free to comment.

Mad Matt

Thanks they're not the right ones for mine though.

Mad Matt

When drilling out a rivet use a bit that is bigger than the rivet shaft. ie 1/4" bit on a 3/16 rivet

Mad Matt

Mine doesn't have a number on it. It's the one with the handle that rotates. Anyway need 3/16 mine had a bur on it and broke on the way out while punching 1/4" steel.

Can you post a pic of the punches?

Mad Matt

The ones on my site can best be described as "wrong". Looked into these quite a bit since them. The seam is generally right next to the edge of the spaulder lame.

Mad Matt

One more thing. If you attempt to pattern this on flat paper it's gonna make your brain hurt. Duct tape over a shirt and mark the edges then cut it out. Flatten and transfer to paper.

Mad Matt

Several pics of a pair I did in this gallery.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 869&type=1

Mad Matt

The hinge appears on the bicep and not on the shoulder side of the arm. You have to realize that rearbraces were designed with the purpose of protecting the exposed parts of the arm ie the side and front. The arm is not twisted the armour just isn't designed to protect only the back of the arm which...

Mad Matt

I've never seen them overlap a hinge line. Neither of those ones did either. Attach directly to the rearbrace it works well.

Mad Matt

General Kale from willow

Mad Matt

Thank-you Wade those are exactly what I needed.

Mad Matt

This is the progress on the quick and dirty mild steel mock-up. Looks like the point needs to become a little rounder and the armpits are way too tall at the moment. Will end up with a bit more angle between the waist and chest line still. Currently it's way too tall because I have to do that big ho...

Mad Matt

I'm going for the with crud look. The black parts tend to look like they're with crud and the white polished after. I would guess that paint would be a maintenance addition type thing. Paint tends to not stay on that well when it's getting hit a lot so hoping to find a solution that works better.

Mad Matt

Looking for ideas for blackening black and white armour. From what I can see it's rough from the hammer and has some kind of additional surface treatment and then the raised white areas are polished. Someone mentioned something about linseed oil for this. Looking to find out how that works and other...

Re: Powder coating mild steel vs. stainless for helmets...

Re: Black and White suit in the making progress pics.

Re: Roping question.

Re: Plate Metal Buffing Help Needed

Re: Stainless fingermittens for sale and instruction sets

Re: 16th C Gorget finished for customer.

Re: Plate Metal Buffing Help Needed

Re: Roping question.

Stainless fingermittens for sale and instruction sets

Roping question.

Re: 410 spring equivelant to...

Re: Sources for 410 stainless?

Re: Sources for 410 stainless?

Re: 410 spring equivelant to...

Re: 410 spring equivelant to...

Re: Black and White suit in the making progress pics.

Re: Sources for 410 stainless?

Re: 410 spring equivelant to...

Re: Black and White suit in the making progress pics.

Sources for 410 stainless?

Re: Black and White suit in the making progress pics.

Black and White suit in the making progress pics.

Re: FS: 3/16" punches for Whitney Punch #7

Re: Ok, I Drilled out the Center of the Rivet....

Re: FS: 3/16" punches for Whitney Punch #7

Re: Wearing historically proportioned 14thC spaulders.

Re: Wearing historically proportioned 14thC spaulders.

Re: Wearing historically proportioned 14thC spaulders.

Re: Wearing historically proportioned 14thC spaulders.

Re: Wearing historically proportioned 14thC spaulders.

Re: X- Post Favorite Fantasy Armor

Re: Need some side profile pics of black and white breastpla

Re: Need some side profile pics of black and white breastpla

Re: Blackening black and white armour? Linseed oil?

Blackening black and white armour? Linseed oil?