The Armour Archive

Sean Powell

I second the oven at 300F. Set the plastic on a wad of alluminum foil and watch it. When it bends under it's own weight it is bendable. When it bends, touches the rack and starts to conform it is stretchable to 3D curves. When it conforms over the alluminum foil like vac-forming then put down the be...

Sean Powell

Well, that's obnoxious...thanks, Adobe. I'm about 60 pages in so far, and I really can't think of a better way to reference all the images, tables, and illustrations short of taking all of the files and building a book...or two books...one the thesis, the other a reference compilation. Then you cou...

Sean Powell

This might be of use to some people. I'm reading it now to see if i can disable the pop-ups. http://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/security-warning-trusting-pdf-acrobat.html Edit: No luck. I followed the Adobe help tree until it refered me to the Adobe Forume. the Adobe forum has 3 threads covering this...

Sean Powell

I'll e-mail him a link to this thread. He's around, just busy with life.

Sean

Edit: word from his lady is that he is on the archive frequently but doesn't post often. He will see my FB post or she will pester him to reply.

Sean

Sean Powell

Very nice! Not certain the crab or the crane will stand up to punishment long but I have 0 personal experience with tsubas. How do you attach them to the rattan?

Sean Powell

That's a tough way to acquire tools but if you want to 'thank' him after he's gone, maybe dedicate a project to him and give it to his family. It's too nice a set of tools to let collect dust.

Sean

Sean Powell

Oooh! I have a bunch of raw-hide I could use. I recall that there was a way to make the raw-hide more transparent. Oil maybe? Sean Do you have any non-ignitable oil in mind? (In case you, or someone in the future, decide to go with a real candle.) Thinning may be the best method to increase transpa...

Sean Powell

Oooh! I have a bunch of raw-hide I could use.

I recall that there was a way to make the raw-hide more transparent. Oil maybe?

Sean

Sean Powell

That's cool. I like 'scrap-wood' projects. You also have a good hand with google Sketchup. I like the assembly style for the bottom half. The top half is unique although I imagine 'pirate chests' with the rounded tops have to be made in some fashion. Did you have medieval inspiration for the constru...

Sean Powell

I'm very interested in how you flattened the horn. It looks like a great project. If I could get past the horn part I might build a few.

Sean

Sean Powell

I interpreted that picture as rivet setting tongs because those are hit with a hammer to set the rivet (I think?). Of course the maile maker would usually close the link once woven in but artistic license and all that. Also, when did claw hammers become the default or is the back of the hammer split...

Sean Powell

Further Edit..... As recently as July! http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=172196&p=2632642&hilit=mac+hammer+tongs#p2632642 I swear I think I am getting feeble minded..... Mac Those are long unwieldy pliers to be working maile with. The mechanical advantage doesn't need to be...

Sean Powell

I have an ex-co-worker and good friend 26 minutes away up E35 in Sursee Switzerland. He is also a medieval junkie and could probably be persuaded to make that trip if you don't mind him looking through all the catalogs in the box as well. Drop me a line of Ckanite can't work something out. Sean14pow...

Sean Powell

That's the linseed black color for my helm? Yeah i could like that a lot.

Sean Powell

I find that a layer of masking tape or even duct-tape before marking the breaths with a sharpie makes it easier. It doesn't wipe off accidentally and if you want to you can rip it off and start over. The tape tends to lay in lines which make layout easier if you are picky about symmetry and you can ...

Sean Powell

Robert, why don't you just trim the edges with some scissors? Yea, they will probably distort the shape a little, but you have two references to fix it back in no time. Grinding that much metal seems like overkill to me and all that dust... I'll take a guess but Mac can correct me if I'm wrong. Hav...

Sean Powell

here is a not so nice image: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt ... =0&ndsp=29 it will take a while to load. Basically the back is just built like the front. Horizontal bands. Can one fasten and unfasten the side buckles by oneself? Steve Generally yes and because the back isn't heavier than t...

Sean Powell

I like to use mortician's needles for sewing in gauntlet cuffs and helmet liners. http://www.medical-supplies-equipment-company.com/files/media/images/Post-Mortem-Needles,-Half-3.jpg They cut better than surgical needles do, and I find them easier to handle. Mac Looks to be a different style than t...

Sean Powell

Wow Cian, That is fantastic feedback. You have added 2 books to my must-have library. I'm a bit confused regarding the arrow bag as I was under the impression that there was an internal framework to preserve the cone shape, not just a bag. Looks like I have some leather tooling to learn and do this ...

Sean Powell

Hello, I'm finding that I'm just not in the physical shape I want to be in for fighting and I'm doing less and less of it. While re-habbing my tennis-elbow I've been shooting more archery and starting to like it more and more. I've been shooting the same semi-period gear for over a decade. I think i...

Sean Powell

I like the idea but the link is blocked to me. Are you making a soapstone mold or sand casting? Soapstone works for low-melt materials like pewter and pipe solder but only make sense if you plan on wearing multiple belts. I don't know how well sand-casting works with jewelers solder. The sand may co...

Sean Powell

Jacob, It's the Oxy issue that concerns me. I can get propane much easier than tanked O2 and Acetylene. How do you setup oxy-propane? Can you run it off 20-lbs propane tanks and O2 tanks? I believe it takes a different regulator than an OA setup? Is there a way to run 'forced aspiration' from an air...

Sean Powell

"Eric Thing"!!! That was the name I couldn't remember. Thanks for the push.

Mind if I ask why you haven't finished it yet and what you have invested in it so far?

Sean

Sean Powell

Hello, I'm contemplating a new project because I'm a tool hog and I obviously need more tools. I have an open-pot coal forge with blower which is fun and I have access to a propane powered ferrier forge for bar-stock but what I really want is a way to heat armor sized and shaped pieces of metal with...

Sean Powell

Good tips! I hadn't figured in shrinkage...this could get funny quick. Regardless, this weekend is my soak/bake time, so I'll let you know. Another related question. Once hardened, can it be cut trimmed with leather shears, or do i need to use belt sander or jigsaw to make modifications? "It depend...

Sean Powell

Rene de Anjou Kolben count?

Sean

Sean Powell

The one thing I DON'T do is sew. My wife is the best sewer I know and I don't compete with her because I'm affraid of loosing. I don't compete with her because I'd like to have sex with something other than my hand if I happen to win.

Smart move on walking away slowly.

Sean Powell

I saw a show, (I believe including Chris Schwartz) discussing a post-period toolbox with a foot like you are looking for. Quite specificly the dovetailing goes in the opposite direction and the host (or Chris or some other guest) demonstrated that the primary dovetails want to slip apart in one dire...

Sean Powell

Isn't there an oversized left gauntlet worn by the English pikemen in the 100 years war? Manuifer or similar (yeah my spelling sucks). I recall the elbow area being almost a funnel to slide the arm into. Edit: OK, poking around it's "Man de Fur" or Manifer if you slur the French into an English word...

Sean Powell

RoundTop wrote: It's proper baptism by fire will be in about a month. Sadly I fight by his side, so I won't be hitting it.

Says you! Go tell him his tunic looks like a dress and you want a warm up fight. You may not get to hit it but you can at least try to swing at it.

Sean Powell

I'm assuming you have the translation from here and have looked at the images from the other copies of the book? There are at least 2 copies and being hand made have subtle differences, mostly in fashion and the people. I don't recal and useful details related to armor. http://www.princeton.edu/~ezb...

Sean Powell

Damn I was hoping to learn from other replies. I have a back and breast that is partially complete. 1050 spring steel and I haven't gotten to drilling the holes yet because I haven't figured out the helm buckling solution either. If you look at the helms on display you see small triangles or trapazo...

Sean Powell

John Vernier wrote:He also has a great description from Michel Montaigne, visiting Rome in 1580, horrified by "wretched little trestles on which they throw planks."

Good thing he never visited Japan. At least Italy has trestles and planks! I wonder how many times they we shaken apart by exhuberant bed partners.

Sean Powell

I dunno. It's almost like he isn't wearing a knee-cop. Like the artist followed the leg decoration down towards the knee and the greave decoration up, chipped off too much and sad "F-it, I'll just make a pyramid here and blend it into the wing."

Sean

Sean Powell

As with all secondary sources, even in-period secondary sources, you have to ask yourself if the artist has made a faithful representation or a figurative representation. Even if the breastplate is produced accurately he may not have been given the owners leg armor to copy. In this case, the armor d...

Re: youth armor - forming 5 gall BUCKET plastic ( and kids )

Re: PDH thesis on tech of armour production 1350-1500 availa

Re: PDH thesis on tech of armour production 1350-1500 availa

Re: Aquamanile

Re: Fun with a plasma cutter

Re: Given a forge today.

Re: A lantern contest

Re: A lantern contest

Re: Medieval-ish Lantern Chest

Re: A lantern contest

Re: Mail makers and their tools

Re: Mail makers and their tools

Re: Any member living in or near Luzern (Switzerland)?

Re: 14th century black and brass in 4130.

Re: How to best pattern breath holes.

Re: Dusting off the cobwebs

Re: Scaling a CoP pattern down for a 10yr old kid?

Re: Making needles for sewing leather, and why it matters.

Re: Pricing Hickory or Yew ELB plus other archery equipment.

Pricing Hickory or Yew ELB plus other archery equipment.

Re: New casting project

Re: Plans wanted for Ron-Reil Propane 'Waterfall' or similar

Re: Plans wanted for Ron-Reil Propane 'Waterfall' or similar

Plans wanted for Ron-Reil Propane 'Waterfall' or similar.

Re: Testing Water Hardening Pieces

Re: Medieval Clubs (weapons)

Re: Pattern making skillz (Off topic-ish) :)

Re: durer dovetailed chests

Re: 15th century German elbow gauntlets

Re: What I've been up to since June...

Re: anyone done a reconstruction of the king rene breastplat

Re: anyone done a reconstruction of the king rene breastplat

Re: Beds

Re: Oddly shaped knees in South Tyrol

Re: Oddly shaped knees in South Tyrol