The Armour Archive

Thomas H

Well people, I've not been very active in my metalwork as of late i must say, most projects died and went to my scrap pile. This one i thought I'd share and get peoples thoughts on, enjoy. It is somewhat loosely based off of a stirrup from the former R.T Gwynn collection (now sold off and split up)....

Thomas H

if you don't have a smoother surface i'd recommend going onto gentle planishing taking careful shots to remove some of the larger lumps. start with a lump and work out from it, this way, fewer dings and nicks. at least, that's what i find.

Thomas H

Unlike galvanisation, the nickel and chrome that are added to make it 'stainless' are added furing smelting as i understand it and not a coating of any kind.

A slightly more detailed explanation

http://chemistry.about.com/cs/metalsand ... 71201a.htm

Thomas H

personally, i keep mine on my curtain rail between the fixing posts, seems to work well enough.

Thomas H

(whispers) you spelt radius wrong in the photo.

Thomas H

you seem to know what went wrong, best thing to do is start another simpler project and go back to another helm in the future. it's what i do when i make a mistake and provides valuable reading up time.

Thomas H

You could always buy them premade form Black swan designs (Historic enterprises). i have a couple of sets of points and find them superior to ones used by the other people i have met. nice and thick, not liable to snap.

Thomas H

gawd, you say it like you never saw a blue horse

, foreigners

(ducks and runs)

Thomas H

Do you mean aiglets for points to lace armour together with?

I always thought arming nails were used as quick rivets i.e, snipped nails.

Thomas H

get HSS bit and some coolant, you can get it in small bottles from machine mart i think, B&Q may possibly sell it too. as for drills, whatever you can afford. try and get one with a cord, the hassle with cordles drills and charging times aren't worth the extra cost.

Thomas H

Alistair, i think drilling them out will be the easiest way. all you need to do is center punch the rivet, i mean, dead center, support the plate over a piece of pipe making sur ethe rivet is in contact with the pipe and parallen to the floor. center punch and then drill out with a drill but of the ...

Thomas H

Very cool, only after one event? wow.

I'd love to make a pair but time and skill are lacking somewhat

Thomas H

Ah well, i'm curious as to what they look like, maybe some kind of waterprooff cover for hevay weather? similar to the plastic police helmet slip ons??

Thomas H

Wow! thanks for all the geat info so far! Cloth covered then painted wouldmake the finish more durable too. Is it me or in the picture of the black helm is that fabric coovered as well? Keep the info coming! No, it's painted directly onto the metal AFAICS, bloody nice it is too, Mr Grimstone sir, d...

Thomas H

Did pattens ever have any kind of grip for mud/ uneven surfaces in the 15th century?

Thomas H

Sweet!

Thomas H

Superb, the shaping and brasswork is gorgeous.

Each piece you make is better than the last.

Thomas H

I suppose this is where i come in and shed some light on weights Best thing to say is, they varied with size (obviously). going from around 8.5Kg to somewhere at 10Kg. The 10Kg measures in at around 135cm tall by 71cm which, for a pavise, is pretty big considering the lighter of the two i've mention...

Thomas H

I prefer having the original Armouries down the road (well, not technically, its in London, but ya know what i mean

)

Thomas H

Thanks for that, helps a lot.

Thomas H

I think you mean a 'saltshaker' style helm.

Thomas H

I think the problem is where you are holding the metal on the sander.

hold it so that it points towards the floor and the sparks hit the floor. his should stop it kicking into your chest.

that is, rather than holding it on the top flat surface.

Thomas H

From what i gather, they are re-organising the old site into something a bit more up to date.

Thomas H

Whilst we're on coins, what is a Meissen groÃƒÅ¸en? Also, in terms of modern money, is it a lot or not very much?

Thomas H

I use a wire brush, after heating, simply brush and work. the scratches aren't very deep and can be sanded/polished out when finihsing anyway.

Thomas H

it looks pretty nasty TBH.

Thomas H

The counterweight from a fly press works great too, cast iron i think. still not sure where mine went

Thomas H

Send them to me and i'll send you a pair of shiny greaves back

Thomas H

Some of the pavises in the Vienna museum have a trapezoid shape. It is accentuated by having the gutter a trapezoid also and turning it on its head. if you get what i mean??

Thomas H

Cool

Thomas H

Murdock wrote:Actually James

Grosse Messer

Isn't that just big knife in German?

Thomas H

Jehan has a point, Falchions are good

Thomas H

it's nice, don't get me wrong but i know if i do it myself, i can get it looking almost exactly like the description and the paintings. If you can get hold of an industrial leather sewing machine, i bet you could do it yourself with overly loads of work.

Thomas H

I'll appreciate it, don't worry

If you can figure out a way to ship, let me know and i'll work something out.

all looks legal to me http://www.ups.com/ga/CountryRegs?loc=en_US

Thomas H

Greg, as a warning, your budget could likely be blown if you were to get a Jack made by someone else. the padded armour comapny over here sell theres for around a grand a piece (Ã‚Â£).

C15th Burgundian stirrup *pics*

C15th Burgundian stirrup pics