The Armour Archive

Cat

I've messed with this once before and ended up using some of my 14 gauge wire. It didn't work very well. How about some really thin sheet steel or sheet copper that can be cut into 1/4" wide strips and bent by hand? Of course, that wouldn't be all that cheap, and I don't know if hot glue will work o...

Cat

I just realized that the 43" measurement was WITH the gambeson on. I wouldn't add 25% to that. The "25%" theory applies to the ACTUAL chest measurement (without padding), but keep in mind it's just a theory and I have not tested it.

Sorry I didn't read thoroughly.

Cat

Cat

Although I don't have much experience with shirts, I am inclined to agree with Willing Pell that the "add 10 inches" rule may not apply to all. I believe that it should be a percent of the wearer's chest measurement. For instance, adding 10" to a 40" chest is an increase of 25%. 25% of a 50" chest w...

Cat

Do you think that was the problem? It's hard to get the mannequin to look anatomically correct, but I think my main problem is that I don't have a picture of a historical example to compare it to. I have this one, but I don't know if it's based off of a historical example, plus it doesn't come up as...

Cat

Does this look any better? I put a little more stuffing behind the chin, and brought the flap down below the "nose". I also have a pic of it with the flap down. Here's the pics: [img]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-6/747693/vent5.JPG[/img] [img]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-6/747693/vent6....

Cat

Well, I make those, but my queue is full right now - probably for several weeks. If you are not in a hurry, maybe you could keep me in mind. If you need it right away, I am sure someone on here could help you out.

Cat

Cat

Thanks for the replies so far. The flap is only attached at the bottom due to the customer's request. It IS nice that when untied, it falls completely away from the face, but without having seen any made exactly like this, maybe that's what seems off to me. It also could be the way I made the sides ...

Cat

Hey guys, I am trying to make a coif with a ventail, and I'm not really liking the ventail too awful much. There's....something not right about it but I can't seem to pinpoint it. Any suggestions? Here's some pics: [img]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-6/747693/ventFront.JPG[/img] [img]http://img...

Cat

Email sent, and apology accepted. I too suffer from sometimers disease.

(Ok, maybe I simply suffer from air headed - ness, but let's not get into that.

Cat

Cat

The lamellar is sold? I guess I kinda thought you had changed your mind about the sale because I never got the pics. Well, upon seeing the pics now, let me know if the sale falls through.

I will take the arms also. $25 plus shipping? Let me know how you want to do this.

Cat

Cat

I don't know anything about SCA rules, or what will protect and what won't, but aesthetically, I REALLY like the design! I think it has a very Vendal - ish look to it and seems to hide the bars pretty well. Also, I think a russeted finish with the brass would look very nice. Welcome to the Archive! ...

Cat

Steve stole my fuzzy hat! Bad! Bad Steve!

Hehe, it was too big for me any way. I just realized it was for a 23" head. I suppose I could make myself one........cause I'm not busy or anything....... and I don't have nearly enough projects on my "to do" list.

Cat

Hey there,
If you decide to sell them seperately, I would like prices on the hat, tunic, and pants. (Shoes are too big for me

). I may be able to buy one or two of those from you.

I wish I had $125, because that is a great price for all those things!

Cat

Cat

This happened once before fairly recently. I wonder if there is a hacker intentionally attacking the site, or if it's caused by something else. If it's a hacker, I wonder if it's one of their members.......if so, they must have really pissed him or her off. It almost had to have been done on purpose...

Cat

I use a hair dryer on the no heat setting for my charcoal forge. It works really well, and I believe it can get to forge weld temps, provided that you can get the piece to be welded far enough down into the "sweet spot". It's kinda hard to do on mine with big pieces of steel, as I also use a break d...

Cat

Thank you for the contact information. I have sent her an email.

Cat

Cat

While I don't have the money to order anything, I would still like to help. I could donate some maille of my own for you to ship to the location you mentioned. I know it's not much, and I know maille isn't needed as badly as the other items, but if you think they could use something from my website ...

Cat

Silverjump, I thought I had that sketch saved as a favorites, but I must have had it saved as a picture. My computer crashed a while ago and I lost all of the pics I had. Sorry I don't have that, but I'm betting someone has it around here. If I come across it again, I will certainly post it for you....

Cat

Dangit, I had a sketch of how to make your own overlap cutters (modified pair of end nippers if I remember correctly), but can't seem to find it. It had a notch gouged out of the blade in a certain location so that it cut the overlap. I will see if I can find it. Also, Forth Armoury sells the settin...

Cat

I think we can all pretty much agree on that, but the issue here is that it DOES in fact require a good deal of skill to make ANY properly fitting maille, be it butted or riveted. It is extremely insulting to tell a butted maille maker that they have no skill because their maille is not made from ri...

Cat

Morgan, I think I would have to disagree that making butted maille requires a low level of skill. WEAVING butted maille IS easy, but weaving it INTO something that fits and functions properly requires the same amount of skill as it does to weave a properly fitted piece out of riveted. You are right ...

Cat

Ha! I had the exact same idea! My daughter's junior high mascot is a Lancer. I thought it would be cool to have a guy in jousting armour with a lance trot out onto the field on a big white horse.

Good luck with this! I think it would be awesome!

Cat

Cat

Are the railroad ties soaked with creosote (sp?) ? My father in law told me once that that stuff is toxic, but I have never looked it up. If it is and it is oozing from the cuts, you might want to be careful with that and get some more info on it. You could also go to a local scrapyard and see if th...

Cat

Greenshield, Have you tried WD40? I don't know if that would work or not, but it may be worth a shot. You could also fire blacken it if you have the means (a forge or possibly a BBQ grille), but if you have flammable oil and stuff on it, that may be a BAD idea. You may want to get a second opinion o...

Cat

You know what, that looks just like the aventails I make for Saint Eligius Armoury. IF it is one that I made, it's galvy, not stainless. It's probably not one of mine though, but if galvy is an issue for you, you may want to double check with the seller. Due to the color of the galvy that I use, I h...

Cat

Thank you!! That's what I will get then. I really appreciate all of your help!!

Cat

Cat

Ok, the customer decided not to use oil on the collar. So, what would be the best thing to use to seal it well and make it last longer? Should I use the shoe polish, the wax, or something from the leather store? I would like to treat both sides of it just to make sure it's as protected as it can be....

Cat

Hmmm.....I hadn't thought of the oil softening the leather. That's a good point there, as this will be used for neck protection. I had better ask the customer and get his thoughts on this.

Thanks for brining that up!

Cat

Cat

Uilleag,
Thank you very much for the info!! You guys are great!

Thank you thank you thank you!

Cat

Cat

Konstantin, Thanks for the tips! I put the shoe polish on after the oil right? Just checking. About how long will it take for the leather to cure after I have put on the oil? Once I make the collar, it will be about a week before I will be ready to sew it on. Will that be enough time? Will there be ...

Cat

That's GORGEOUS!! Very nice job on the menpo!! How many plates in the kabuto? 16?

Awesome! Thank you for sharing!

Cat

Cat

Ahhhh - thank you VERY much.

I appreciate your help!

Cat

Cat

Wow, what was I thinking??? I forgot the details! For shame! I really meant to put this in the initial thread, but am suffering from severe sleepiness.......... I am using (errr GONNA be using) neatsfoot oil on 8/10 ounce veggie. The project is a small one, just a plain leather collar to be sewn to ...

Cat

Ok, I have some veg tanned leather I want to oil, and I need to know if you oil both the fuzzy side AND the smooth side, or just the smooth side.

Also, how many coats of oil do you recommend for the best protection against water damage?

Spank you very much.

Cat

Cat

I found this image on the web. It depicts the battle for Capua (wherever that is). The helms in the frame below the king are really kinda "out there". A couple of them look like orc helms from LOTR (the ones with the beaks). Anyway, I just thought it was interesting and decided I would share it. I a...

What's wrong with this ventail?

Quick question on oiling leather

Interesting Helm pics