The Armour Archive

Mike F

That's nice. You can't do much hardening in it, but it'll hold enough water to keep the tongs cool. I really like that. You know, I originally didn't particuarly care for the quench tank idea, but it looks pretty nice like that . . . Not quite as simple as your old design, but it'd sure be neat. Per...

Mike F

Ralph: This is true. While you can get a really nice, say, barbute welded up, the time to line up the back negates most gains from a weld. I think the skill to get a weld into a smooth curve is far greater than doing the same with a raised piece. I hadn't thought of them being side-effects or shortc...

Mike F

Wow. I wish my harness looked that good.

Mike F

Jehan: I'd prefer to have not started the discussion off in a way which leans the discussion either way. I should've known it wouldn't happen. Hal: He's where I got the info on the properties of bloomery iron. I didn't get all the numbers, but I'd be happy to tell you what he found regarding the blo...

Mike F

Hal: Agreed. To everything, but particularly the performance issue. If an object does not perform its duty, it's useless. Personally, this brings me to another consideration which is any sort of fractures in the tang which would make the weapon dangerous to use. Since we don't use swords for combat ...

Mike F

I'm willing to bet these'll be something to pass down, though.

People who know will come looking for good stuff, but there aren't enough of them. Yet.

Mike F

For all I know it is from that. I simply pulled it from the aforementioned site. And it applies to a greater or lesser extent. The work is done hot, so work hardening isn't an issue. However, once you start looking into the specifics, blade taper, general shaping, etc. you're looking at a large amou...

Mike F

The lines of grain on a sheet/strip/etc. are parallel to each other. The lines of grain in a forged piece are parallel to the surface. Disregarding all else, delamination is then less of an issue. So, let me recap. I don't know metalwork, and I also don't know materials and metallurgy. I'd think I w...

Mike F

Of course. Try e-mailing <a href="http://www.lefereforge.com/">these people </a> to tell them they've been wrong for generations. Forging defined ~ For those new to the forging process and the benefits of forged parts: What is forging? Forging is manufacturing process where metal is pressed, pounded...

Mike F

Perverse how?

Mike F

I know the answer already, I just wanted a laugh.

So, besides grain structure, what other benefits are there?

Mike F

myths ... Just like blade smiths think forging is somehow better then stock removal. Listen, if you're about 17, you're doing fine. If you're not, do some research, and stop being a jerk. Why don't you call Craftsman and tell them drop-forging is a waste of time because you know better. Tell NASA c...

Mike F

Your flat out wrong about all of the shapes listed [. . .] You havent shown me anything except your lack of metal working knowledge. It does look like you were deliberately insulting. And as someone who's made the same helm as yours in the AotM, you should've put more time into avoiding gapping iss...

Mike F

Huh. Do you think they handle sheet differently than thicker stock? I see a trend in what works and what doesn't.

Mike F

Uh huh. I know this because I've tried to make those shapes with welding. I'm also a mechanical engineer and have worked with Chuck Davis, who does make armor through fabrication. The shapes are different. Now, I can spoud qualifications all day, but you've provided none, and done nothing but insult...

Mike F

Huh. Done. Bascinet bowls. Fabricated have a tangent line coming from the bowl to make the skirt, whereas real examples have a curve that blends into a slightly curved back. Hourglass gauntlets have a slight outward dish when fabricated, but a slight inward dish when raised, which is the authentic d...

Mike F

What are you getting for thicknesses? Anything exotic? What about type of metal? I may have just lucked out, but . . . Call Admiral and ask for Cleo Anthony. Or e-mail, he was great about that (turn around time in hours). It'd probably fix the communication problem (always get a quote in writing whe...

Mike F

Well . . . Huh. I don't know much about things like that anyway, I just look at what's in front of me.

But I'll add it to my list of neat things I've played with.

Who do I feel twelve when I see thuss like this?

Mike F

Personally? Yes, I'd use new stuff for bulk production, but I'd rather outfit one man (me) in a period manner than 10,000 in a modern manner. I don't see anything wrong with modern, but I can't compete with India, and I like the old ways. So, for money, absolutely, MIG, TIG, plasma cutters, CNC, dob...

Mike F

There is the weapon issue as well. Greatweapon or polearm and I'm keeping my distance. Sword and board . . . I'm not agressive enough to do like Leif and maul him with sword in hand and your knee to his breastplate.

Mike F

It's documented now . . . Just not published!

Mike F

While I'm sorry I missed all the sales, but wishes for your dog. I'm glad to see the Archive help where it can.

Prices were good, too.

Mike F

Huh. I hadn't known there was any different way of doing things. Throw Northshield into the "Smack on the back of the head" category.

Mike F

I originally ordered 50 pounds, and they were happy to deal with me. The prices went down and the order went up, and we ended up with four thousand pounds of steel, and all the trouble was on my end. What was the problem? Who was your rep? Cleo Anthony was great for me, and I'd suggest him to anyone...

Mike F

I've never bought stainless. Actually, I've never bought mild, either, just medium carbon. Well, I bought mild from Home depot, but that's a DUMB idea, as it's insanely expensive. If you want to know how much you need, get some poster board and lay out your patterns, bearing in mind steel is hard to...

Mike F

I'm a late and lazy payer, not a deadbeat one, just for the record.

Which is why I won't be bidding on Halberds' auctions until/unless I can find a way I can pay inside of a week. I tend to forget things.

Mike F

Well, I wouldn't decorate it. None of it would look right. I agree with SPQR, if you were supposed to be a Roman citizen. If you want to etch, look at scutum design for the Legions, and you'll find a lot you can do. Look at the patterns to see how the lightning, etc. all line up and go from there. I...

Mike F

Adam: The metal on most grills is far too thin to survive more than a very, very short time. If you want to go that route, find some sort of ceramic to line it with (say an inch or two) and you should be good. YMMV, do your research first.

Mike F

Sorry, man, as far as I know that kinda thing was never done. Thus why Hollywood seems to like fake segmentata.

Bear in mind, to have something like runes on it would be akin to a soldier putting runes on his BDU. Just wasn't really done.

Mike F

Three? I think he went through three in cleaning silver alone.

I'm surprised all these people have such great senses of humor. It was a blast just to talk to them as people, not even experts in armor. I talked to Mac about clocks, I don't think we said much about armor.

Mike F

While I have to agree with Thomas on the weight, I'd have to disagree on the legs. While being able to set them up on a sloped surface is a good idea, a wide enough footprint will mean you won't have to bend the legs out, and thus, you don't need to worry about tripping when your attention is on glo...

Mike F

After consideration, I see a major flaw in your design. It's workable, don't get me wrong, but it'd be wobbly and breakage-prone. Put the collars for the legs on the inside of the angle iron. It'll shift the shear from the bolts (or welds) to the angle iron itself, plus I think a tool rack would be ...

Mike F

I do regret not having more time to talk with Ralph. He's a wonderful guy, plus I'd have much to learn from him outside armor. Knowledge he takes for granted is stuff I'll never know.

Mike F

Animal: I'll try my best to grab my Oriental Armor book this weekend and get you everything I can. I don't know about the clothes, but I can find you the armor, and probably the history.

Mike F

I liked Dr. Capwell's presentation due to the armor and general information. I liked Dr. Williams' presentation due to my studies in engineering. There was wonderful information from every presentation, but I recall those are my favorites. Well, I also really liked Dr. Edge's sense of humor, along w...

Are forged blades better than stock removal?