The Armour Archive

Cap'n Atli

I've posted some interiors of my new (almost finished) shop at the bottom of:

http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=83652

More for general blacksmithing than for armoring; but there it is.

"Aspiring to competence."

Cap'n Atli

Here's the last two:

Here's the transition from pavers to the sand and gravel floor at the hot-work end, and a close-up of most of my hammers and tongs.

Cap'n Atli

Here are some interior shots. The cold-work end with the pavers and the hot work end with the sand & gravel floor. Still a little cluttered, but I'm making progress.

Forgive the picture quality; I shot at night with no flash.

Cap'n Atli

Oakley Forge is up and somewhat functioning; at least enough so that I could wrap up some Christmas gifts and artwork for MarsCon in January.

Here's some exterior shots:

Cap'n Atli

>>>SNIP<<< I never had a real anvil before, just my piece of old RR rail. I don't even know how to use it. I never needed one for armouring before. This is going to be fun. Hal There's all sorts of good stuff you can do with the multi-tool that is the modern pattern anvil; most of which will have n...

Cap'n Atli

I don't know what technique you plan to use, but when quenching large objects in oil, put it in and keep it in. DO NOT dip it in and pull it out to see how it's doing, since a large flash-fire will result; and your eyebrows (at least) will be in peril. There are reasons for "dipping" but m...

Cap'n Atli

Forgive me; but by the subject line I thought this might be a slightly kinky law enforcement site! As for the satellite dishes, I have several in my scrap pile., which I'm regarding as birdbath or concentrated solar cooker stock. I'll see if I can get around to bashing one around as a quality test.

Cap'n Atli

I'm with Master Thomas: Braze the puppy and be done with it!

Cap'n Atli

But I don' wanna! I wannit now! Gimme!

Cap'n Atli

Aaron:

How big is your shop? What did it used to be? What do you use to heat it?

Certainly looks like you have plenty of space!

I'm still putting mine together after the move, but I should have some updated pictures soon.

Cap'n Atli

Nah; they had fur-lined helms with wings and went bare chested and bare thighed through the snow, just like here:

http://www.1007ad.com/frank_frazetta_thesnowgiants.jpg

These guys were tough, not a bunch of wusses like now-a-days!

Cap'n Atli scurries for cover...

Cap'n Atli

A quick check of the books in my library shows what appears to be a universal use of lock plates on these chests, sometimes in combination with hasps for padlocks. One nice ironwork feature is a shaped plate (rounded at the top to fit the contour) riveted over the the vertical section that receives ...

Cap'n Atli

Excellent selection of pictures. I was able to get a good overview of the chest and its details. Generally, it would be rare to have a chest of that size without some form of lock. I'll try to check my sources tonight or tomorrow and see if I can get a statistic on that. Also, the metal straps, as y...

Cap'n Atli

It's done! I loaded the last load of trash and unusable junk in the truck today after church. Altogether, a dozen folks helped over the last two weekends to get everything moved. It seems to take a village (or a small longship crew) to move a forge! I started some cold work on Christmas gifts tonigh...

Cap'n Atli

Most of the "darkness" of the "Dark Ages" is a reflection of our own ignorance of an incredibly dynamic period in European history. The more I dig, the less dark they look; and the more I recognize the roots of so many of our modern institutions and customs in society, law, and r...

Cap'n Atli

Raising as well as repousse hammer information at Anvilfire at:

http://www.repoussetools.com/

Cap'n Atli

The primary forges, benches and tools have been moved and the barn has a couple of table of hardware and stock. I still have to clean up around the outside of the old building, which is surrounded with stock, junk and trash (SJT) and turn things over to the new owner. Starting late Friday afternoon ...

Cap'n Atli

Very nice, and excellent effect!

Cap'n Atli

300 yards by bowshot, 400 yards by dirt lane, the forge migrates to its new home on my side of the farmstead. I'll finally no longer be a "tenant at sufferance."

If you're in the area, you're welcome to lend a hand. Two hands would be better!

I'll take pictures.

Cap'n Atli

Rules for Oakley Forge* I We donâ€™t do horses. II This forge is dedicated to St. Dunstan (St. Clementâ€™s got our island, but Iâ€™ll not give him our forge.)** III Shirts and shoes required, safety glasses when working; other safety equipment as needed. IV Do not crowd the forge. Stand clear of hot...

Cap'n Atli

Picture please? "It is a long skinny anvil with a long horn." could describe anything from a farrier's anvil to a Hofi to a bick. (Although a Hofi wouldn't be 100 years old.) Mostly out of curiosity, but it may make a difference on how much restoration or alteration you may want to do. Oh,...

Cap'n Atli

Oar Tent:

Actually, that's our "basket weave" storm sail used as the tent fly; so it's a "Viking" tent after all. Besides, it is sheltering a guest of some import, as you can see.

Cap'n Atli

The missive, below, is forwarded from Jamestown Settlement. They are looking for other â€œcold steelâ€

Cap'n Atli

m It's the arm projecting over the bottom blade with the screw-down holder. You can make a custom jig, or even a deep-throated C-clamp if you actually needed something to hold the stock in place. I hope this helps; and your English is far better than any of my other, very minimal, languages (Old Eng...

Cap'n Atli

It seems to lack the hold-down and arm. Not a big deal, since you do a lot of the cutting free-hand (WEAR GOOD HEAVY GLOVES, THE METAL WILL SLICE AND DICE ON THOSE NEW, SHARP EDGES*). However, if you do need a hold-down you can make your own jig easily enough. * "Please don't bleed on the armor...

Cap'n Atli

Cautions on Burial Ships: When considering an archaeological find the context is everything. Why is the vessel there? Why are the objects aboard it there? Are the tents and cooking utensils part of the ship's equipment or grave goods for the afterlife? Is the anchor all or part of the normal ground ...

Cap'n Atli

It'd be okay for straight cuts, for shearing bar stock, and if you make much use at all of metal over 3mm thick. Probably more efficient at shearing stainless, too. You use yours for shearing bar stock? What thickness? I have one in my general blacksmith shop, but I only use it on sheet stock. It's...

Cap'n Atli

On another thread Glen K responded to my aside regarding this thread with the following: Now that everybody has whetted their bloodthirstiness in slashing attacks and parries regarding leather armor... Why is it "bloodthirstiness" when people have arguments and disagreements over historica...

Cap'n Atli

Now that everybody has whetted their bloodthirstiness in slashing attacks and parries regarding leather armor... Why is it "bloodthirstiness" when people have arguments and disagreements over historical research (or the lack thereof)? Sorry, I painted with an overly broad brush; however I...

Cap'n Atli

Now that everybody has whetted their bloodthirstiness in slashing attacks and parries regarding leather armor, you can initiate WW-III in critiquing this interesting crew of Russian reenactors:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... &hpv=local

Cap'n Atli

Planning to swing by a couple of times on "long lunch hours" over the next month or so. Rather looking forward to it!

Cap'n Atli

Whoops; cross posted! Be sure you clench the nails with a double bend, so that the point ends up 180 degrees from the main shank. Clenching is another nautical technique for fastening strakes; but not as common in this period as riveting.

Make two shields, and see what works best!

Cap'n Atli

Further comments:

Nails: If you know how to properly clench a nail, that can work, especially if you clench across the grain.

Remember, this is the iron age. Treenails and pegging are useful but when it comes to survival, iron is good!

Cap'n Atli

Nailed handles DO NOT hold up. Everything comes loose very quickly and very dangerously. Rivet everything. It's how they built their ships and how they built their shields. Some folks put the heads on the outside and the roves (washers) on the inside, while (at least on the boss) you can also put th...

Cap'n Atli

Two big problems with aluminum: 1) The various alloys are very specific. Deep-drawing aluminum for cans is quite different from aircraft aluminum which is quite different from that used in road signs. Each alloy has unique working properties. 2) both the "crumbling" and the melting tempera...

Oakley Forge Moves this Weekend!

MTA 2009 Invite for Cold Steel Groups

Russian Viking (and Early Medieval) Reenactors