The Armour Archive

Johann Lederer

I hear Jackie at Shamrock is a good guy for things like that.

Johann Lederer

I have a couple of different liners. I have a linen liner in a bascinet, I used Steve Forth's method. I have a linen covered neoprene foam liner and just plain neoprene foam liners. I like the linen stuffed one, it is the most comfortable, but it has a tendancy to smell a lot quicker than the foam o...

Johann Lederer

The only armour related gift I received at Christmas were Sharpies...

Now before Christmas....that is another story!

Johann Lederer

I treid CLR on an old helm once. Evaporust worked much faster. (And it is cheaper)

Johann Lederer

You might want to try evaporust
http://www.evaporust.com/

They have it at Tractor Supply in my area, works pretty good, environmental safe and works pretty easily.

Johann Lederer

I used a wooden stump/log as a stake to do bends like that also. Just a thought.

Johann Lederer

I have a hand punch from their, I got it as a gift 2 years ago, I don't give them the use that most on here do, but it does punch up to 16 ga without too much issue. I scrapped the depth gauge because it never stayed in place. I would not recommend using on anything heavier. The deep throat one they...

Johann Lederer

I believe the gauge sold at most home centers and concrete contractor supply houses is 16 ga. At least, that is what I got the last time. When my N-SSA group hosts skirmishes, we order 14 ga annealed black iron tie wire to hang breakable targets. It is pretty much like the 16 ga, but thicker/ It is ...

Johann Lederer

I would suggest kirtles*, they can be dressed up or down with trim. If they follow the rest of what you sell...I know they will be a great price and quite affordable....

*let's home I am referring to them correctly it would be an under dress for Viking apron dresses or overdress for a chemise.

Johann Lederer

One of the best saddle stitch tutorials I have found:
http://www.wrtcleather.com/1-ckd/tutori ... titch.html

Johann Lederer

Andy, I can offer only a little insight into your questions... leather dyes: Oil vs. Spirit dyes (regular)- Spirit dyes have an alcohol base and dry pretty fast, but in my experience, they can streak. Oil dyes have less alcohol in them, and seem (to me) to cover better without streaking. Here is the...

Johann Lederer

all my helms have horizonal with one vertical bar between my eyes, more out of the line of vision.

Johann Lederer

What type of crease are you looking at doing?
Most times it involves using a bone folder, a creaser or a form to get the desired result.

In cuir boille, I would suggest doing it before it is hardened, in other veg tan pieces the leather must be sufficiently cased and force or allowed to dry.

Johann Lederer

I like the hinge...very nice.

This is the one most recommended:
http://revival.us/bascinetklappvisorhin ... steel.aspx

Johann Lederer

FYI: ounces normally are 64th's of an inch, hence 6 oz should equal 6/64th or 1/16" thick (nominally). 8 oz is around 1/8" (if my math is correct)

Johann Lederer

I have to go look, but, the compressor I have is a middle of the line Craftsman I have had for years. I bought it to do bodywork. It has held up fine, but it does run a lot to keep up with the demand. One note: It runs less since I replaced the air hammer on the planisher. The first one wasn't as ef...

Johann Lederer

One thought I had would be to hook up with an established SCA or LH group in your area. If there is not a blacksmith in the group, they might be able to point you to one. In my area, we have a lot of members who live in apartments or lack tools to do work that they want to try their hand at. I have ...

Johann Lederer

Not to cut anyone out of business.... Depending on what thickness you need, it may be worthwhile to buy a hide and a strip cutter and cut them yourself, and sell off the left overs. Most belt blanks at the big name stores are 6-8 oz and are heavy. I do thing that Viking leather has a good deal though.

Johann Lederer

I have one (larger one) and I had a few issues. My lower arm did not line up with the upper 100% so I realigned it. It was off a few degrees, which wasn't bad, just not right. The air hammer died and I replaced it with a more heavy duty one. In all it wasn't a bad deal, I got it at 20% off when it w...

Johann Lederer

I am sure if you contact his Grace Icefalcon, he will make one for you. He was working on an economy helm in conical at one time.

Johann Lederer

I have had similar issues in another field. I used to make small lots of 18th and 19th century items to sell to merchants/sutlers to sell and occasionally I would land a decent paying commission with a collector or museum. Most of the sutlers are buying from overseas. One customer, that got me a dec...

Johann Lederer

Birchwood Casey makes an Aluminum blacking solution. I have used it, but it does wear off.

Johann Lederer

I own an ironmonger dishing form and I recommend them highly. But, you may want to check out this thread and contact Llewelyn Gododdin and see when he is producing his next run:
http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/ ... shing+form

Johann Lederer

Konstantin the Red wrote:Hmm... I think he should have meant "drover."

Yep...I meant drover's gloves...

Johann Lederer

I showed pictures of this helm around, everyone that saw it had to pick their jaws up from the ground.

Matt your work is awesome!

Johann Lederer

what does XXXL work out to in chest size and length from shoulder to hem?

Johann Lederer

Didn't mrks on here make titanium baskets?

Johann Lederer

Bass Pro had them a while back, I saw a pair yesterday at a local Ace Hardware store, but I did not like the price. I bought my last pair at ....the flea market! A guy must have bought a warehouse full of gloves of all types...I think I gave $5 for them. I have not seen him in the last couple weeken...

Johann Lederer

If you are into making them...
http://digital.cs.usu.edu/~watson/barth ... barmor.htm

this pattern works with modifications...

Johann Lederer

I have leather demis made from saddle skirting and I pad the demis with black neoprene foam. I wear elkskin driving gloves under them.

Johann Lederer

I like the advise everyone is giving here. My advise is two fold: You can eat a whole elephant, you just have to do it one small piece at a time. So, do what you can with the time you have and move from there. If you get something hard that you don;t know where to go, ask both here and locally. Be p...

Johann Lederer

I believe my wife got bamboo salt cellars at pampered chef...

http://www.pamperedchef.com/ordering/pr ... AllOutlet=

Glad these were a free gift!

Johann Lederer

spring steel banding? Very interesting, I should hit the scrap yard. Has anyone found it to be 1" to 1 1/2" inches thick? -J Construction sites where they are putting in storm sewers or sanitary sewers also use the wide banding to hold the pipes together for shipping. Most of those sites ...

Johann Lederer

I use an old corded drill like Losthelm said. If you have a flea market around, used corded drills are pretty cheap to pick up. I bought one special for mail, I think it was $3 or $4, as my 1/2 in hammer drill was overkill. Or you can just get a 36-48" piece of steel rod at Home Depot, Lowe's o...

Johann Lederer

I would say Windrose Armoury...
http://www.windrosearmoury.com/zc/index ... ducts_id=5