The Armour Archive

was just looking at some large weld elbows for steel pipe ( 4 1/2" OD and 1/4" thick ) and I thought they could be used for making interesting shapes


cutting it along the chalk marks to make 2 tools from one fitting you would have the choice of the curves on the outside or inside or the pipe and the outside or inside of the bend.
can the hive mind here think of good uses for this.

also cutting it the other way on the black line to make a saddle and a hump.


what is useful for more things?

if it seems like a good idea I will make one up and see if it sells at the next event

The inside of the elbow looks like a good anticlastic forming stake

Cal-

Here's my takes on the pipe stake:


It is a good cheap way to get some useful curves. I have yet to try using the inside surface though. You'd need a pretty big pipe for it to be useful for most stuff, I think.

well it is 4" inside and I have seen bigger but not bothered with them until now.
will cut up one each way

Mr Iron Dwarf

Have you ever considered doing a set of armouring tools for those of us on your side of the pond?
Something similar to Hal's with a couple of polished hammers, a dishing form and a couple of stake tools.
We could then purchase extra stakes as and when required.

Craig

Hi Craig
at most events I do I sell a range of tools, many more than you see on my website or on ebid, I dont normally do a kit as everyone wants different things

I am not so good at polishing as Hal so a lot of stuff that does not start out polished goes to the customer for them to finish to thier own requirments and the difference in price reflects that.

I also am very aware that there there are only so many ways of doing something but do try not to copy others like Hal.

a lot of things I make are from a customers description or sketch.

if I was to offer a kit like Hal's newbie kit I would always be out of stock of one item or another

I think the Y-stake is useful.



I use it on sabatons and greaves.
I might sell one or two a year.

I don't know about cutting one up like you have sketched.
I have not had a need for such a stake.
My stakes are made to suit my needs as an armourer.
I usually make tools to fit under or over the metal we wish to shape.

However... your hammer choice is very important to the successful use of said tools.

Hal

__________________
Your local tool maker

I dont have the skills needed to work on armour or other sheet metalwork, normally 3mm / 1/8" is the thinnest I work with so the answers I get here help me a lot.
I often start making something out of things I find or have laying around and if people here like them I put them on sale, if they sell I make more.
this bend is plenty big enough to cut which will make twice as many tools, also there are 3 possibilities of external tools and 3 internal tools from it.
I dont know how many of those 6 items will be useful but we will see

have made a couple of smaller tools like those shown by Galfrid, one of them was to try out a new polishing tool and will use the big pipe fittings soon and see if people like them enough to buy them.

for the big ones I will check the price of them before deciding how much to sell them for as I expect they are not cheap, the ones I have made so far are just under 2" OD and I have an idea of the cost of them so I can list them on ebid tonite

How is Ebid treating you compaired to Ebay?

well if you ask a question of those who run it you get an answer from a real person within a few hours normally instead of something automated that bears no resemblance to your question.

I had cannon shot and grenado's removed by ebay coz they said they were banned and asked on ebid because it looked like they were banned there too but got a reply from one of the top people there within 30 minutes to say it was ok to list them

instead of 15% fees inc paypal I am paying 2% and I could do it for free.

sales are slower there but in the last month I have sold 5 big items, each of which is over $100 us and one of them was about $200.
it is growing fast recently due to things changing on ebay as they try to get rid of any sellers who are not bigger than General motors.

the way I list there it costs me nothing unless an item sells so stock stuff can just be auto relisted

I do sell a little more on ebay and have a lot less listings but things are getting better and with 2 good sales in the last week it seems to be improving fast now.

ebid at the moment has just over 2 million listings

Thanks.
I'll have a look over there.
Are you Iron dwarf on Ebid?

I have not had any tools on Ebay for quite some time.

Hal

yes Hal, im iron dwarf in most places now

here is a link to join if you want
http://uk.ebid.net/perl/normal.cgi?ref=52487&mo=register-main

its free as a buyer
as a normal seller it is 3% FVF
as seller + you get 5 free pix, 5 free stores and can sell for free but to be seller + means upgrading at a cost of 45 uk pounds ( think it is 45 USD ) if done within 24 hours of joining or 75 pounds later for lifetime

shorter upgrades are avaliable and all the cost comes off the lifetime one if you have not lapsed.

ebid is growing in the US and several new countries in europe have just been added to the list.

maybe you should have a look around without joining till you are ready, contact armorer eric as he uses ebid.