The Armour Archive

I've used spring-post closure sucessfuly before, though I can't do it consistently. I make the post by cutting a 3/16" nail and hitting it with a flat hammer, and if I'm lucky it stays in place. Though it usually doesn't, and i have to cut the nail out and try again.
Is there a certian way this should be done?

Also the piece I'm mosty concerned about is a closed rerebrace, and I semi-ruined it by screwing up the post insert, would a real anvil make this eaiser?

well what are you using?

Should you go at the other end of the thing?

I'm thinking a peg, set into its hole, that is made with a shoulder on it, and a turned-down, smaller diameter part to this pin that goes through the hole and is riveted down.

I'd do this in 3/16" or 1/4" brass rod, with a file doing the cutting down and an electric drill turning the rod. Chuck the brass rod length into the drill, put the file in a vise, and touch the spinning rod to the file. You won't need to turn down much: 1/16" smaller diameter to give you the shoulder. The turned down part won't be very long either. Just enough past the metal it's put through to give a proper peining to this end of the pin.

I've had some success using duplex nails for posts, just clip off the top head and peen it like a regular rivet

take a rivet and cut the head off or use a nail.

the hole should be smaller then the rivet size by a small bit.

file the end of the post down until it fits snugly in the hole. make sure you do not over file.

make sure you only have 1/16th to 1/8th sticking through the hole and peen the part sticking through gently down. peen it harder and the post folds over and you have to replace it.

works great.

sport armour wise: I use a round head rivet head as the post side. when it goes through the hole it locks because the head of the rivet keeps the post from popping out when it is hit.

Armourkris wrote:I've had some success using duplex nails for posts, just clip off the top head and peen it like a regular rivet

Might not even have to do that much: like MRKS, a hole big enough to pass the upper nailhead though, and then that head hangs on the edge of the hole as the hinged piece is pulled back a bit, the vamb having been squeezed a little to get the head through the hole.

Find the Eric Dube video on You Tube of him making the sallet. He shows you how to make one in the video.