Lamellar Help

[Sextus Maximus]

I have been working on my lamellar and I have ran into a snag. I am using the pattern that is present here by Tyre. The metal I am using is 20 gauge stainless. I have punched the holes using my trusty Whitney. I am using Bonnie Braid that I bought. I first laced up the back which when it was finished looked great. It moved well and far exceeded my expectations. I then began to start on the front part. I got tot he fourth row and noticed I was a little short on plates. I wasn't worried since I have extra that I can finish up. I looked at the other finished pieces and noticed some fraying that was already happneing. I started to look even closer and it was falling apart!! To my dismay, the cord was begining to fray very rapidly. So I took them apart. I took one othe plates and noticed a very small bur that the punch left. Is this the problem or do I need to find some other type of lacing? Any help would so appreciated since I am disheartened and almost wanted throw my plates out the window....

[Guest]

Get yourself a round cross-section file, and get to de-burring.

[Templar Bob/De Tyre]

The instructions in the lamellar article that I wrote under Tools and Materials include a file. This helps to avoid the costly mistake of having to take your armour apart and deburr everything when the cords begin to fray.

When you file the burrs from the holes (using a deburring tool or a rat-tail file), try to bevel the edge of the hole a bit. This will keep your lamellae from cutting the cord.

I have been working on my lamellar and I have ran into a snag. I am using the pattern that is present here by Tyre. The metal I am using is 20 gauge stainless. I have punched the holes using my trusty Whitney. I am using Bonnie Braid that I bought. I first laced up the back which when it was finished looked great. It moved well and far exceeded my expectations. I then began to start on the front part. I got tot he fourth row and noticed I was a little short on plates. I wasn't worried since I have extra that I can finish up. I looked at the other finished pieces and noticed some fraying that was already happneing. I started to look even closer and it was falling apart!! To my dismay, the cord was begining to fray very rapidly. So I took them apart. I took one othe plates and noticed a very small bur that the punch left. Is this the problem or do I need to find some other type of lacing? Any help would so appreciated since I am disheartened and almost wanted throw my plates out the window....

[Sextus Maximus]

Ok I have been burring, sheesh this is daunting to do lol. I still am having an eon the outside of the hole. I stuck my finger in the hole and twisted it just to see if it would cut. I t did not but I am still nervous that it will cut my braiding. I dod not wan tto make the same mistake twice. Am I getting paranoid now??

[Konstantin the Red]

If you have a power drill of any description, hand or drill-press, you can fix your holes quickly: chuck the biggest drillbit you have into the drill and just barely touch the hole with the turning bit, on the side that has the burr, since you seem to be experiencing problems only on one side of the scale. There are also special deburring/countersinking bits -- short, stumpy conical affairs that cut the small conical holes that put flathead screws below the surface of a plank.

Particularly troublesome holes can get an eyelet inserted if the deburring doesn't do it. This would be as a backup measure.