18 gauge

heronmark98 · Post by **heronmark98** » Tue Jun 25, 2002 4:44 pm

i have recently acquired some 18 gauge stainless...i want to build some gothic floating elbows...think they`ll be strong enough for sca combat? thanx for your time...never worked with stainless before with regards to munitions armor.

rmermuys · Post by **rmermuys** » Tue Jun 25, 2002 4:48 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by heronmark98:
i have recently acquired some 18 gauge stainless...i want to build some gothic floating elbows...think they`ll be strong enough for sca combat? thanx for your time...never worked with stainless before with regards to munitions armor.</font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I've seen elbows made out of 18ga mild steel. They will dent or bend here and there, but they do work. Stainless is 2 gauges stronger than Mild. So, 18ga (0.047) is about equiv to 16ga (0.0625) mild.

heronmark98 · Post by **heronmark98** » Tue Jun 25, 2002 7:48 pm

thanx very much. i will commence armouring, and i will whistle a jaunty tune whilst doing so.

Alcyoneus · Post by **Alcyoneus** » Tue Jun 25, 2002 10:32 pm

18g SS gauntlets can last a long time, and probably take more hits than most elbows do, so they should be fine.

Gaston de Clermont · Post by **Gaston de Clermont** » Wed Jun 26, 2002 2:36 am

Most SCA armour I've played with is sculpted with simpler lines and thicker steel than the original pieces. A well fluted cop in 18 ga should be plenty strong, and you probably won't have to pound many dents out. The same is true for well sculpted humanistic lines, but it's harder to visualize, and a little less dramatic.
Gaston de Clermont

Mykaru · Post by **Mykaru** » Wed Jun 26, 2002 10:40 pm

heronmark,

I hate to be a naysayer but.....

how much experience do you have? Due to the compound curves in a gothic coppe added to the work hardening one encounters with stainless you are looking at an extremely difficult first project. Of course if you do have experience and plan on hot working this post doesn't apply.

18 ga. stainless would be plenty strong however, due to those same factors.

[This message has been edited by Mykaru (edited 06-26-2002).]

heronmark98 · Post by **heronmark98** » Thu Jun 27, 2002 12:09 am

i`ve had a decent amount of experience, just not with alot of stainless. most of my metalworking experience comes from sculpture and artistic applications...core ten steel and such. i have done a few armouring projects...most recently four lame knees and elbows; but in mild not stainless. thanx for all your concerns and interest. i`ll let you know how they turn out.