The Armour Archive

I started this project yeasterday and allmost gave up (Was a pain in the arse and looking shite). Today I decided to give it one more try and things just started working right. It didn't take long tell it started to actually take a shape that kinda resembled a gauntlet (not neccessarly an hourglass at that time but at least it was looking like it belonged on a hand. Heres pictrues still needs tuning of the shape and lots of trimming.


After that much I was at a loss of where to go with it. So I spent some time reading over Sedrics resent post (cann't wait to see an update from you on yours) and quite a bit of time reviewing Master Cads page on raising an hourglass. Then realized my thumb lacked a LOT in shape and flair that it needed. Try as I may I couldn't get it to flair out any more so it was back to Cads site, after reviewing his photos of originals I did some trimming around the base and sides of the palm area of the gauntlet then tried shapping again. It worked it freed up room to get a hammer where I needed it and released the metal to move like it needed.
With a peliminary grinding here is where I got it to.


I learned a lot
#1 my pattern is to small and shaped wrong.
#2 at least for me I had to rivet the cuff to itself to get the metal to respond like i wanted it to, i couldn't get it to shape right with it loose.
#3 I cann't do the notches down the back worth a crap (time to practice) #4 I need to make a form to shape the knucle end of the gauntlet.
#5 its amazing how much heat you can get from a propane weed burner (still wish I had a regular torch though).
#6 and most important, DON"T GIVE UP, step back and research yes but give up NO.

knitebee wrote:#5 its amazing how much heat you can get from a propane weed burner (still wish I had a regular torch though).

Things work a lot nicer if you can get the metal up to yellow heat, in a spot just where you want it, with the rest of the metal cooler and keeping more of its shape. This is not always possible with a weed burner.

Looking good! Don't give up on the research part, one of the hardest parts in armouring IMHO is training the eye, seeing how the piece you're working on differs from the piece you have a mental image of. And if you don't even know exactly what you want to make, how can it be done right?

One more tip: if you're working hot anyway, and have too small a pattern, don't be afraid to stretch the metal. Thinning an edge out to half its thickness will only make the piece look more authentic, and may give you those mm or cm you're missing.

Looking damn good for a first try!! Keep up the good work, and be sure to post pictures of the finished gauntlet! Damn, I would so love to try making one of those too, but that's not possible until next summer, when I hopefully get my forge. Thanks for the info and pictures!

Brian:

Looking good man. Keep it up. It is almost time for you to consider getting yerself a forge.


Hey, when the weather breaks, you should come on down and we will play in the shop again.

I have a much larger shop now with room to stand in.

See you soon.

Ogier

Thanks guys. I know I need either a forge or a torch (preferably both ) but tell then I'll use my propane weed burner its not perfect but it works.
Ralph training the eye I'm working on slowly not as easy to do with only photos but i'm getting there, I can see many many details in my gaunlet that are off some fixable some not.

Lord Ogier, you've got a deal as soon as this damned rain lets up and my pocket book recovers from the holidays.

Thats really cool knitebee, I am anxious to fire up my coal forge. My wife talked me into trading our GMC Truck for a damned Tiberon and now I don't have anything to go get coal in till I find a cheap small pickup .

Looks like you have the same problem I had with the tumb angle. My 3rd attempt came out very similar, so your 3 ahead of me
Getting in to the thumb is a pain in the arse, isn't it ?
I had three guys out in the shop today, we got done 3 center bosses, a viking frying pan, started on 3 spangen helms, and 5 live steel spear heads.
For some reason I just didn't find the time to do anouther gauntlet.

Probably because your shop was a bit crowded Sedric.



*sits back to watch the work again*

heres an update. I was having a heck of a time with the knuckle rider so I simplified that area and made it more flat. The fingers turned out a bit to wide. The thumb mounting is a comprimise do to paterning error of the main piece. I figured this had been a good enough learning experinace so far that I might as well finish it for use as loner gear, and take my lessons and start anew for my kit.

[img]http://members.armourarchive.org/knitebee/hourglass%20finished.jpg[/img]

looks awesome

Looks GREAT! I havn't attempted gauntlets yet, but thats inspiring. Keep up the good work.

Thats great!! Is this your first one?

Thanks for the compliments. This is my first attempt at hourglass gauntlets. and only my third gauntlet period. (first one was an ugly but functional mitten and my first piece of plate armour, second is a fantasy piece) Now I need to revamp my patern from the leasons learned on this one and make a better pair for my kit.

Nice job. Be sure to post pics of the next version too!

Chris