gilded mail edges

[Kel Rekuta]

As I begin to modify a new haubergeon and standard, I am tempted to add a few rows of gilded rings. Aside from the bling factor, I suspect it might be worth the trouble to limit rust. Plain brass rings won't do as they oxidize too quickly.
I don't mind spending a little money on some electroplate product but perhaps there is a simpler solution?

[InsaneIrish]

Electroplate will scratch off rather quickly. It is not meant to be abrassion resistant.

I would look at polished Brass with clear coat. Or just get used to running Brasso over the rings periodically.

[Ernst]

Latten (brass) rings shine up nicely with a little rubbing and half a lemon.

[wcallen]

I was staring at Toby's pieces of mail that hang off his legs. Eric did them with 3 rows of gilt rings on the edge and the rest blackened.

The gilding seemed fine. Toby and his horse are doing a number on some of the mail itself, but the gilding looked fine. I am sure it will wear off at some point, but it should be fun for a while.

And the bling-factor is huge. A really good look.

Brass will work too. Not as bling-y, but probably cheaper.

Wade

[Baron Alcyoneus]

http://www.amazon.com/Plated-Rings-Chai ... Promotions

You'd have to go to Finding King (or ebay) to find out just what gauge they are, but you could probably use something like loctite to "permanently" close these rather than soldering. At $8.50/300 I wouldn't care if I lost some now and then.

[Kel Rekuta]

I was staring at Toby's pieces of mail that hang off his legs. Eric did them with 3 rows of gilt rings on the edge and the rest blackened.

The gilding seemed fine. Toby and his horse are doing a number on some of the mail itself, but the gilding looked fine. I am sure it will wear off at some point, but it should be fun for a while.

And the bling-factor is huge. A really good look.

Brass will work too. Not as bling-y, but probably cheaper.

Wade

Yeah, that's where I'm going with this. Considering the coin that's going into the new harness, even a couple hundred bucks worth of gilt rings isn't out of order. I've done brass rings before and they just doesn't look right regardless of how much maintenance. Any tips on how I might do this or should I just take the strips to a commercial plater?

B.A. - interesting tip! I deal with such a findings place regularly for other things. I should have thought of using jewelry jump rings, they are pretty close to the gauge of the fine mail standard. Thanks!