The Armour Archive

It has been a long time since I posted here - please forgive me if I am putting this in the wrong section of the forum.

I am working on a costume piece - I want to line the short shoulder cape of a long coat in costume-grade maille. So I want to to use bright aluminum - preferably 5356 alloy "bright aluminum" 16g. I am having trouble finding some locally in spools of less than 20 lbs.

I found this 17g stuff at the TSC web site (I have a local store) and was wondering if it's too soft; the site does not specify alloy. What do you think? (I know alum is dirty, but it will be a distressed garment in dark earthy colors anyways.)

http://www.tractorsupply.com/fi-shock-t ... le-3600859

There's also this 14g stuff: http://www.tractorsupply.com/fi-shock-t ... le-3600867

Aluminum electric fence wire is very soft and will tarnish a lot.
I would suggest EBay for smaller spools a 12 lbs spool runs about 65.
You probibly need less than two lbs precut rings might be cheaper unless you have other projects.

if your saw cutting just make extra and post them on eBay, or trade them on the maille forum.

A number of maile makers just buy their links pre-cut. http://theringlord.com/cart/shopdisplay ... Jump+Rings which will get you rings that are strong (for aluminum) and yet bright.

Luck!
Sean

Thanks losthelm. I am not concerned with tarnishing, I will actually be aging the whole garment. Do you think it's still too soft for even light costume wear? Won;t it harden a bit during the coiling process?

Aluminum workhardening is problematic, and I wouldn't rely on the phenomenon for anything. But that small, and costume grade, I don't think you need worry.

The problematic part is that aluminum does workharden, yes -- right at the ragged edge of fatiguing and failing.

I may have some hand cut links of the electrical fence aluminum 14guage 3/8"
How large of an area are you planing to cover?

I want to line the cape on this pattern. I thought aluminum would be a good choice as it is light weight, costume grade, & will show through nicely in a few strategically distressed areas.

I use the Al wire from TSC for, well, electric fences. It is very soft and does not work harden much at all. It takes forever to break it by bending back and forth. The phase between soft and brittle is very slim. Frankly it may not even be hard enough to withstand it's own weight if you want to actually wear the cape and just walk around in it. Let us know how it works out if you try it.

Bjorn

Thanks Bjorn. Looks like I'm stuck with bright alum welding wire then (5356 alloy). I can get it from ring lord, and I found a few other places. Ring lord wants $8/lb, and commercially I've only found it for about $10-$20/lb unless I want a bunch of 20" sticks.

Thanks everyone for your time and advice.

If you end up with a large spool take the weight before and after your done. Knowing how much is left will help sell any remaining materials.

Good idea again, thanks!