Any interest in fluted lamellar plates?

polarbearforge · Post by **polarbearforge** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 1:13 am

Greetings all! I've been playing around with fluting lamellar plates. Here's a picture of a few of them.

<img src="http://www.polarbearforge.com/lamellar/fluted_lamellar.jpg">

From left to right, the plates are stainless, mild steel, aluminum and aluminum. I've just done the larger plates for now. The first three plates are style # 8 from my selection, and the fourth one is style # 21. I made the fluted section short enough that it won't affect lacing.

Before I continue making different jigs for the different plates, is there interest in these?

Jamie

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 7:22 am

I almost think that the fluting looks too intense, that it should be more gradual at the edges....if that makes sense. My own opinion there of course.

Haldan · Post by **Haldan** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 8:43 am

Hly Cr*p!

Those look good!

Haldan

Sextus Maximus · Post by **Sextus Maximus** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 10:53 am

The fluting is actually pretty spot on. that is what I was intending to do for my scale shirt until I realized I do not need them since I used 410 and had all 1500 scales heat treated. Polar Bear, ever thought about making scales/lamellar out of 410? It is about the same as stainless to cut and flute, and I bet there would be customers who would like to have them made and fluted, then they can go and get them heat treated and buffed out on their own. They would never dent or rust that is for sure.

Aedinius

Bob H · Post by **Bob H** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 1:42 pm

I'd be interested in fluted stainless plates. Right now I'm making my first "banded" lamellar out of kydex and leather, and when I'm satisfied with it I want to make another using stainless. Fluted plates out of 20 gauge 410 would be ideal. I'd want one of the patterns with a single hole at top and bottom edges for riviting, I haven't decided on exact size and the placement of the side holes yet, but I should be ready to order plates by fall.

It looks like the rightmost plate has picked up a slight curvature during the fluting process, I'd consider that slight cupping a very desireable feature as it lets the plate conform to the body better.

polarbearforge · Post by **polarbearforge** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 2:25 pm

Nomad wrote:I almost think that the fluting looks too intense, that it should be more gradual at the edges....if that makes sense. My own opinion there of course.

It makes sense. That's part of the reason I asked.

As it is right now, I completely punch out the fluting if I'm too aggressive. :shock:

I'll see if I can find some of the original test pieces, they were not as defined, but didn't look quite as good to me.

I have considered using 410. I laser cut the plates, so 304 versus 410 is not an issue. When I originally checked, but the price was out of my targe price range. With some material prices dropping, I should check again. The other reason I hadn't done much, is the heat treat aspect. It would cost more for somebody to have them heatreated. I have considered getting heat treated sheet and cutting them from that. Annealed versus full hard sheet makes no difference to the laser. I'm going to check further into this.

Bob, I can draw whatever style you need for plates, just let me know. Good eye on the last plate. It does have a curvature. I've been able to flute them two ways, with and without curve. Here's a picture that shows the difference.

<img src="http://www.polarbearforge.com/lamellar/fluted_lamellar_2.jpg">

Jamie

polarbearforge · Post by **polarbearforge** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:37 pm

I have figured out the cost for the fluting. It will be $.05 extra per place.

I have also been asked if I will make jigs for other peoples plates to be fluted. Please contact me privately about this if interested.

Thanks!

Jamie

Corby de la Flamme · Post by **Corby de la Flamme** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 12:07 pm

It is hard to know my level of interest without knowing what the price diff would be vs. your regular plates.

I'm thinking of getting an order together with a couple of our new guys and some for me. Your regular prices are very attractive.

Halberds · Post by **Halberds** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 7:48 pm

I think they look great.
Jolly well done on your fluting press.

Hal

polarbearforge · Post by **polarbearforge** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 10:21 am

Thanks for all the feedback! Based on the amount of feedback I've received, I'll contiue to build fixtures for the different plates that I offer.

Corby, good point. My regular prices are $.55 apiece for 0.063 thick aluminum and 20g stainless. With fluting, that changes to $.60 apiece.

I'm discontinuing the 0.050 thick aluminum plates due to lack of interest. I think it's been almost 8 monthes since anybody wanted that thickness.

I'm in the process of recreating my website, so it will be a couple weeks until the fluting schtuff is on the webpage.

Jamie

Any interest in fluted lamellar plates?

Any interest in fluted lamellar plates?

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