The Armour Archive

Andrew Bodley

There would be two ways to make thin sheet. Worked hot, with large amounts of scale being formed and reducing the overall size of sheet. Cold working with frequent annealing, with scale loss reduced. This will be dictated by quality of iron billet and its slag content and chemical composition and th...

Andrew Bodley

This should be a link to an interesting book on understanding he a treating. It's written with blade makers in mind. But armour uses thin sections of carbon steel. The final requirements for armour are different but understanding how and why is useful. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=...

Andrew Bodley

This should be a link to an interesting book on understanding he a treating. It's written with blade makers in mind. But armour uses thin sections of carbon steel. The final requirements for armour are different but understanding how and why is useful. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=...

Andrew Bodley

Think of using the rail track end on to make a post anvil. The more mass under the hammer the better the anvil works. Making an anvil with a bickhorn from track will limit the size of work you can a achieve easily. A long flat area can be helpful when forging but isn't necessary. Here is a picture I...

Andrew Bodley

I've only used it in bar form. Really soft in comparison to mild never noticed it work hardening. But never worked it cold either. I'd expect it to work harden and need annealing as you work. For armour I'd look at some form of case hardening or explicitly state that it's for display only.
Andrew

Andrew Bodley

Just want to tap into the hive mind. I'm after suggestions for places to visit in Sweden. Planning to spend a few days in Stockholm with some day trips to places like Birka and Uppsala. Obviously viking is of interest but anything historical would be considered. Presently thinking of going south to ...

Andrew Bodley

I haven't used one that relies on compressed air. I use a burner in my welding forge that has a fan to supply the air. It's easy to control temperature and combustion (rich or lean), far easier then Venturi burners. Not sure if i see any benefit in buying one over making on. If you have a compressor...

Andrew Bodley

I haven't been for about 10 years. But if the armoury is open you can go in without guide. Light levels are low with no flash allowed. Not sure about tripods. If you know the dates you will be there check there website for opening times, or try calling to see if they are open. I have a habit of trav...

Andrew Bodley

Have you tried trimming the tip into a point and using white wood glue to form the point? This works well for lacing jap armours so should help.
Andrew

Andrew Bodley

The point I was trying to make was the change in steel production in the 14th-15thC. This has been linked by Williams to the introduction of large breastplates and one piece helmets. If you look at the micrographs and see how the slag changes. There are differences in individual pieces but over time...

Andrew Bodley

If you want to copy medical armour. Look at refining cast iron a chaffery furnace. If you read Knight and the blast furnace. There is a change from bloomery to blast furnace, making cast iron. The cast iron is melted in chaffery removing carbon. The HARD part is learning to control final carbon leve...

Andrew Bodley

Not sure if getting thick bull neck is going to be much easier than walrus. Thick hides in the UK are difficult to get hold of due to castle being slaughtered at 36 months to reduce the risk of bse (mad cow disease). Good solid shoes hides are hard to find compare to the 80's. From memory walrus can...

Andrew Bodley

I came across plans for making a polishing wheel from the late 19thc/early 20th c that used walrus hide. The wheel was about 4 ft in diameter from memory. Made in two parts with the hide having slots cut out so they lock into the wooden sides. This then attached onto an arbor permanently. I don't re...

Andrew Bodley

Not sure how well acetylene tips will work on oxy/propane? I use propane burner heads the smallest seem to be the easiest to control and use less oxy. For really small spots I do use welding tips (size 8-14). I do t think there should be any difference in using 6mm or 8mm pipes. As you will get the ...

Andrew Bodley

If you get the chase to visit Pisa look for the collection of armour used for the gioco del ponte. There were at least five 15th c armets plus lots of other early bits very much altered. The gioco del ponte is now a form of tug of war using some form of steel seating which lasts hours. The fighting ...

Andrew Bodley

I think the mark of GP tells us it's been doctored with. Trying to match illustrations. Trying to guess how many original helms were butchered to make this 3?
Andrew

Andrew Bodley

Hi all. I'm planning a visit to Portugal and don't know of any armour collections in Portugal but want to see if the hive mind knows of any? Also there was a web site that has a list of armour collections around the world. I can't find it to see if there were any listed on it.
Thanks Andrew

Andrew Bodley

There are portraits showing breastplates worn over buff coats. But I haven't seen any surviving buff coats showing any wear from armour. Most of the buff coats surviving tend to be higher status pieces. There are references to buying buff coats in London during the civil war as "not being able to bu...

Andrew Bodley

I'd be interested in what evidence they have for felt over leather?
Andrew

Andrew Bodley

Sorry for delay in answering but I have sporadic access to Internet. I'm trying to make a very small welsh (Wrexham) buckler to try out the brass capped rivets I've made and see what issues there are in construction. The first is gluing the two layers of leather together. I'll try and make time to m...

Andrew Bodley

Hi all, Looking for insight on how to glue sections of leather together with hide glue. I tried to glue a couple of 5 inch round pieces together flesh side to flesh side. All the glue did was soak in and harden. tried again after ten minuets with no difference. What am I missing. Both pieces had bee...

Andrew Bodley

Looking good. What resist and acid did you use?
Andrew

Andrew Bodley

If you can afford the 1400c ceramic fibre buy it. My first forges I used 1275c fibre. It worked ok but needed changing after nine months or so. Though this was used for forge welding It did shrink a bit but nothing excessive. My worst experience with refractory was with some 2 inch thick fibre board...

Andrew Bodley

Think how much longer it would have taken it Ian haven't left the armouries?
Andrew

Andrew Bodley

It is worth hazarding the trip as it is presently on show at the Yorkshire museum. Heard a rumour it may be going on tour in 2017 to several museums in the UK.
Andrew

Andrew Bodley

My thought would be to take a couple of idetincal items (from the pile of shame?) and triple normalise one correcting after each cooling cycle. then compare after the final quench. This isn't considered a commercial method of production due to time / fuel costs. But knife makers don't seem to bother...

Andrew Bodley

Hi Mac, One idea of limiting flexing in greaves might be to look at triple normalising? It is very popular for knife makers. Start with an austenising temp anneal, air cool then repeat after straightening but at lower austenite temp, re-straighten and final temp as low as possible austenite temp and...

Andrew Bodley

Extracted has the same set up I have. Except mine doesn't have the ear muffs, still trying to justify getting some. Though I do wear a pair underneath. I used to have a light weight grinding visor. More comfortable to wear for extended length of time, but your neck gets dirtier. I have with these wi...

Andrew Bodley

If you look for any of the versaflo or Jupiter 3m models. There are different face masks available depending on protection required. The can also be used with the speed glass welding make with the appropriate filters.
Andrew

Andrew Bodley

Getting a goo face fit with aaabeard is very difficult. I like using the 3m air feed respirators. Expensive new but they do come up cheap on evil bay. Think I paid about £100 for mine. Just check that you can still buy spare. The visor never fogs up, in summer you have a cool breeze over your face. ...

Andrew Bodley

Regarding the heat belt. In my home brew I occasionally us a heat belt to control the brew temperature. The lower the belly is fitted the hotter the brew becomes. I think the area above the belt is heated so the lower I'd placed then there is more area above to be heated.
Andrew

Andrew Bodley

As far as I remember with kawool/ceramic fibre is relatively safe cutting it up when new, though I used a dust mask just in case. But becomes more dangerous when heated which changes the state of the fibres. Which is why you need to use rigidizer, I also coat with a layer of fire cement to seal the ...

Andrew Bodley

Checking my notes there is an article by Claude Blair on welsh bucklers in the "Antiquaries journal 1982 pt1. He. Has compiled a list of over 30 bucklers or parts which are device into three groups.
There are some nice images in the recent book on arms and armour of Henry viii.
Andrew

Andrew Bodley

You could also look into forced air forges. Far simpler to make, adjust and can cope with a wide variety of forge sizes. I would recommend using ceramic fibre as your lining with rigidizer/fire cement coating. Using a solid of cast lining takes a time to get to temperature. If you are running all da...

Andrew Bodley

Check out Wrexham and welsh bucklers. There are several around of different sizes and level of decoration..
There is a gilded one in Paris, a couple at the MOL in different states of repair. The RA Leeds has a couple on show.
Andrew

Re: Making Very Thin Sheet Iron

Re: What NOT to do with 4130

Re: What NOT to do with 4130

Re: Railroad Track Armouring Anvil

Re: Questions on working pure iron

Visiting Sweden?

Re: Forced air gas burner as a heat source?

Re: Real Armeria - Madrid

Re: Dusting off the cobwebs

Re: Peters Ellrichhausen Project

Re: Peters Ellrichhausen Project

Re: Traditional Armor Finishing Processes

Re: Traditional Armor Finishing Processes

Re: Oxy-Propane torch setup

Re: Goll's Thesis Topic #4: Interesting New (to you) Objects

Re: Goll's Thesis Topic #4: Interesting New (to you) Objects

Armour collections? Portugal?

Re: "Buff" coats made of wool felt?

Re: "Buff" coats made of wool felt?

Re: glueing leather with hide glue?

glueing leather with hide glue?

Re: The start of a Journey: professional armouring

Re: Gas forge question.

Re: Arms & Armour in the Collection of Her Majesty The Queen

Re: Coppergate (York) Helm photos

Re: Dusting off the cobwebs

Re: Dusting off the cobwebs

Re: Dusting off the cobwebs

Re: Dusting off the cobwebs

Re: Dusting off the cobwebs

Re: Dusting off the cobwebs

Re: Gas forge question.

Re: Looking for fine bucklers

Re: Gas forge question.

Re: Looking for fine bucklers