I have both the XX and the #5. I will say that I use the number 5 most of the time because it is lighter and easier to use one handed. The XX is really good when you need a deeper throat, but I usually lock it into a vice due to the weight.
Mark
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Search found 170 matches
- Wed Apr 03, 2024 10:33 am
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: What do you use to punch holes in your plates?
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1345
- Thu Mar 14, 2024 2:36 pm
- Forum: Historical Research
- Topic: Traditional Armor Finishing Processes
- Replies: 225
- Views: 61511
Re: Traditional Armor Finishing Processes
Either Barbara G. or gaukler reminded me that early European recipes for quenching, such as Theophilius and "vom Stahl und Eisen" from 1532, focus on quenching in water. Sometimes they add secret ingredients or get the water from a social source (urine, blood) but the mixture is mostly water. Chris...
- Wed Feb 28, 2024 2:28 pm
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: What do you use to punch holes in your plates?
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1345
Re: What do you use to punch holes in your plates?
Do a search on Amazon.de on "roper and whitney punch. I immediately found this one: it is the number 5 which I use the most. Sometimes it is handy to have one with a longer jaw reach as well. https://www.amazon.de/-/en/02612A/dp/B0002T87CW/ref=sr_1_2?crid=54USCXQ1S0PI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.FIXev5kNBXmwAD...
- Mon Feb 26, 2024 5:49 pm
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: What do you use to punch holes in your plates?
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1345
Re: What do you use to punch holes in your plates?
Using a R&W number 5 punch with a 1/8" die is far faster than drilling.
- Wed Jan 03, 2024 11:08 am
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: Could swords split Greathelms?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 3908
Re: Could swords split Greathelms?
Couple of thoughts: 1) If you look at the Maciejowski Bible (12th century illuminations), you see this same helm cleaving but only in relation to two kings in combat. The other injuries to minor players are far more realistic and possible. Based on this and what we know about modern experiments and ...
- Wed Jan 26, 2022 10:02 pm
- Forum: Historical Research
- Topic: New book: European Mail Armour
- Replies: 10
- Views: 2211
Re: New book: European Mail Armour
Thanks Martijn. Really good to know. I am looking forward to a good read!
Mark
Mark
- Tue Jan 11, 2022 11:19 am
- Forum: Historical Research
- Topic: New book: European Mail Armour
- Replies: 10
- Views: 2211
Re: New book: European Mail Armour
Ordered on Jan 8. Just got a notice "Book is on backorder pending reprint.
Martjin, Do you have any idea if the reprint is happening or when???
Thanks,
Mark
Martjin, Do you have any idea if the reprint is happening or when???
Thanks,
Mark
- Sat Jan 08, 2022 4:09 pm
- Forum: Historical Research
- Topic: New book: European Mail Armour
- Replies: 10
- Views: 2211
Re: New book: European Mail Armour
Thanks for letting us know and the discount!
Mark
Mark
- Sat Sep 11, 2021 8:25 am
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: Pliers for peining mail rivets
- Replies: 8
- Views: 3614
Re: Pliers for peining mail rivets
Rene's suggestion would look good, and work well. I found some very long handled fence pliers and used them. In my case I heated the ends, stamped the dents in and then re-hardened the ends. I was just doing pin rivets to tailor modern Indian mail. Marc Chapman had a nice pair that were set up to a...
- Fri Apr 30, 2021 2:10 pm
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: Armour Caliper
- Replies: 6
- Views: 2253
Re: Armour Caliper
Any idea when these will ship?
- Fri Apr 30, 2021 2:09 pm
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: "Splittens"
- Replies: 13
- Views: 3820
Re: "Splittens"
Just as a thought, if your are doing searches. Most people refer to these as bifurcated gauntlets.
Mark
Mark
- Tue Apr 13, 2021 3:42 pm
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: What NOT to do with 4130
- Replies: 11
- Views: 2512
Re: What NOT to do with 4130
Thanks for the commentary everyone. I lost so much thickness that I am starting over on the breastplate. Practice makes perfect. This time I will not riase so agressively in the armpit area and hopefully eliminate any cracks before they start. I will have to check out that book reference.
Mark
Mark
- Thu Apr 01, 2021 2:10 pm
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: What NOT to do with 4130
- Replies: 11
- Views: 2512
What NOT to do with 4130
So I had done a weld in some 4130 and I thought I would do a full anneal to make sure any stresses were relieved. I put the 0.050 breastplate in the kiln and followed the process documented in the literature for a full 14 hour anneal cycle. Result. Heavy scale layers inside and out that flaked away ...
- Mon Mar 02, 2020 7:10 am
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: 1st half of 15th Century Gorget
- Replies: 31
- Views: 1816
Re: 1st half of 15th Century Gorget
Here is the problem with the Olivier reconstruction. http://moviemezzanine.com/wp-content/uploads/Henry-V1.jpg As soon as he tips his head back the slightest bit, a gap develops between the upper edge of the gorget plate and the lower edge of the bevor plate. You can see it there on Henry's right s...
- Sun Feb 16, 2020 12:14 pm
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: Cuisses with a Medial Wrapper
- Replies: 38
- Views: 2131
Re: Cuisses with a Medial Wrapper
This is the painting that got me thinking, I saw it after the big trip to the KHM. Its a Michael Pacher of Pope Sixtus II and St. Laurence in the Beldevere in Wien. https://bookandsword.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/p1000643_legharness_details_belvedere_wien_4836.jpg?w=800 His lateral wrappers go all...
- Mon Feb 10, 2020 11:36 am
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: Cuisses with a Medial Wrapper
- Replies: 38
- Views: 2131
Re: Cuisses with a Medial Wrapper
That plate looks like something that could cut into you at the lower knee as you flex the joint. Something just doesn't make sense about the lower edge. Could it be mismounted??
- Wed Jan 08, 2020 9:53 pm
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: Kiln and the heat treating rabbit hole.
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1943
Re: Kiln and the heat treating rabbit hole.
The ramp controller is handy if you need a particular profile for annealing. Otherwise I agree with Tom it can be overkill. The material the rope is made from crumbles more after being heated and is a toxic material to handle or inhale. I also had problems that it was too bulky for the kiln and had ...
- Tue Jan 07, 2020 11:30 pm
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: Kiln and the heat treating rabbit hole.
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1943
Re: Kiln and the heat treating rabbit hole.
One last thought. Here is one of the ramp controller kits. Make sure you have at least 40 amps rating in the SCR relay. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Professional-Ramp-Soak-Temperature-Controller-Kiln-SSR-Kit-Ceramic-Thermocouple/121092751234?epid=1562779552&hash=item1c31b0bf82:g:iEoAAOxydB1SjO6g ebay se...
- Tue Jan 07, 2020 11:26 pm
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: Kiln and the heat treating rabbit hole.
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1943
Re: Kiln and the heat treating rabbit hole.
I would go to https://www.amaco.com for replacement parts and also to see if you can get a manual for the kiln. https://www.paragonweb.com/Kiln_Catalog.cfm Paragon is also a good site for supplies. http://hotkilns.com/ is also a good site. Instead of using fiber rope for the top seal I bought some o...
- Tue Jan 07, 2020 2:48 pm
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: Kiln and the heat treating rabbit hole.
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1943
Re: Kiln and the heat treating rabbit hole.
Amaco sells kiln materials and replacement elements
Mark
Mark
- Tue Jan 07, 2020 2:47 pm
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: Kiln and the heat treating rabbit hole.
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1943
Re: Kiln and the heat treating rabbit hole.
Also test each element. The resistance should be on the order of pewrhaps 25 ohms for that kiln. I would advise rewiring it for 240v dual phase a standard household available voltage that will give you less amps on the cords.
Mark
Mark
- Tue Jan 07, 2020 2:45 pm
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: Kiln and the heat treating rabbit hole.
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1943
Re: Kiln and the heat treating rabbit hole.
Go on Ebay and get a ramp controller kit that includes the controller, scr relay and thermocouple. They only run about 100 dollars or less and give you full digital profile control of the kiln. Much better than analog methods.
Mark
Mark
- Sun Dec 01, 2019 12:13 pm
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: Cervelliere Advice Needed
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1225
Re: Cervelliere Advice Needed
Another point is that a period lining in the great helm is essential. The lining is not only the pie wedges at the top, but also padding on the sides. Without this lining the great helm will not stay put on the cervelliere.
- Sun Dec 01, 2019 12:09 pm
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: Mail makers and their tools
- Replies: 39
- Views: 5952
Re: Mail makers and their tools
In regards to wire drawing. One see my article "The Construction and Metallurgy of a Late Fifteenth Century Mail Sleeve" Sept 1997 Journal of the Arms and Armour Society. A couple of points, * First it is possible to hand draw iron or steel wire. However a draw bench or the man on a swing using his ...
- Fri Oct 25, 2019 8:20 pm
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: Mac's blog
- Replies: 1141
- Views: 1040746
Re: Mac's blog
Nice progress Mac. Curiosity question, How long do you usually leave he pieces in the oven for the "stop temper" step?
Thanks,
Mark
Thanks,
Mark
- Thu Aug 15, 2019 4:26 pm
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: The making of titanium riveted mail
- Replies: 31
- Views: 4846
Re: The making of titanium riveted mail
The rings and piercing are looking good. I eagerly await your description of how you are doing it and what technique you are using to consistently center the pierce. One thought for you to consider re the use of mandrels. When we look at historic rings they are not circular. They are slightly oval o...
- Tue Jan 29, 2019 4:51 pm
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: My latest rings; watershed feature
- Replies: 33
- Views: 5531
Re: My latest rings; watershed feature
Very nice links. Your tooling is producing overlap tips that are well merged in and a good ridge line. One small suggestion tweak, if you look closely at the A2 links I think you will find that the ridge of the roof was slightly more centered on the overlap width than your tool is currently producin...
- Tue Jan 15, 2019 3:00 pm
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: The Palazzo Ducale bascinet.
- Replies: 766
- Views: 151151
Re: The Palazzo Ducale bascinet.
Really nice work Mac! Could you take a couple more pictures. i would really like to see how it acts with some raised arm poses. For instance right arm raised for a sword blow. Both hands up for a high pole arm block etc. I am really curious how it acts as the shoulders / upper arms are raised. Also ...
- Sun Dec 02, 2018 8:55 pm
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: Mac's blog
- Replies: 1141
- Views: 1040746
Re: Mac's blog
Thanks for te followup Mac. Looking at the historic pictures I see what you mean. I had not seen any period enclosed thumb tips before seeing those pictures. Looking at the first guilded one it looks to me as if the thumb tip was meant to project slightly in front of the closed fingers and the botto...
- Sat Dec 01, 2018 12:09 am
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: Mac's blog
- Replies: 1141
- Views: 1040746
Re: Mac's blog
This view shows what I am trying to achieve. The upper surface looks like a normal thumb plate, and the lower surface is there to do its job... no thumb nail, no attempt at making it look human. Any resemblance to a cartoon whale are purely accidental :lol: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/lJ3vll9...
- Tue Sep 25, 2018 9:56 am
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: Armour pics from Vienna
- Replies: 3
- Views: 902
Re: Armour pics from Vienna
Nice James. I always shoot armour in 3D. What camera are you using?
Mark
Mark
- Wed Aug 30, 2017 2:20 pm
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: Hardened and Hardenable Metals Suitable for Making Armour
- Replies: 120
- Views: 15022
Re: Hardened and Hardenable Metals Suitable for Making Armou
Craig,
I have had a few armourers tell me that they are making BON armour out of 1090 or 1095 with a 700 degF temper.
Curious as to your thoughts on this?
Mark
I have had a few armourers tell me that they are making BON armour out of 1090 or 1095 with a 700 degF temper.
Curious as to your thoughts on this?
Mark
- Mon Jan 09, 2017 3:58 pm
- Forum: Historical Research
- Topic: Traditional Armor Finishing Processes
- Replies: 225
- Views: 61511
Re: Traditional Armor Finishing Processes
Years ago I tried this to reworks some heavilly rusted mild steel armour. I used iron oxide powder as the abrasive, oil to hold it on and a leather pad on the wooden stick. My recollection is that this did a good job and cleaned things up to where I could go back to standard polishing compounds for ...
- Mon Dec 12, 2016 11:03 am
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: Anyone know where to get thin 410?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1518
Re: Anyone know where to get thin 410?
Try Slice of Stainless. I have had good prices from them.
Mark
Mark
- Thu Mar 31, 2016 7:54 pm
- Forum: Armour - Design and Construction
- Topic: Dusting off the cobwebs
- Replies: 2658
- Views: 807669
Re: Dusting off the cobwebs
Thanks Mac, Appreciate you trying to remember. You answered the part I was most curious about. How you started the process.
Mark
Mark