The Armour Archive

SteelWeaver

I've had been using a cotton batting gambeson I made circa 2001 under my full plate. It was 1 layer of upholstery cotton and I found it provided ample shock absorbance but restricted movement somewhat. So I've been trying less-padded less-restricting alternatives. I grabbed a "grande-assiette-esque"...

SteelWeaver

I am curious about suggestions about what off-the-shelf non-period clothing/padding people are wearing under armour in warm weather

I have some bamboo batting to make a new gambeson to replace my old one that finally died, but willpower seems to be lacking.

Thanks!

SteelWeaver

We are using the aluminum armour I had initially made for LARP for SCA heavy fighting, and I'm growing tired of repairing it. I really like the rust-resistance, so I've been looking into 410 spring stainless. I know it's heat-treatable, but I was wondering if you can get a decent hardness out of it ...

SteelWeaver

Anybody ever gave these a whirl?

https://www.fastenal.com/web/products/d ... ngMachine=

SteelWeaver

A couple of friends of mine bought some decent 14ga bascinets at pennsic last summer for only 85$. They seem to be made in 2 parts instead of the usual 3 as in the patterns here on the archive since there does not appear to be a welding line for a "skirt". I was wondering if anybody else was making ...

SteelWeaver

Anybody ever tried to use perforated plate to make a bargrill? Seems some perforation patterns are quite ornamental and might make cool periodesque looking bargrills: http://www.ideco-metal.com/photo/pc129500-ornamental_decorative_perforated_metal_screen_special_perforations_embossed_plates.jpg http...

SteelWeaver

What does your harness weight? it's been a while since I've weighed it. By the heft of the hockey bag where it lives when I'm not wearing it i'd venture 35-40 lbs... I'll try to weigh it when I get the chance. The aluminum still beats it by weight hands down but mine totally stands up to BOTN/ACL f...

SteelWeaver

After over 15 years of LARP, I just had tried SCA fighting last week for the first time. Though we made steel helms for SCA. I used the rest of my LARP kit which is made from 1/16 aluminium. With the gambeson underneath it seemed very adequate. Further testing is of course warranted, but if anybody ...

SteelWeaver

That wasn't actually my gorget, but the pic from the pattern archive. But I've been making my own and selling some stuff... I've been at it part time since ~1998-1999 I've already made 2 gorgets that are pretty much identical to it though, 1 in 1/16" aluminum and another in 16ga hot rolled steel Is ...

SteelWeaver

I have a first SCA fighter practice coming up (I've been doing boffer for years, finally trying SCA). I've made a gorget based on Alan Bauldree's pattern here on the archive. Are they supposed to be padded at all? A layer of leather perhaps? or just worn as is? http://armourarchive.org/patterns/gorg...

SteelWeaver

I've made 2 gambesons in the past (cotton shell and batting) and it's quite the hassle. I noticed that bythesword has a nice selection at affordable prices (less than what I would be willing to sell them for if I had made them)... http://www.bytheswordinc.com/c-717-arming-wear.aspx Has anybody tried...

SteelWeaver

Here is the whole family:

It's most of the stuff I've been making since the beginning of the year, the clients have not come pick stuff up yet, so I thought it'd be nice to capture them all together.

SteelWeaver

I'm playing around with breastplate articulations. There are 3 main types I want to try out: side pivots, sliding rivets, and center sliding rivets and side straps I've just completed the first one: http://i42.tinypic.com/sxg909.jpg The other ones are well underway: http://i41.tinypic.com/dc3fdg.jpg

SteelWeaver

I just completed this cuirass out of 14 ga alu this weekend.

I make pretty much everything out of 14ga alu. I used 16ga for a bit, and it works well, but it was too easy to dent, with the bamboo shafts of the LARP weapons we use.

SteelWeaver

Oh yeah, and any other critisiscm welcomed, I havent shaped the upper cuisse yet, just bent it to get it to roughly fit the lame. I was thinking I should perhaps dish the poleyn a bit more make it pointier looking. I was going for a circa early 15th century rather than the mid 15th like the pattern...

SteelWeaver

Looks great, keep up the good work. What grade of aluminum is that? Dunno what they call it, but I can guess it's "standard" I just went to my supplier and asked for aluminium sheet, so I'm guessing he gave me the most standard aluminium grade. It comes with a white plastic sheet stuck to it to pro...

SteelWeaver

I just completed a pair of these. There made from 14ga Aluminium http://img181.imagevenue.com/loc201/th_25022_IMG_2820_122_201lo.JPG http://img203.imagevenue.com/loc346/th_25044_IMG_2826_122_346lo.JPG http://img258.imagevenue.com/loc552/th_25065_IMG_2828_122_552lo.JPG http://img177.imagevenue.com/lo...

SteelWeaver

Seems the spiral saw now has a metal cutting saw, it's supposed to handle up to 18 gage.

Has anybody given it a try?

http://www.buildingonline.com/news/viewnews.pl?id=4965

SteelWeaver

Harbour Freight electric shear. Best $40 i've spent in a LONG time. Its rated at 18 gauge mild, but it cuts 14 gauge just fine, and it cut 1/8th inch aircraft aluminum with ease as well. Spend the extra $10 for the no questions asked 2 year free replacement warrenty. Seriously, it is SOOO much quie...

SteelWeaver

I had made my first LARP plate armour (when I was 16 or 17) with 30 ga galvanized sheetmetal (that's about 0.4mm thick). It was so thin that I cut the metal with regular scissors! No pieces were dished either. It did end up making for a somewhat spiffy rig (especially compared to what everyone else ...

SteelWeaver

I was wondering how to determine the width of the top part of a breastplate. I'm trying to make a breastplate in this style (which my youunger, shorter, smaller brother bought from Eric Dube a few years ago) http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/2438/img1113qiy.th.jpg This one was my first attempt (my se...

SteelWeaver

I basically use ONLY roofing nails as rivets. Standard 1 inch dipped-galvanized roofing nails. Never had to anneal, and no need to strip galvanization or anything (ou can get ungalvanized nails if that's what you want). I use them to fasten straps too, and it does not cause any undue premature aging...

SteelWeaver

I've outfitted most of my buds, and we try to maintain a semblance of uniformity for all troops: http://thumbnails15.imagebam.com/2495/fa789524940403.gif http://thumbnails12.imagebam.com/2495/d8c0b524940410.gif http://thumbnails9.imagebam.com/2495/590a8f24940417.gif [URL=http://www.imagebam.com/imag...

SteelWeaver

I came across these:

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyId=266

I figure they might work just as well.

SteelWeaver

Halberds wrote:No never used one, but it looks like it will get into tight areas.
Are you going to try it out?

Hal

Yup, the plastic wheel is worth 30$ and the refills are a few bucks each. I definitely think there is some potential to that thingy. I'll let you know how well it works once I get it.

SteelWeaver

I've just spent an hour yesterday chatting with the guy at the abrasive store, I've found I can jump straight from a 320 flap wheel to a cotton wheel He suggested trying something called sand-o-flex, it goes up to 320 grit. The sandpaper flaps are scored so while using they become like abrasive bris...

SteelWeaver

I have made several of these German style breast & backplates for clients in the past. As the others have said, the breastplates in this style did not usually articulate except for the faulds towards the bottom. However, the backplates many times did articulate. The articulation of the backplate al...

SteelWeaver

I had a lot of stuff made so I thought it would be nice to take some pics: http://img129.imagevenue.com/loc849/th_89962_IMG_0043_122_849lo.jpg http://img18.imagevenue.com/loc810/th_89968_IMG_0044_122_810lo.jpg http://img227.imagevenue.com/loc201/th_89976_IMG_0045_122_201lo.jpg http://img225.imageven...

SteelWeaver

Hey have you or anyone you know tried the one from princess auto? It's a little over $100 and rated for 14ga. Wondering if it's any good so I can tell people wether it's worthwhile or not. I had a HF that served me well for a while but it was now in it's dying days. The power fist is actually 70$ n...

SteelWeaver

Halberds wrote:Spangen barbute helm? I think they came out very well.
How does that thin aluminum dish?

Hal

Thanks!

I usually also work on 18g steel, 1/16 alu is a little thicker so it dishes pretty much the same.

SteelWeaver

Here some new helms I've recently finished http://img135.imagevenue.com/loc862/th_87844_PICT0043_122_862lo.JPG http://img169.imagevenue.com/loc797/th_87859_PICT0044_122_797lo.JPG http://img22.imagevenue.com/loc779/th_87861_PICT0045_122_779lo.JPG There is about 8-10 hours of work in each helm They we...

SteelWeaver

That's a really good first breastplate. I hope that you post pictures of your full kit when you're done. I've tried it out with the gorget and the spaulders yesterday, just to indulge you: http://img237.imagevenue.com/loc162/th_30819_1st_breastplate_back2_122_162lo.jpg http://img190.imagevenue.com/...

SteelWeaver

My first attempt at a breastplate, this one is made of 1/16 aluminium. I'm trying it on during an event this weekend to work out the kinks. Once I've made sure it's functionning correctly I'll give it it's final mirror polish. I figure I should've dished the chest and belly a littlemore, I've hanged...

SteelWeaver

Been using those for a while, Sasha's essay on using them to make articulations was eye-openeing to me. I've since stepped it up a notch with auto-locking c-clamps: http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/rodi_1994_61603074.jpg I got me a pair of 7" from fastenal (thinking back, the 11" might have ...

SteelWeaver

Is this better then a 1"x?" bench mount belt sander? I was considering buying a belt sander because that seams to be the primary choice for blade makers but if this is better for armor for some reason I would like to know. Thanks, Sean Probably not, but they are much less expensive. You get what yo...

Re: modern non-period arming garment gambeson equivalent

modern non-period arming garment gambeson equivalent

work hardening 410 spring stainless

3m Radial bristle Disc

two-part bascinet

ornamental perforation plate for bargrills

Re: From LARP to SCA : Aluminium seems OK for SCA fighting

From LARP to SCA : Aluminium seems OK for SCA fighting

Re: Flared Edge Gorget padding?

Flared Edge Gorget padding?

gambesons bythesword

Latest Aluminum Breastplate and upcoming permutations

new arms based on sinric's pattern

Rotozip metal spiralsaw

Breastplate Sizing

which is easiest to, single piece, or two-piece breastplate?

Sanding Stars

sand-o-flex

Been busy, sone new helm pics

Re: good job

First attempt at a breastplate