The Armour Archive

Ok,
I know alot of you use gesso as a final layer before paint on your shield.
What is the best recipe for gesso?
How long does this stuff hold up in tourney fighting?
Can you repair it?
Is canvas detrimental as a foundation layer?
I understand that razor blade scrapping while gesso is still soft is the best way to achieve a smooth surface, what kind of razor blade? like the ones used to scrape pain of windows?

Thanks,
Christian Darmody

I use polfilla and PVA glue, and then give it a light sanding.

Although I have done it with plaster of paris and gelatine for more authentice finishes.

Christian Darmody wrote:Ok,

1. What is the best recipe for gesso?
2. How long does this stuff hold up in tourney fighting?
3. Can you repair it?
4. Is canvas detrimental as a foundation layer?
5. I understand that razor blade scrapping while gesso is still soft is the best way to achieve a smooth surface, what kind of razor blade? like the ones used to scrape pain of windows?

This is what I used for metal shields:
1. I use the cheap Walmart gesso. It is thin. I put about 8 coasts on.
2. Pretty good. The canvas will tear, and then you will need to repair, add more gesso to patch and touch up the paint.
3. Yes. When the canvas tears, I pull the canvas edges together, stitch it by hand back together and then rub gesso with my finger into the stitched up tear until it becomes invisible. Then touch up the paint.
4. No. I think it is the best way. I use a spray adhesive to put on the canvas. The better it is glued down the less likely to tear. Then about 8 layers of gesso. Then paint.
5. The gesso I use it not thick enough for such treatment. I put it on with a small roller. Depending on the quality of canvas, it can be a rougher surface, but I never cared. I thought the textured look of it was pleasing.

The most authentic option is to use hide glue mixed with chalk. For my shield I glued heavy cloth to the shield using the hide glue, and then covered it with the gesso for painting.
It is important to glue heavy cloth to shield first, because it acts (and looks :p) like medieval fibreglas. The gesso is to smoothen the surface for painting allthough it adds a little extra strength and prevents the surface from getting sticky again. Extra flexibility is added by impregnating the gesso with walnut oil after (!) the painting. For paint, oilbased paints work wel and are an authentic option for the 15th century.

My shield held out for 3 years of jousting, wich is, I think about 250-300 hits. I also use it to reinforce saddles.

The process isn't that complicated and I would recommend it.

For my tournament shield I used a mixture of Titebond3 wood glue and plaster of paris.

Here is my account:
http://members.cox.net/stonebridgearmoury/shield1.htm

My last two shields were primed with KILZ. Seems to work fine.

Not sure what you mean by "repair" but when I get a tear I hit it with some Spray 90 and glue it back down.