Strapping faulds?

Lucian Ro · Post by **Lucian Ro** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 7:36 pm

I'm having an idiot moment; I can't figure out how to drill and leather strap my faulds so that they lay with each successive fauld on the outside of the other. Or do I have to use a sliding rivet (which I am unable to do)?
Here's a pic of what type of fauld I mean, this is NOT mine, just an example :

knitebee · Post by **knitebee** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 8:25 pm

the outside are sliding rivets, the middle of the front though has a leather strap behind it, it attaches at the bottom edge of each piece and the rivet is set flush in a counter sunk hole in the front of each lame, because the rivet sets behind the top of the next lame down.

Lucian Ro · Post by **Lucian Ro** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 8:29 pm

Is there a way to do it with just the leather strapping and not sliding rivets?
I'm not trying to copy the picture posted, I was just trying to explain how the faulds fell.

wcallen · Post by **wcallen** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 8:36 pm

First, a little background

mid-late 15th c.

Italian - secured by internal leathers at the center and sides.
German - sliding rivets at the side and usually leather in the center.

Then some questions:

Which are you trying to do?

Why can't you do sliding rivets?

How far along is the project now?

Wade

Halberds · Post by **Halberds** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:46 pm

I would think... if one can make a breast plate that nice, sliding rivets would be a cake walk.

Drill or punch two holes and file out the center.
Turn the shank down on the rivet or use a temporary spacer.
One could even weld the rivet on the inside when the gap is correct.

However I will restrain myself until W. Callen has advised with more information from you.

Hal

Lucian Ro · Post by **Lucian Ro** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 6:02 am

No, I must not have explained well enough, apologies. I have a breastplate, plackart and faulds that I bought unassembled from Master Cet at Rough from the Hammer. I'm pretty new to working with metal armour and am trying to quickly get the faulds attached prior to leaving for Pennsic. Don't have the time to puzzle out sliding rivets beforehand so I was hoping to simply leather strap it.

Halberds wrote:I would think... if one can make a breast plate that nice, sliding rivets would be a cake walk.

Drill or punch two holes and file out the center.
Turn the shank down on the rivet or use a temporary spacer.
One could even weld the rivet on the inside when the gap is correct.

However I will restrain myself until W. Callen has advised with more information from you.

Hal

wcallen · Post by **wcallen** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 6:39 am

I have done faulds with internal leathers as the only way the plates are secured (15th c. Italian), with sliding rivets on the sides and leather at the center (late 15th c. German) and in a covered breastplate where the covering is on the outside.

For quick and easy, the sliding rivet method wins hands down. It is faster to put together, easier to get right and holds up better to combat. "Tossing some leathers in" is a lot harder than it sounds.

One reason sliding rivets are easier is that you will generally want to test-fit the pieces. When you do that, it is easiest to punch holes on each side to hold them together while you put the next one on. Once you have done that, you already have the basis for the sliding rivets. Just add the slots.

Honestly, if you don't have experience and want to have something to wear at the war - how about temporarily assembling the breastplate, wearing it and then come back and add the fauld when you have a few minutes to think?

Wade

Lucian Ro · Post by **Lucian Ro** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 6:54 am

Drill or punch two holes and file out the center.

Are we talking working a hand file from one hole to the other?

Honestly, if you don't have experience and want to have something to wear at the war - how about temporarily assembling the breastplate, wearing it and then come back and add the fauld when you have a few minutes to think?

I may have to do this, actually.

Vermin · Post by **Vermin** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:36 am

Well, you can use a jeweler's saw to cut from hole to hole....or if you have a punch, just keep nibbling down the slot, and afterwards clean it up with a hand file.

I'll agree with what others have posted, it's not as much work as you think. :wink:

But, if time is an issue, I'd just wait and do it after war.
You'll be SOOOOO much happier having it done right, instead of rushing things.

Otto von Teich · Post by **Otto von Teich** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:42 am

I agree with what the others have said. Remember it only takes a second (or less) to muck something up, but can take a long time to fix the muck up. That is if it can be fixed. Been there, done that... :wink:

Wait till you have more time and think it through carefully.