Brass Trim on Spaulders

[somomailler]

Ok, so here soon Ill be attempting my first solo plate project and I wanna do it up real spiffy like. What gauge of brass would you use for accent strips on the lames of the spaulders? Planning on using 16 ga for the spaulders themselves and figured 18ga would probably work for the brass. Is that too light? or could I even go thinner?

[ruthardus]

16 or 18 is fine. ive done it with 18 before. just dont go too thin. then thickness of the edging is a nice aspect aestheticly. too thin and it seems like a painted edge. plus, even riveted well, really thin stuff can rip or warp under blows even as trim in high impact areas. I'm putting a coronet on a helm and I'm using nothing less than 16G and making it very form fitting.
PLus, with the thicker stuff you have more options like chiseling in details, etching, and trim accents.

[Mac]

Somomailler

I use brass shim stock in .030" to .035".

If you use thick brass it looks clumsy.

I posted something about my process in this thread.
http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/ ... +rivet+mac
....and also this one
http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/ ... +rivet+mac

Good luck.

Mac

[somomailler]

ok thanks. One more question. The brass strips on the lames will be 3/4" wide, what size rivets should I buy?

[Konstantin the Red]

Nothing thicker than 1/8". And you may prefer escutcheon pins -- these are little brass nails.

[somomailler]

oka thanks a bunch again guys

[wcallen]

follow mac's directions and buy wire. It will end up being a lot cheaper and you will have a lot less waste.

small. 3/32 or some such seems reasonable. 1/8 is definitely the largest reasonably possible. I would stay smaller too.

Wade

[GuntherofOrkney]

when I do brasswork on armor i use 16ga or sometimes 14ga if i am gonna etch it. when you use thinner brass its easy to deform it when you rivet it on and I found thick brass is alot more forgiving when you attach it.