The Armour Archive

I am wanting to attempt a wooden shield again, but I do not wish to stitch the rawhide on. I would prefer to nail it, but I cannot find a type of nail that works. They are either too big or do not peen properly. Can anyone offer any suggestions of nail brands or providers that will work?

And the reason for not stitching it on is?

I use some fancy upholstery (sp??) tacks to attach canvas to my wooden shield. They work well.

Last one, the shield busted into pieces before I lost a single tack.

Swete wrote:I am wanting to attempt a wooden shield again, but I do not wish to stitch the rawhide on. I would prefer to nail it, but I cannot find a type of nail that works. They are either too big or do not peen properly. Can anyone offer any suggestions of nail brands or providers that will work?

I use carpet tacks...they are perfect for this application. Just ask His Grace Camric.

copper roofing nails work great for cinching them over. Id pilot the holes slightly smaller than the nail then hammer it through then cinch over.

I've also used carpet tacks. They work great.

Does it matter if the carpet nails are galvanized? I have had trouble getting those to peen...

Pretty sure they also call carpet nails, cut nails(they pretty much look the same anyway ) They come in copper too and I've found brass ones at decent hardware stores as well... and they come in up to an inch long in most varieties.

~Ursor

The carpet tacks I use are black (not the zinc plated ones) and look like irregular hobnails. They are easy to peen...in fact they sometimes peen without you meaning to.