The Armour Archive

My metals supplier only had 3003 aluminum so I picked up a small piece.
Can I expect 16 guage to harden enuff for SCA rapier / cut and thrust combat.

I'm planning for a pasvise in the Maximilian style but I'm unfamilure with this material.

The shapeing is not a concern but I'm worried about the durabiltiy with higher calibration from the cut and thrust community.

I expect to make at least one as a proto type but testing opertunitys are less than idea for me.

Looking at Matweb.com, it looks like a very soft alloy, and easy to form. I don't think it will get very hard.

I agree, it's a soft alloy. In the anealed state it only has a 6,000 psi yield strength. At H-18 temper that can be pushed as high as 27,000 psi. 6061-T6 has a yield of 37,000 psi. All of them have a youngs modulous of 10,000 ksi.

What this means is: If you cut strips (of just the right size) from 3 shields made from 3003-0 3003-H18 and 6061-T6 and bent them in your hands, they would take the same amount of force to bend .6" and then spring back. If you add a few more pounds the -0 will just start creaping and holding a bend while the H-18 and -T6 still act like springs until 2.7". After that all of the 3003 aluminum will start bending (and the -0 will probably become a pretzle) but the -T6 will go 3.7" and still spring back.

Given that my 6061-T6 shield is 3 layers of 0.100" thickness riveted together and looks like a pringle chip under the hose I'm going to say that the impacts that will lightly dent 6061-T6 will pretty much cave 3003 annealed and be 20-25% worse in the H-18.

AT BEST, the work hardening of the 3003 will mimic the H-18 but I suspect it will be signifigantly worse. I'd guestimate only half-way from your start to 27ksi.

Sorry,
Sean

Ok my search through google told me basic the same thing, I was not sure if the 27K PSI would be enuff for rapier combat I guess it will not hold up to cut and thrust without some structural reinforcement.

losthelm wrote:Ok my search through google told me basic the same thing, I was not sure if the 27K PSI would be enuff for rapier combat I guess it will not hold up to cut and thrust without some structural reinforcement.

It might be good enough for rapier I don't have a base-line. How does the 6061-T6 hold up and what temper did you buy the 3003 at? 3003-H12, -H14, H-16, H-18?

Sean

If you put Trim-lok on the edge it will probably hold up well enough, it isn't like it will be taking huge impacts.

The temper was not labled, Its just the 0.63 and 3003 on the sheet.

Figure I will try a basic round dome buckler today and just roll the edge, planishing should work harden it a little.

That is pretty thin, it would not survive rattan at all. C&T? I would expect that it would last some time before you replace it because it doesn't look good- but it would still be protective.