The Armour Archive

I figured I'd let you in on my newest project. It's still in the very early stages (IE: only one side is riveted, and even then, only in two spots per lame) but it's looking decent so far. Once the other side is riveted, it'll bough out to a proper shape, and then I shall hot-work the lames smooth then, and begin to flare things out, put in more rivets, etc.

I don't exactly know what I'll do for the lacing, as I think all of the stuff I still have is spoken for, but that's a ways in the future. I can always use shoelaces.

So far so good. But ya might wanna even up the sides before you do more rivetting -- it looks a bit "exploded" on the right side of the do.


Effingham

Thats a lot of parts to assemble, i can't wait for more pics!!!

More pics. Late for class, so no ado.

Current project time: 4 hours.

Did you start with entirely straight lames?

Nope, I used the patterns on SengokuDaimyo. That's what gives the entire dou that nice curve without any real dishing done yet. They'll need some hotwork eventually to bring them all together nicely, and the edges aren't as clean as I'd like them, but it's not bad for a second attempt.

It's also 20ga spring, so I'm relying on the heat treating to lend it rigidity rather than the compound curves of the lames. I really should do both, but we'll see how that turns out.

I believe he's using my pattern, so, no.

Mike -- what about all the other rivets? There are no holes....


Effingham

I invested in some cobalt drill bits a few months back. Best money I've ever spent (on drill bits, anyway). Once I get everything lined up I'll do the holes through both plates at once. In retrospect, maybe not the best idea for a uniform overlap, but it's quick and simple. It's getting another row between the "keel" and the edge of the tateage, and then I think two more rows between the tateage row and the hinge row.

I'm debating trying to heat treat this in one piece or if I should strip it, heat treat it, and re-rivet it with all domed rivets. Decisions, decisions.

1/8" rivets do it, or would 3/16" be better? I think I'd have issues with some of the hole placements if they were 3/16.

Not bad Mike. The profile works.

NOW you want to roll or at least flare the edges on the muneita etc. 20 ga. without lips or rolls will cut you to pieces. Do EVERYTHING you want to do before the heat treat. Every hole needs to be drilled (otherwise those nice cobalt bits will last about 3 holes).

Visually, 1/8 rivits won't have a big enough head.

Probably going to do the flush rivets, then. I don't think I have any 3/16 domes left anyway.

I've rolled some of it already, actually. Many miles to go before I sleep.

I'm tempted to russet it instead of powdercoating or lacquering it, but I'm not sure how that'd look. I would like to sell it at some point . . .