The Armour Archive

Ok well I managed to make a 16ga buckler without ripping a hole in it. Thing is the edge went wavy and it doesn't want to flatten. I flatten one spot and another becomes out of shape instead.

Anyone have any suggestions for this?

It's a 12" one. Probably gonna try doing 16" and see if it happens on that. Then cut a 12" out of the 16" when needed. That's more work and more material though.

Don't have pics I left the buckler in my car. Probably can have some later today though.

This is a trick I use on thick springy spangen panels.
I bolt it all together then heat the whole thing up red hot.
When I unbolt it the metal stays in place.

Perhaps you could make a frame and clamp the metal in it then heat it up red and let it cool down. The edge should remain as flat as your frame.

Ps: My heat source is a propane weed burner with a 30 pound tank.

Hal

Mad Matt wrote:Ok well I managed to make a 16ga buckler without ripping a hole in it. Thing is the edge went wavy and it doesn't want to flatten. I flatten one spot and another becomes out of shape instead.

Anyone have any suggestions for this?

It's a 12" one. Probably gonna try doing 16" and see if it happens on that. Then cut a 12" out of the 16" when needed. That's more work and more material though.

Don't have pics I left the buckler in my car. Probably can have some later today though.

Clamp it between angle irons. Do it in three sections. Hit it with a torch till it turns blue. You've built up tension in the metal by not folding the edge in evenly. Heat is the only thing that will fix it once that happens, the molecules need to relax the stresses.

You DID fold one section and then another, didn't you? Rather than work it in gradually all the way around? I get the same issues on upper backplates with deep shoulder dishes too-heat is the only thing that keeps them from doing this annoying springing in from side to side thing.

The edges aren't rolled yet.

I've got a weed burner will give it a try. Hopefully will find a faster solution. If that works though then it means the stainless bucklers are possible.

Mad Matt wrote:The edges aren't rolled yet.

I've got a weed burner will give it a try. Hopefully will find a faster solution. If that works though then it means the stainless bucklers are possible.

You may want to consider making a steel backing plate Matt. Two 1/4 inch thich ones,then clamp your piece between them when pounding the boss. Center hole, cut right, gives nice clean edges, less likely to cut through if you radius the bottom one.

Now thats a heck of an idea.

*goes off to ponder this possibility*

Jason

Here's pics of what I'm talking about. Just measured there's only 1/4" from highest to lowest. Still too much though. Was wondering if maybe rolling the edge would give it enough whatchamacallit to let me straighten it afterwards.

Mad Matt wrote:Here's pics of what I'm talking about. Just measured there's only 1/4" from highest to lowest. Still too much though. Was wondering if maybe rolling the edge would give it enough whatchamacallit to let me straighten it afterwards.

If you roll it sandwhiched, it's gonna stay that way.

Same advice here.

You've got to heat it to relieve the stress warp.

Post final pics!


Idëval