The Armour Archive

Ok,I'm sure most of you are saying WTF!?!?.
Chun is Thai for pitch and I FINALLY scored some. New adventures in repousse are beginning. Today I worked on a Tehen-no-za for Nagamori's helm. Tomorrow, the real test, the nose for the Menpo.

Mykaru,
Glad to hear you found some, is it the traditional stuff made from all the wierd saps or made from asphalt? Just curious, I don't think they work all that different. I am sure I am not the only one looking forward to hearing the results. I won't brag about where I just spent the day and where I will be tomorrow and ruin your thread. Chat with you later

Is there anything locally in the US that we could use? I was thinking about experimenting with roofing patch and mixing it with something to cut down on the tackiness. I know Rio Grande has some but the price for the quantities I would need would break me.

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The Artisan Formerly Known As Willing Pell.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Juan Santell:
Is there anything locally in the US that we could use? ...</font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yes, a leather bag filled with shot/sand is pretty useful. So is a .5" thick rubber mat. The key is to have a not-so-resilent support surface to give the metal somewhere to go to when your moving it around.

The visor and breaastplate in the pic were done using both:


http://home.armourarchive.org/members/rainald/MEGREEN_1.JPG

[This message has been edited by Rainald (edited 12-19-2002).]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Rainald:
The visor and breaastplate in the pic were done using both:.]</font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

WOW, Rainald that looks great.

I'm a complete beginner so please forgive a stupid question. Do you need to fill or back the design so it holds its shape?

Well what I've got must be sap. It looks like fairly clean motor oil (about 40 wt). The stuff to mix with it is tan powder. It smells like powdered sandalwood. It woulsn't set up in the shop overnight but it did after 4 hours in the sun.

Rainald, trust me this works MUCH better than a shot bag. I've got an 80 lb soft lead bar that I was using and this is far superior.

I made mine by mixing roofing pitch (from a roofing company that does rubber roof installations) with plaster of paris powder and sawdust. The plaster and sawdust keep it from shattering.
This pitch is nasty stuff though. Get any particles of it on your skin and it burns and itches. DO NOT TOUCH YOUR FACE.
I keep it in an electric fry pan that I turn on about 15-30 mins. before I want to use the stuff.

Sasuke

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www.oaksarmoury.com

Hey Mykaru, care to send me a sappy care package?

Hmmm...actualy, I may have to check to see if customs would even let it in. I have been pretty lucky lately, got the cone mandrils, the B2 and the hammers I bought all into the coutnry without major hassle from Aus customs devision.

Sasha

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Aife ingen Brain:
I'm a complete beginner so please forgive a stupid question. Do you need to fill or back the design so it holds its shape?</font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Not quite sure what you mean by that. If you mean do I have to add some sort of backing material or fill in the spaces afterwards so the design doesn't cave in, no. Working the metal like that gives it more than enough strength to stay in that position forever. As long as keep up the shield work that is ; )

Thanks for the info Rainald.
Yep, thats what I was asking. What gage metal did you use?