The Armour Archive

Hi everyone,

Big fan of the Armour Archive. You have all ignited my desire to make stuff.

As my very first armor making job (solo) I decided to attach metal elbow/knee cops to sports pads.

I figure since I wear pads under my SCA armor anyway, why not join them together in eternal union?

Tools:

-Sport elbow/knee pads with plastic fronts.
-Metal elbows or knees
-Rivets/Washers/Hammer
-Power drill
-Exacto knife/razor blade etc.

and of course safety goggles/gloves.


To start I put on the pad and placed the metal cop over it. Marking where the center of both is I then took my exacto knife and cut a small square out of the inner pads lining (to make riveting easier).

After that I just made a quick drill into the pad and the metal cop and rivetted together. With a little paint to cover the modern coloring of the safety pad/a long sleeved tunic you look great.

I plan to build alot nicer stuff when college is over but this is a great way for someone with little money to make sca legal gear that looks decent. Plus it sure saved time not having to worry about strapping.

-edit-: Pictures Added. One elbow and One Knees front and back.

pics plz

Part 2:

Bracers

I went down to the local leather store (if you do not have one, the link on Armour Archives works great.) I picked up a big roll of saddle leather (which is around 14-16oz. Big, thick, heavy stuff. Good for stopping sword hickies.)

Tools:
Leather!
Measuring tape/Ruler etc
A hammer and nail
Razer Blade.
Strong string (Boot laces work great and have the plastic tips to make pulling it through the holes easy)

Step 1: Measure

Take your measuring tape and measure your wrist circumference and measure the widest part of your forearm. Write these down and add an extra inch (to accomodate your gambeson/tightening etc).

Next measure your length from wrist to the widest point of your forearm. Write this down.

Step 2: Transfer the measures to your leather. Forming a simple triangle like shape with a blunt top. Then take your razer and cut it out.

Step 3: Mark points on the edged of the leather where the string will go. I put a mark every 3/4th of an inch on both sides. Then take your nail and hammer and use it to punch holes into your marks for the lacing to go.

Step 4: Lace it up and tie it tight. Enjoy your new bracer!

I'd recommend making a pattern for future uses. You can even try the pattern on to see if you made the measurements too large. I found shaving the bottom corners made it more comfortable to wear.

You can drill two holes in the bottom of your bracer (about a half inch apart) then use that to tie them to your elbow cops for a snug fit that'll stop your bracers from slipping down.

Looks like you have been bitten by the tool bug.
So far so good but we want pics.

Welcome to the madness.

Hal

Agreed, PicTrues or it didn't happen

Though one thing these guys should be saying is Welcome and well come to the Archive, Leopold-Wolf! May your stay with us be long and profit you much.

I know what you mean about getting inspired from this site; I've had the same. Some fine day I'll be telling the gang about something I did.

Konstantin the Red wrote:Though one thing these guys should be saying is Welcome and well come to the Archive, Leopold-Wolf! May your stay with us be long and profit you much.

Ack, we should at that.

Welcome to the archive sir! May your search for knowledge be fruitful and tempered with wisdom.

Thanks guys I'll post pics soon.

Bracers

Vambraces?

Welcome aboard!

I like the concept. I made something that looked almost identical to the elbows, but failed inspection because the back of the elbow joint was too exposed for the inspector. My two pieces were attached with cord instead instead of a central rivet+washer(I assume).

I'm working on attaching a single articulating lame on the back side now...

Welcome to the Archive.

My one concern on that is the potential "owwie" factor if the rivet contacts the elbow.

You've got the rivet on the point of your elbow from what I can tell. A direct shot onto the elbow could potentially ground out the rivet and make a funny bone hit seem like Christmas in comparision. Especially since the peened end is on the inside.

One fix might just be putting some padding over that rivet on the inside.

Nikos

Nikos wrote:Welcome to the Archive.

My one concern on that is the potential "owwie" factor if the rivet contacts the elbow.

You've got the rivet on the point of your elbow from what I can tell. A direct shot onto the elbow could potentially ground out the rivet and make a funny bone hit seem like Christmas in comparision. Especially since the peened end is on the inside.

One fix might just be putting some padding over that rivet on the inside.

Nikos

I did not think of that. Thank you for pointing it out

Leopold.. no.. No.. NO..... OW is Mild in comparison

Nikos.. Yes Yes Yes... Thank you

I still remember a pair of BEAUTIFUL false fingered gothic Gauntlets Scott of Illusion arms had done as Prototypes... One of the sword scuts (In the shop I was working out of) had snapped them up. I mentioned my Concerns about the rivets (Thru the padded Glove) being "right above some sensitive areas".. and was scoffed at.
Next Practice he wore them all of 3 fights before "OW!!!! ^%^&&*)*^ C*P(*&*%G^)*" end quote. And was done for the night.
Scott Promptly removed them from the Production possibility's.

The only thing with the rivet is that its barely long enough to push through the metal + the pad and theres about 1/8th inches of pad above it too. So even if it came lose it'd more likely just fall out then go into my elbow. But yeah I'm deffinetly stuffing a little foam down in there now just incase.