The Armour Archive

Hi guys,
ok I was told to get hold of a 18-19 mm thick marine plyboard to make my shields out of, I did this (expensive...). Now they say it is looking too thick. So I have a round shield cut out of 10 cms [EDITED CORRECTION: ITS NOT 10cms but 80 cms] across by 18-19 mm thick.

The question is should I try to remove a layer of the ply off - leaving it at about 15-16 mm thick? I like the size just not sure about the thickness and yes it is a bit on the heavy side and the arm gets a little tired after awhile. And is it easy to remove a layer of ply, paid heaps for it dont want to screw it up too badly.

Please give me your thoughts on this and throw in the thickness and size measurements and materials of your own shields (any sorts), I'd like to know what you guys are using out there and what works well standing up in combat.

The other thing is, did ALL round shield have to have a boss?

Cheers,
Wyrm.



[This message has been edited by Wyrmspleen (edited 12-26-2003).]

It's not too bad for SCA - and your arm will adjust to the weight of a shield. It's nice to have a shield that can't be knocked around easily.

On the other hand, I'm confused. Are you saying it is 10 cm in diameter? (4 inches, more or less) Or 100cm, which would be biggish?

Wyrm, I don't want to hy-jack your thread, but

I would love to hear some good advice for shield edging. I have heard auto window edging? garden hose?

here's my Q what's the cheapest, easiest to use?
and attaching methods? Rivets? leather thongs? 550 cord??

thanks all

------------------
Malcolm MacRobert de Moffat, of the Barony of Caer Mear, Kingdom of Atlantia: Sole Squire to Sir Edward Tanner of Cambria, and Captain of the Black Company

Cunian - Well spotted!

Its not a buckler shield and that 10 cm was meant to read 80 (EIGHTY) cms across by 18-19 cms thick. Does that change your post any?

I figure my arm with strengthen with its use, however its a little on the slower side for me to move at the moment. I've never had any problem with shields being knocked around in the past as with lighter shields I can muster my strength behind them, with a heavier shield I figure it might be even easier to knock me off balance perhaps? Something to think about maybe.

Hop on board MalcomMacRobert. Shield edging question here if anyone wants to answer it. Myself, I think I will end up cutting some leather strips out, folding it around the shield edges and tacking it in on either side with some carpet tacks (not going right thru the shield). Looks quite good. Not sure if there are any people out there who have had bad experiences with tacks in their shields though.

Wyrm.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Cunian:
<B>It's not too bad for SCA - and your arm will adjust to the weight of a shield. It's nice to have a shield that can't be knocked around easily.

On the other hand, I'm confused. Are you saying it is 10 cm in diameter? (4 inches, more or less) Or 100cm, which would be biggish? </B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

80 cm is a much nicer size. If you do decide to work off a layer, you might leave the full thickness around the edge, so that you have a thicker "donut" for strength. The round I "inherited" when I started was made of about 1.1 cm plywood with a second layer donut, so that it was nearly an inch thick for the first 8 - 10 cm around the edges. It was pretty indestructable.

How are you planning to strap it? If you want to hold it in your hand in the center, you certainly want a boss. (and that would certainly build up manly thews- uff da.) If you are strapping it so that your elbow is on one side of the center, and your hand is on the other side of center, the boss would be more decorative than functional, and it seems like you could forego it, or put it on sometime later.

I brought some scales today and weighed my 80 cm diameter 18mm thick round shield. It came to a weight of 7 kg or about 15.4 lbs. I find it a little heavy but it is an unfinished shield and I havent fought with it.

7kg, is this too heavy to use for SCA or metal weapon combat? Your thoughts compared to your own shields would be much appreciated.

[This message has been edited by Wyrmspleen (edited 12-30-2003).]

Wow. That's 3/4" plywood (the 18mm that is). That's awful thick for SCA stuff. I tend towards 1/2 plywood. My 2'x2' square shield only weighs around 8 lbs. I think 15 lbs would definitely suck ass.

It will be hard to unglue a ply... might want to chunk it and try again. I know it sucks cashwise, but 15 lbs is very heavy.