Eamonn wrote:Unfortunately I don't have a shield to trade with you. But I'm very interested to see how you attached edging without any holes. Mind sending a few pics?
Eamonn
Eamonn,
That is quite simple. I learned this method from Baron Miguel Esteban de a Cavra, but many other fighters use it.
Buy trimlok edging, of the type that has built in metal clips under the plastic.
http://www.trimlok.com/regular_trim.aspx
Make sure you get the internal thickness suitable for your shield, be that wood or aluminum. It comes in a great variety of sizes, so it is easy to find yours.
Once you receive it, clean and sand well the edge of your shield body, so the trim lok fits cleanly but snugly.
Place your shield with the trim on a work table, face up.
Get a suitable piece of strong white canvas.
Spray the crap of out it with 3M Super 77 spray glue. Until the sprayed side is moist and the fabric feels like wet leather.
Apply it to the outer face of the shield, smoothing with your hands until adhesion is perfect. Don't do the edges yet, just cover as much of the face and smoothen nicely.
When dry, flip the shield and draw and clip the fabric so you can get a nice neat fold flap all around the shield, covering generously the trim.
Once cut, spray the edging and the inside of the fabric well, until the fabric at the edge is also wet as leather. Fold each flap tightly and flatten, covering the trim under the flap and making sure the fabric is well glued. Your shield is now not only trimmed, but also covered with fabric.
You can now install your hardware, prime the surface and paint.
I believe there are pictures in someone's posting under Combat and Weapons showing this process.
Hope this helps.
Glaukos