splinted arms recommendation?

taltosh · Post by **taltosh** » Mon Feb 05, 2001 3:55 pm

I've got a commission for a pair of splinted rerebrace coming up and was wondering what you folks would recommend for splint thickness. I'm using 5 oz alum chrome tanned leather for the base and I'm thinking 18Ga mild, cold rolled. Does that sound acceptable or should I go with 16Ga. This is only for boffers so there's very little risk of denting from combat, especially since the splints will be slightly dished for added strength. Ok, the other question is regarding rivets. I don't want to go with quick rivets for the rerebrace, I don't trust em to hold plate to leather. I'm considering tinners rivets but while POD swears by the 3/16 x 3/8 standard, it seems a tad large for what I'll be using. Also, my commission doesn't want brass or copper so I'm sort of limited to silvery type hardware.

Brings me to the next question, is there a supplier of rivets like RJ leahy in Canada? I'd like to avoid the cost of customs and the trouble of converting our crappy currency too.

next and last question on this post. I want a throatless shear but can't afford the bev. My option would be to go with the central forges model from HF but to get it shipped across the border is just a pain and drives the price up another 25% just in shipping. Is there a dealer in Canada that sell the central forges model? All advice would be appreciated.

Of course my other option would be to enter and win the Valentine Armouries contest in july, the 1st prize is a B-2!!! But by then, I'll be done with the commission anyways... I just don't want to have to jig those splints, what a pain in the butt...

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YMMV

Yeoman Chris
Artisan, Clerk, Man At Arms
Editor of the KnightHaven newsletter

Lurker · Post by **Lurker** » Mon Feb 05, 2001 4:30 pm

taltosh,
Can't help you with the shears, but I've made a set or three of splinted armour for boffer-types. 16 gague is more than overkill if they don't plan on fighting rattan or steel. Heck, 18 gague works great in my experinece for SCA. I tend to use the real thin stuff, 20 or 22 gague, and cut it with tin-snips/metal hand shears. It holds up well against boffers, keeps the cost down, looks good, keeps the armour light, and is very easy to manage. Of course, there are my opinions. YMMV

As for rivets, I'm in the States, so I can't help you there.

Paul

Mad Matt · Post by **Mad Matt** » Mon Feb 05, 2001 4:31 pm

A lot of LARP groups require minimum 16ga to get full armour points.

Your only choice for rivits that is non-copper or brass is stainless steel. Don't put ferrous metal rivits through leather.

3/16" shaft diameter and 1/2" length rivits work great.

I recommend using belt head rivits. That way the only place you'll need burrs is on the straps. Just put the factory head on the inside and peen the outside carefully and use a rivit set to pretty the head up.

Spanner or Spanneur or some kind of spelling for that basic word is a Canadian rivit manufacturer. Also you can generally get most types of rivits from Brafasco.

Where are you located? I'm in Stayner Ontario. You can come over and use my electric shear and manual shear that cuts straight cuts and outside diameter curves if you're nearby.

An electric shear is a not bad option for cutting steel. Doesn't cost as much as a B-2 and you can definitly find one in Canada. You may be able to find one used. They're not cheap though.

Another alternative is to rent one. Just look in the yellow pages for a construction equipment rental place and they should have em available for rent.

If you do decide to go with 18ga you can cut it with a pair of aviation snips. And you can make aviation snips more powerful by putting one of the handles in a vice and a 3' pipe over the top handle. Basically creating more leverage.

Hope this helps. Also an imitation whitney punch will be very helpfull. You'll have a lot of holes to make. A punch makes much nicer cleaner holes then a drill and it's about 10 times faster.

Princess Auto (Canadian) has one that if I remember correctly is about $40.

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The budding mid 14th century German Transitional guy.
Mad Matt's Armory

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » Mon Feb 05, 2001 4:43 pm

I'm in Montreal, Quebec, and for now the best supplier of solid rivets is Spaenaur. They are in Ontario and they ship the stock via Priority Mail, so I usually received it within 24 hours. I don't have the address here, but if you don't find them, e-mail me and I will provide it to you.

For the HF shear, it is not so bad. I paid it around $225.00can everything included (tax, shipment, customs,...)

taltosh · Post by **taltosh** » Mon Feb 05, 2001 5:20 pm

Matt, it would be a long drive from Edmonton to cut some splints but thanks for the offer.

I'll go for the 18 Ga, maybe even 20 Ga, like i said, I'll be dishing them a bit so they'll be stronger than just flat splints. I'll go buy another pair of aviation snips, I need em anyways for my maille needs and it's a lot cheaper than a TL's shear. I'm a leftie so I'll need to make sure I get right ones for cutting corners.

From the recent posts, I should get mastercraft snips instead of wiss, right? I've heard they're better quality and still have the lifetime warranty.

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YMMV

Yeoman Chris
Artisan, Clerk, Man At Arms
Editor of the KnightHaven newsletter

Dragon · Post by **Dragon** » Mon Feb 05, 2001 9:54 pm

http://www.geocities.com/royldragon/Tools-Suppliers.htm , unfortunately I haven't received my catalog yet, so I can't help with the order numbers yet

. I've had good success with 1/8" x 1/2" rivets. I'm using alternating brass and steel domed heads. So far I haven't run into any problems with the leather rotting around the steel rivets. Could be because I use copper burrs or because I heavily mink oil the leather beforehand ? But the oldest project is only about 6 months old...
I do think that 3/16" rivets are overkill as the heads are over 3/8" in diameter. Unless of course you use the tinners rivets from the inside and pien on the exposed side? But I'm not energetic enough to spent the time piening them up that pretty

.
I've cut 16g hot rolled with simple prosnips, so I imagine that the weiss or mastercraft will ease through 18g.
By all means order through rj leahy, but DO NOT HAVE THEM SHIP UPS PRIORITY!!!! Trust me, you won't appreciate the brokerage fees

. Email me as to how many rivets you think you will need, I might be able to spare some for a fellow albertan

.
Are you building rebraces (upper arm) or vambraces (lower arm) btw?

taltosh · Post by **taltosh** » Tue Feb 06, 2001 1:06 am

Dragon, I'm making a set of rerebrace and figure about 100 rivets for the pair (assuming 4 rivets for inside splints and 6 for the outside, longer ones) The guy I'm making them for is rather imposing and will need lots of splints! <g> Domed steel sounds perfect or I might go for tinners rivets and oil the leather like suggested. I don't have a problem with spending time to get the rivets peened nice and clean, I'm a perfectionist that way, even if my spelling doesn't prove it <g> I'll go ahead and order a 1 lbs box from RJ leahy and once you get the catalog, let me know how the prices compare. I'll be sure to post pics once the project is completed and the local paper is thinkingof making a photo essay of the armour construction, could be a nice publicity spin on things.

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YMMV

Yeoman Chris
Artisan, Clerk, Man At Arms
Editor of the KnightHaven newsletter

sarnac · Post by **sarnac** » Tue Feb 06, 2001 8:32 am

Go with RJ Leahy anyway.
I live in Canada and I use RJ Leahy all the time.
They ship fast, and customs is never a problem.

mik · Post by **mik** » Tue Feb 06, 2001 10:34 am

Hi Taltosh,

Where on Valentine site do you see this
contest ???

MIK

taltosh · Post by **taltosh** » Tue Feb 06, 2001 10:12 pm

http://www.varmouries.com/ac/competition.html

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YMMV

Yeoman Chris
Artisan, Clerk, Man At Arms
Editor of the KnightHaven newsletter