Looking for a little leather armor advise

Seamus Og · Post by **Seamus Og** » Fri May 06, 2005 12:44 pm

First I know it is not period. I told Argh that. It will be out on the Pennsic war practice field May 22.

Made from 10-12 oz saddle skirting tooled, water harden and shaped. Then I dippped in mixer of neatsfoot oil, bee's wax and Carnauba wax. Thewax does not get soft till about 130-140 degrees F.

Skirt dags are made from 4-5 oz.

I am doing the sides this week.
Tell me of what you think.

Seamus

Uilleag · Post by **Uilleag** » Fri May 06, 2005 12:59 pm

Pics?

shark_ef · Post by **shark_ef** » Fri May 06, 2005 1:06 pm

um,

what is it :?:

Seamus Og · Post by **Seamus Og** » Fri May 06, 2005 1:18 pm

Lower torso armor. Front and back have 7 dags now. I messed up on the sides they burned in the oven. I am redoing them this week. I will also be making a gorget , buzabands and light greaves. I'll post as I go and see what other leather armors have to say.

Here is a 3 piece Buzaband I woorking on.
Made from 7-8 oz 2 layers around elbow for 14-16 oz and brass rings.

Seamus Og

Uilleag · Post by **Uilleag** » Fri May 06, 2005 1:35 pm

Your edge cuts seem to look a little rough. I think I see evidence of beveling, but I can't be sure. Since you are using wax to harden you should be able to burnish the edges to a really high polish. You can do this with any smooth object, a slicker tool works well for this. Burnishing will give your projects a more "finished" look, but more importantly it will seal the edges and make them much more resistant to moisture and dirt. This will protect your projects for a very long time.

I like the over-all design. Can you post close up pics of the tooling? I really like how that came out.

losthelm · Post by **losthelm** » Fri May 06, 2005 2:04 pm

I will try and find you then at war pratice and give them a look over on how they where constructed.

using a lighter leather stain and blue or red stiching would look very spiff.

Seamus Og · Post by **Seamus Og** » Fri May 06, 2005 2:25 pm

ok closer pics.
seamus

Trevor · Post by **Trevor** » Fri May 06, 2005 3:44 pm

It's nice craftsmanship, and I think you've got a lot of potential!

I am surprised that you didn't consult some books on period leather armor first, though. Someone with your talent could do some really interesting things with a little bit of reading.

Keep up the good work!

Seamus Og · Post by **Seamus Og** » Fri May 06, 2005 3:56 pm

Thanks,
I have books on modern leather making and some I pick up from the 40's but that all. Please tell some titles and ISBN numbers if you have them ,I'll put it on my shopping list. I still have some work to do on the armor about the wax build.

other questions:
I used a #3 edger, I have not burished the edges yet. I am tring to make my own slicker from some bone I have.

seamus