Spring Steel Question

Jantien van Vranckenvoert · Mon May 19, 2008 1:03 pm

I have to adjust the fan on my elbows.....it's curving to far inward, keeping the vambrace from opening enough. Is there an easy fix, or am I going to have to take the whole arm apart?

Mac · Post by **Mac** » Mon May 19, 2008 2:02 pm

Jentien,

Realistically, it only has to open far enough to get your hand through the wrist opening, and to allow you to straighten the sleeve of your doublet.

Post a pic, and let us see.

Mac

Jantien van Vranckenvoert · Mon May 19, 2008 2:13 pm

I am currently at work, so can't post a picture at the moment...the opening is only about an inch and a half.....

Mac · Post by **Mac** » Mon May 19, 2008 2:31 pm

Jentien,

Half an inch does sound too small.....You can probably get your hand in, but it doesn't sound like you can do much if your doublet rucks up. If it were an inch and a half, it would be adequate.

Perhaps the pics will shed light on it.

Mac

mattmaus · Post by **mattmaus** » Tue May 20, 2008 12:07 pm

A question that occurs to me as relevant to this...

Were they always like this? or is this something that has happened as a result of use? e.g. battle damage

Thomas Powers · Post by **Thomas Powers** » Tue May 20, 2008 12:15 pm

I'm more concerned on how it's been heat treated when you talk of adjustments.

Thomas

mattmaus · Post by **mattmaus** » Tue May 20, 2008 12:21 pm

Thomas,

That's what I was baby-stepping into.

My immediate opinion would be that if it were like this from the begining, someone that works with spring would be able to re-work it with success. Not that I don't understand the work involved with that, it may honestly be easier to start over.

My gut tells me that if it's a result of damage, that something has gone rather horribly wrong, and I would personaly prefer a full replacement at that point.

Jantien van Vranckenvoert · Tue May 20, 2008 1:02 pm

I actually haven't worn these in combat yet......have been getting my kit together and am having trouble getting my arms in with my cote on. The inward curve of the wing is keeping the vambrace from opening any further. This is the first I've had anything out of spring steel.

Mac · Post by **Mac** » Tue May 20, 2008 2:39 pm

Jentien,

Pictures sir! The doctor can not diagnose without x-rays, and the armorer can not do without pictures!

Mac

Jantien van Vranckenvoert · Tue May 20, 2008 2:47 pm

Ya, I completely forgot when I got home last night........I should be able to get some up tonight.

Jantien van Vranckenvoert · Wed May 21, 2008 10:11 am

Okay, I have pics of he arms...in my email to myself. I can forward them, but can't upload them to the archive..........anyone???

Mac · Post by **Mac** » Wed May 21, 2008 3:04 pm

Jentien,

I can't get the pics to attach, but I've already written the commentary , so here it is. You will have to get someone with stronger "post fu" put them up.

This is a pretty well made arm. It's a shame it has this opening problem. Who made them? Have you discussed the problem with him or her?

You said this is spring steel. Is it hardened?

I have a couple of ideas about dealing with the problem.

The first is about re-setting the angle of the wing. The wing should not "lean in" at all, but should be at 90degrees to the axis of the joint. I will need to see an "end on" picture to be able to tell if this is a possibility.

The second is about remounting the vambrace so as to rotate it around its long axis, so as to make the hinge line come more to the upper surface of the arm. If you could move it about 5 or 10 degrees, that is untill the opening edge of the vambrace lined up with the edge of the lame,(like the way the rerbrace does) it would then open about twice as mush as it currently does. That would be sufficient and authentic.

This will only be possible if the cross section of the vambrace, at the articulation is rather circular. Again I would need to see that "end on" picture to be able to tell if it is a possibility.

The third idea is predicated on the second. It is to "connect the dots" between the original and the new articulation holes, and make the vambrace have a turning joint. There is one like this in Churburg, where the turner works on the same two rivets as the articulation. I built a pair like this a few years ago. It does work.

The forth idea is to swap the vambraces from left to right. They would open on the outside rather than the inside, but this is not unheard of.

So, I need to see "end on" pictures of both arms, and it wouldn't hurt to see one of the arms flexed.

Mac