Buckler How-to
Jul 3, 2009 4:07:46 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2009 4:07:46 GMT
Here are some plans for a buckler I recently put together. This project is not to difficult, and you should be able to change the plans easily for materials you may have on hand, or able to get.
The first pictures above show the front and rear view. Most of the buckler is built around a shield boss. This one is about 8” but again, pretty much any size close to this would work. KOA has them for a little under $20. These should hold up pretty well and would work well for light sparring. They are also small enough to wear as a costume piece.
The picture above shows the parts you need.
The handle was made from some thin steel which I bent into a handle like shape. I then bolted some rounded wood to both sides.
You will also need a piece of ½” plywood that will be cut in a circle with another circle cut out in the center. The plywood is cut to a diameter of 12”. You will also need to cut a circle in the center of the plywood just large enough for the boss to fit through. After you are satisfied that the boss fits nicely in the center of the plywood you should go ahead and drill the holes to bolt (or rivet) everything together. The number of bolts you use is really up to you, or determined by the holes already in the boss.
I then took a piece of leather, cut it about 12 ½” in diameter, soaked it in water for a little while, let it dry for awhile and then beat the crap out of it with a ball peen hammer. This did deform the leather and it ended up not so round anymore. Not to worry though, as I just cut it round again, and to the same diameter as the plywood. While the leather was still a bit wet, I cut out the center circle a bit smaller then the boss so it would form a bit of lip all the way around the boss. I then pushed the leather around the boss and set them aside until the leather was dry, and the lip was formed on the leather.
Next I glued the leather to the plywood using wood glue. You will need to figure out a way to clamp the leather down so it lays flat against the plywood. I used another piece of plywood with a hole cut out in the center and made what looks like a leather sandwich, and then clamped this for about an hour. I then placed the boss in the center hole and drilled the holes in the leather for the carriage bolts. I used ¼” bolts, and bolted everything together, don’t forget to bolt the handle on! I filed the carriage bolt heads so they looked more like rivets (yes, before I bolted them on).
I then dyed the wood and leather (I actually used the leather dye on the wood, seems to work pretty well. I finished the wood and leather with a few coats of paste wax.
And there you have it.
The graphic below is side cutout view of the buckler.
-gaffer
The first pictures above show the front and rear view. Most of the buckler is built around a shield boss. This one is about 8” but again, pretty much any size close to this would work. KOA has them for a little under $20. These should hold up pretty well and would work well for light sparring. They are also small enough to wear as a costume piece.
The picture above shows the parts you need.
The handle was made from some thin steel which I bent into a handle like shape. I then bolted some rounded wood to both sides.
You will also need a piece of ½” plywood that will be cut in a circle with another circle cut out in the center. The plywood is cut to a diameter of 12”. You will also need to cut a circle in the center of the plywood just large enough for the boss to fit through. After you are satisfied that the boss fits nicely in the center of the plywood you should go ahead and drill the holes to bolt (or rivet) everything together. The number of bolts you use is really up to you, or determined by the holes already in the boss.
I then took a piece of leather, cut it about 12 ½” in diameter, soaked it in water for a little while, let it dry for awhile and then beat the crap out of it with a ball peen hammer. This did deform the leather and it ended up not so round anymore. Not to worry though, as I just cut it round again, and to the same diameter as the plywood. While the leather was still a bit wet, I cut out the center circle a bit smaller then the boss so it would form a bit of lip all the way around the boss. I then pushed the leather around the boss and set them aside until the leather was dry, and the lip was formed on the leather.
Next I glued the leather to the plywood using wood glue. You will need to figure out a way to clamp the leather down so it lays flat against the plywood. I used another piece of plywood with a hole cut out in the center and made what looks like a leather sandwich, and then clamped this for about an hour. I then placed the boss in the center hole and drilled the holes in the leather for the carriage bolts. I used ¼” bolts, and bolted everything together, don’t forget to bolt the handle on! I filed the carriage bolt heads so they looked more like rivets (yes, before I bolted them on).
I then dyed the wood and leather (I actually used the leather dye on the wood, seems to work pretty well. I finished the wood and leather with a few coats of paste wax.
And there you have it.
The graphic below is side cutout view of the buckler.
-gaffer