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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2007 22:32:10 GMT
I've been thinking that I might be able to make money by making bracers. I already know where I can get a side of vegetable tanned leather. I also know about the water based hardening process.
How feasible would it be for me to make a profit making and selling pairs of stiffened leather bracers?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2007 0:25:30 GMT
Thirty two views but not so much as a yes or no?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2007 5:24:28 GMT
Depends where you market it. One good place would be to put out a table at SCA events. A lot of people do it and sell an assortment of armor. I recommend you expand beyond bracers to make it worth while. You can make leather gorgets, greevs, and most bodyarmor in general. Another option, and cheaper then setting up tables at events, would be go to practices with your goodies. The three main practices are rattan, rapier and archery. Give out cards with your name an phone number. You will have to come in pretty cheap cause a lot of SCA guys make thier own stuff too. I figure $10 to $15 for bracers. $20 to $25 for a gorget. If you can sell inperson without shipping costs you will have an edge.
It may be a good idea to mingle with people first to learn what the leagal standards are and also what local tastes are.
Myself, I am in the market for a stainless steel helmet incase you work with mettles too. I am looking for a cross between a Sallet and a Basinate. Looking to spend around $350.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2007 18:22:18 GMT
Unfortunately I don't work with metals. In fact I haven't even worked with leather yet.
I think I calculated that 15 dollars was the minimum I could sell a pair of bracer's for and still make a reasonable profit.
Are there qualities I can add to boost the value?
The leather I'd be using would be 14oz. The bracers I saw at a recent renaissance faire were all 8-9 oz.
Could designs be added as well to increase the item's value?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2007 7:01:51 GMT
$15 will sell some basic bracers and greevs that have no designes and are just ment to be functional. $15 to $25 will sell some nice designed ones. I get my 14 oz leather from here: www.springfieldleather.comThey charge about $90 for a side of low grade 14 oz that is usually about 20 sq feet. Sorry it took so long to get back to you.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2007 12:03:25 GMT
Just to let you know leith17, I might be interested in purchasing a pair. Preferably in black. Don't know what it would cost to ship to Canada though...
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2007 18:59:05 GMT
Send it USPS not UPS. Its not so expensive.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2007 20:35:33 GMT
$15 will sell some basic bracers and greevs that have no designes and are just ment to be functional. $15 to $25 will sell some nice designed ones. What's a good way to imprint designs into bracer's? How do renaissance faires get away with selling plain ones for fifty bucks a pair? I get my 14 oz leather from here: www.springfieldleather.comThey charge about $90 for a side of low grade 14 oz that is usually about 20 sq feet. I couldn't find the $90 side on that site. I could only find the $100+ ones. Sorry it took so long to get back to you. Not a problem. I'm not going to start on this any time soon. I've got college applications to do. Just to let you know leith17, I might be interested in purchasing a pair. Preferably in black. Don't know what it would cost to ship to Canada though... I hope you've got a lot of patience. I'll probably ask for the side as a Christmas present.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2007 23:06:04 GMT
Eh, I can wait. Theres no hurry. I was just looking for a pair to add to my Renfair costume. No hurry.
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Post by rammstein on Oct 14, 2007 23:08:18 GMT
DI you've lost all respect. Black is not historical!
Never wear black! Never wear black! Never wear black!
Ok I'm going overboard, but seriously....black was a seriously rare color. Brown is so much more accurate....
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2007 17:00:57 GMT
Black wasn't historically accurate? Not even in clothing ?
That's news to me.
Then again, cotton is historically accurate either. And I'm not shilling out for linen. Besides, by the time I'm done with my ranger outfit, it'll probably be so travel-stained, you won't be able to tell what colour it was or what it was made of...
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Post by rammstein on Oct 15, 2007 19:05:40 GMT
Black was a color the was obtained under extreme difficulty. Charcoal could be used to stain clothing, but it generally wore off moderately fast. For the most part, black was pretty rare.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2007 19:47:21 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2007 19:59:49 GMT
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Post by rammstein on Oct 15, 2007 20:15:46 GMT
Do a search on myarmoury about black clothing. You're find a whole hell of a lot of hardcore enthusiasts who know far more than I do about the subject and refuse to get within 17 1/2 feet of something dyed black. Honestly, I don't have the means to combat you (and I'm rather tired at the moment, so forgive me ). So either trust me and go search the forum on myarmoury (or make a post asking why black isn't historically accurate)....or don't I don't mean to be so brusque, I'm just rather occupied atm ;D in order to apologise for rudeness, here ya go: www.myarmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=10732&highlight=black+dyeSearch of "Black Dye" (be sure to search for ALL words) under myarmoury.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2007 20:23:43 GMT
Ehh, it's okay. I'll read through it. Thanks.
Edit: It looks like the final word is that Black was not terribly uncommon. It could be done, and while good dye jobs were expensive, it was by no means rare.
Certain Reenactment only seem to ban it because everyone wants to wear it, which was inaccurate. The lowly peasant would not wear it, but middle classes and upper classes would. It was also common in Religious settings. I have no desire to be a penitent monk, but you see my point.
It seems from what I read that black was more common then most believe. It's only frowned upon because if one person wore it, then everyone would wear it. Banning instead of rationing it is quite stupid in my opinion.
In conclusion, black dye and cloth was available, and I'm sticking to that. I'll do some more research, so that if anyone has a problem with it while I'm in costume, I'll have a whole list of arguements.
At any rate. Lookin' forward to those bracers! ;D
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2007 22:46:50 GMT
I'm looking forwards to making them. Is your ranger lotr themed? Should I add white trees?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2007 23:23:52 GMT
Actually, I was looking for something that could work for both historically accurate costumes and fantasy ones. Maybe something like this, but lace-up instead of buckled. www.tinb.co.uk/vamb-diam-2.htmlHowever, I don't have an awful lot of money at the moment, so I can go with one like that without the diamond work, just the border. Are you thinking or hardening the leather? If it's possible, I'd prefer it, Anyhow, if your actually thinking of doing it, here's my forearm measurements. Wrist- 6" diameter upper forearm- 11" Forearm 11" long. At any rate, I'd like to know the shipping cost to Canada via USPS. I'll send you my postal code via PM. Obviously if the shipping is too expensive, I might think twice. Anyway, good to hear from you.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2007 1:48:10 GMT
Hmm, the shape is my main problem. The point would be more difficult then just a strait trapezoid design. Plus it would result in more wasted material.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2007 14:22:18 GMT
Oh right. I forgot to say that I don't really like the point anyway. So you can just eliminate that. Other then that, what do you think?
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