Armour That Won’t Stay in Place
Nov 23, 2016 1:20:23 GMT
Post by pgandy on Nov 23, 2016 1:20:23 GMT
I had some armour that wouldn’t stay in place and this may help others with a similar problem. This deals specifically with Windlass’ Leather and Steel Vambrace, now out of production, and Lord of Battles’ Splint Vambrace. Initially both worked fine and I was happy with my purchases. But as time went on they began not staying put. The problem was probably there from the beginning but I was wearing the armour for shorter periods of time and did not notice. The cause was different with each vambrace as was the effect.
With Windlass I didn’t notice the problem until I got a thicker gambeson and blamed the thicker sleeve catching the vambrace in the bend of the elbow and forcing it to the side. That may be the problem in part but not the primary issue. With the Leather and Steel vambrace while the leather part goes most of the way around the forearm the steel part is mostly over the back throwing the balance off, and gravity being what it is pulled the greater mass towards the ground. This caused the vambrace to rotate laterally.
The Splint had a different issue and that was solely weight as it is balanced. The 16 ga. metal is too much to support so gravity pulled the vambrace down the arm.
I tried several cures but nothing was satisfactory. Then I hit on the idea of sandpaper backing. I tore 100 grit paper into stripes and glued to the inside of the Leather Steel Vambrace and after testing for 9 hrs. the vambrace was still in place. I then tested from 1500 one day until 0830 the next day. That’s 17½ hrs and made one adjustment at 0300 when the upper end of one vambrace got out of line. I found the strap was not sufficiently tight, entirely my fault.
With that encouragement I then cut strips of sandpaper, to be neater, then put them on the Splint. I had previously put double sided foam tape on these with only limited success. I added more tape and attached the paper to the tape. I started testing at 1200. I noticed throughout the day the vambraces had slide down slightly but in no way were inhibiting my wrist movements nor required readjusting. By 0315 the braces had slide to the point I readjusted both although I could still move my wrists. I stopped testing at 0700 with no further problems. That was 19 hours with one necessary adjustment.
Yesterday with the light gambeson and Leather and Steel Vambrace I went from 1415 to 2115 being more active this time doing daily chores plus a cutting session and made a minor adjustment at the upper end of one vambrace which was more cosmetic than a necessary adjustment.
I think that I’ve found the answer to the slippage issues and will do no further testing. Perhaps this will help someone with a similar problem.
With Windlass I didn’t notice the problem until I got a thicker gambeson and blamed the thicker sleeve catching the vambrace in the bend of the elbow and forcing it to the side. That may be the problem in part but not the primary issue. With the Leather and Steel vambrace while the leather part goes most of the way around the forearm the steel part is mostly over the back throwing the balance off, and gravity being what it is pulled the greater mass towards the ground. This caused the vambrace to rotate laterally.
The Splint had a different issue and that was solely weight as it is balanced. The 16 ga. metal is too much to support so gravity pulled the vambrace down the arm.
I tried several cures but nothing was satisfactory. Then I hit on the idea of sandpaper backing. I tore 100 grit paper into stripes and glued to the inside of the Leather Steel Vambrace and after testing for 9 hrs. the vambrace was still in place. I then tested from 1500 one day until 0830 the next day. That’s 17½ hrs and made one adjustment at 0300 when the upper end of one vambrace got out of line. I found the strap was not sufficiently tight, entirely my fault.
With that encouragement I then cut strips of sandpaper, to be neater, then put them on the Splint. I had previously put double sided foam tape on these with only limited success. I added more tape and attached the paper to the tape. I started testing at 1200. I noticed throughout the day the vambraces had slide down slightly but in no way were inhibiting my wrist movements nor required readjusting. By 0315 the braces had slide to the point I readjusted both although I could still move my wrists. I stopped testing at 0700 with no further problems. That was 19 hours with one necessary adjustment.
Yesterday with the light gambeson and Leather and Steel Vambrace I went from 1415 to 2115 being more active this time doing daily chores plus a cutting session and made a minor adjustment at the upper end of one vambrace which was more cosmetic than a necessary adjustment.
I think that I’ve found the answer to the slippage issues and will do no further testing. Perhaps this will help someone with a similar problem.