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Post by Jeff K. ( Jak) on Feb 20, 2009 18:08:42 GMT
Hey guys, who said this recession is a bad thing? When you are out of work....just leaves you more time to work on armor right? Here's what Ive been up to.. I started the Hauberk last winter then it sat for the rest of the year. In the last few weeks I've added the sleeves which hang just below my elbows and about 12" of body length.....hangs a few inches below my belt. I' will add another 6 to 8 inches to the length. You can see the origional work as it has darkened nicely over the last year...I cant wait 'till its all that color Here's my 16" buckler. The boss in from Hanwei.....the rest I made from 3/4" plywood, a 12 guage stainless steel expansion ring for a storm sewer invert for the rim, and an entry boot flange for a gas pump sump to rivet the boss to and some beefy nails that have been re-shaped on my bench grinder to make rivets out of. Man they were tough to peen over.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2009 22:00:29 GMT
Nice stuff you must have some serious patience to do the mail shirt. Not much feels better than wearing things you made yourself,killer stuff.
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Post by shadowhowler on Feb 20, 2009 22:14:53 GMT
Nice... I want a suit of maille SO bad... I wish I had the skill to make it myself... it *IS* satisfing to ware ones own work.
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SlayerofDarkness
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Review Points: 65
"Always give everyone the benefit of the doubt."
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Post by SlayerofDarkness on Feb 21, 2009 2:43:42 GMT
How do you make them? I think I'd be patient enough, providing that it's cheap and no fancy tools are needed... Thanks! -Slayer
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Post by Jeff K. ( Jak) on Feb 21, 2009 4:03:03 GMT
How do you make them? I think I'd be patient enough, providing that it's cheap and no fancy tools are needed... Thanks! -Slayer Here is a convo, Debbie and I had about it. /index.cgi?action=display&board=armour&thread=6618&page=1 There are some good ideas, a couple of links and vids through out. The tools are simple for butted maille. Some side cutters, a pair of needlenose pliers and some regular pliers. If you want to use a drill to wind wire, its faster. My hauberk is 12 guage wire and it was splitting the wooden dowel so I wound it all by hand with the wire clamped on with vice grips. ...I guess I could have looked for a metal rod the same size but...Im too lazy ;D Linking is simple....you just have to plan it and make sure you keep a count on the rings or how many rows in certain spots to make sure things are even and will match up when you go to link parts together. I would advise 14 gauge wire at 1/4 " inside diameter. Some people will advise thinner wire..like 16 or 18, but to me it seems too weak. Mine is 12 guage wire at 3/8" inside diameter which is large...but its strong. Butted won't do much against a thrust from a sharp blade so I didnt worry about keeping the rings super small....not like Im gonna wear it in combat anyway But 12 guage laughs at slashes from both blunt and sharp blades and has taken thrusts from a blunt without even any bent rings. For an experiment I did fire an arrow at it at close range....passed right through both sides....so I guess id be screwed there....but no butted hauberk would take that...few riveted either for that matter. Seriously though...I've used about 1400 feet of wire so far at about $7.80 per 100 feet...thats a little over $100....plus a couple hundred hours....so, all in all, your better off to save your coin and buy one. I wont make another one....I'll buy a riveted one instead. But its a good skill to know for repairs and doing aventails for helms...which only takes a few hours.
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Post by Jeff K. ( Jak) on Feb 21, 2009 4:30:05 GMT
Here's the aventail I did for my Hanwei Viking helm a few weeks ago. Its 14 guage, 5/16' ID...I might replace it with 1/4" ID and drill for double the amount of rings to make it denser..
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2009 2:05:59 GMT
Wow, you did all that I'm impressed. Have some Karma.
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Post by alvin on Feb 22, 2009 2:15:31 GMT
Damn beautiful work Jak !!!! On everything....the hauberk, the buckler and the "side curtains" on the fine helmet. And you actually fashioned each and every link !!!! Again, beautiful. + 1 2 U.
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Post by YlliwCir on Feb 22, 2009 2:43:14 GMT
Very good work, Jak! I wish I was creative. +1
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Post by Jeff K. ( Jak) on Feb 22, 2009 5:13:42 GMT
Thanks Bill, Jim and Rick! I actually enjoy linking it and tailoring it but I HATE making the rings. Winding them is not too bad but after cutting a few thousand 12 g. rings your hands start to get a little sore... Next up will be a 14 gauge coif for a buddy in Serbia...it'll be my first time playing with expansion rings. If anyone has any advice on how to make a coif look good, Im all ears. I think I'll stagger the expansion rings to make them less obvious.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2009 5:29:06 GMT
Hey Jak, I'm working on a coif myself at the moment. I have a PDF tutorial I got that I'd be glad to send you. PM me if you're interested!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2009 18:14:04 GMT
Jak, nice work! I once asked an armorer about making a hauberk for me and he told me it'd be cheaper to do it myself, but neglected to tell me about the hours involved. I never got around to it, opting instead for a riveted hauberk- but I like that you wanted it so you sat down and did it and now you have the ability to wear your own functional art. Sweet. I love the buckler, too.
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