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Main => The Armoury => The Workshop => Topic started by: Sir Rodney on 2011-08-25, 16:03:58
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This project is the result of wanting a pair of historically inspired gauntlets and not having the funds necessary to purchase a pair.
I’ve decided to attempt the Wisby Type 1 finger gauntlets as the period is correct (for me) and they look very interesting.
A photograph of the original and construction tips contained in Techniques of Medieval Armour Reproduction, The 14th Century (TOMAR) will be my guide.
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A careful tracing of my hand will provide the necessary finger measurements.
I’m using 16 gauge mild steel and a (knockoff) Beverly shear. Each piece is carefully cut and checked against the tracing.
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The sharp edges are then ground off and a primary sanding is done with 600 grit paper on a drum wheel.
[Always, always, always use proper eye protection, sturdy gloves and proper footware in the shop, especially when grinding. We've all heard this a million times and yet I've still managed to injure myself many times due to my own stupidity. It's always that last minute touch up that flings a burr into your eye. :o ]
The finger plates are curled by beating them into a female form (made from ¾ inch pipe cut in half) with a male form (a ½ diameter pipe).
The knuckles plates are formed with a cheap doming block found at Harbor Freight stores.
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Four complete fingers have been formed to date. I’ll provide updates at each stage of construction. Enjoy!
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wow awesome man!
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Excellent! Thanks for posting this and can't wait for the rest! Thanks also to Sir Edward for making this child board for these type of instructions! :)
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The finger tips present a special challenge as they must be rolled and then formed to properly overlap the next plate.
I first rolled the finger tip as with the other finger pieces (above). Next, the tip was placed on a lead block and struck from the inside with a custom ground cold chisel to create the ridge. Finally, each half of the tip has to be re-rolled as it deforms a bit when struck with the chisel. Take care to work each side of the ridge independently as to not mar it.
So far my material costs total $0.00 USD. The steel is courtesy of the amateur armourer’s best friend, an industrial dumpster. The lead block is an old school dive weight from a now-closed dive shop. The chisel is a junker I’ve had for years; I just created the curve needed on my grinder. The ¾ and ½ inch malleable iron pipe is scrap from an old job site. The doming block set was picked up long ago for about $25 on sale and has more than paid for itself during previous projects. The knockoff Beverly shears belong to an SCA friend. My bench vice was a gift from a friend’s father and my 1950's ball peen hammers belonged to my grandfather. :) My cost tracking assumes you already have the most basic of shop tools (hammers, bench vice, cheap grinder, sandpaper, etc.).
As an aside, use a lead block to support rivet heads when peening the shank. This keeps the heads round and pretty. This method also protects decorative rivet heads if you’re going really fancy. The head form a nice little dimple in the soft lead as can be seen in the middle of the block. Contrary to popular belief, lead is your friend.
;)
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A lead or pewter block for riveting is good but if you have an anvil I found the rivet set tools from Clang are awesome for dome headed rivets and they are not too much. For flat headed Rivets I just rivet right on my anvil.
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Oh yeh! There are all kinds of tools I'd love to pick up from Clang and Halberds that would make this (and other) projects easier, but I'm tapped out right now. :( I'm trying to make these gauntlets as inexpensively as possible.
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The shaping is really nice.
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This is turning out to be well-wrought, Lord Rodney...look forward to seeing the finished product.
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More! More! ;D
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Looking great so far Lord Rodney.
G.
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OK Lord Rodney, you've been back on the board a few weeks now so you owe us an update. I'm dying to see how this tutorial turns out!
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They are exactly as they were in my last photograph. :(
We may actually get above freezing this week (for the first time in MANY weeks) which will allow me to get out to my unheated shop.
I plan on sewing padding for my aventail first. I have everything but the bamboo batting I want.
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bamboo... maybe medieval Scotsman really did make it to Japan...............lol