Tailoring my maille.

[Ian]

Stainless mail is difficult to work with, the rivets don't squeeze well at all - and I tried 3 different pliers and 95% of the time it just bends or distorts.

I now use mild steel loose rings/rivets to tailor my stainless haubergeon and aventail.  They look seamless, and if one or two rings get some rust on them, I won't really care, but it's easier to work with.

[Sir William]

Well, as soon as my Svan gambeson gets in and I can take measurements, I'll send it to him.  He said and I quote- fit you like a tailored suit.

Color me excited!

My hauberk and voiders went out to him for some tailoring. I had already cut down the torso of the hauberk and tapered the sleeves, and it just needed closing up. Side note: Stainless mail is difficult to work with, the rivets don't squeeze well at all - and I tried 3 different pliers and 95% of the time it just bends or distorts.

Back on the subject, curious to see how the hauberk will fit when it gets back. The voiders I already cut down to proper size, but he's going to fix all the missing rivets (see pliers issue above), and then do the cleaning/refinishing. I tried the cement mixer and sand method, and wasn't happy with the results.

If all goes well I'll have the voiders back for the VARF shows!

Well, my Svan gambeson just arrived so- now for measurements.  It won't be back in time for VARF but it would appear I'm no longer in the lineup so no worries.  I will however, be there to cheer you on, and of course, hawk the crowd.

[Sir Ulrich]

I packed mine up and will ship it out to him soon. Got all the measurements done, I am looking forward to having bingo wing free maille. Now to clean my chausses and find an effective way to tie them, once I get my shoes from viking leathercraft.

[Sir James A]

Well, as soon as my Svan gambeson gets in and I can take measurements, I'll send it to him.  He said and I quote- fit you like a tailored suit.

Color me excited!

My hauberk and voiders went out to him for some tailoring. I had already cut down the torso of the hauberk and tapered the sleeves, and it just needed closing up. Side note: Stainless mail is difficult to work with, the rivets don't squeeze well at all - and I tried 3 different pliers and 95% of the time it just bends or distorts.

Back on the subject, curious to see how the hauberk will fit when it gets back. The voiders I already cut down to proper size, but he's going to fix all the missing rivets (see pliers issue above), and then do the cleaning/refinishing. I tried the cement mixer and sand method, and wasn't happy with the results.

If all goes well I'll have the voiders back for the VARF shows!

Well, my Svan gambeson just arrived so- now for measurements.  It won't be back in time for VARF but it would appear I'm no longer in the lineup so no worries.  I will however, be there to cheer you on, and of course, hawk the crowd.

No longer in the lineup? What happened? Sir Nathan and I were expecting you to do the show with us the day Sir Brian and Sir Edward are out, and more help judging is always good.

[Sir Ulrich]

I just finally decided to tailor my maille, cutting the rings with snips is a real pain, I notice the riveted links are harder to cut than the solid ones which I think may be because of work hardening possibly. In any case I cut 2 rows of rings out down the right arm using my fake arm. That took about 2 hours and my hands were SHOT and raw afterward from the abrasion of the rings. I then sealed it up with a row of stainless butted links in less than 20 minutes, reason cutting them took so long was cause I had to use pliers to pull them apart then take them off. I later found out I removed TOO LITTLE and still have bingo wings in my maille on my right arm, I'm beat for tonight so I am just going to do it tomorrow probably and have my mother help tie the ribbons around my arm so I know exactly where to cut now.

[Ian]

I'm glad you finally decided to take the plunge. It's a pain in the butt, but the results will be well worth the time and trouble.

[Sir Ulrich]

I did end up puncturing myself in the thumb with a piece of stainless steel wire while my hands were filthy from the maille, may have to get a tetanus shot now I'm not sure if my maille had light rust on it from me cleaning it. All I know is I checked the sleeve again, I did taper it enough in the midsection but the lower arm is actually BIGGER than the mid arm, all thanks to my ties coming loose from when I was cutting it, now I have to measure the amount of rings and cut a bit of excess off and finish that sleeve later today.

[Sir Edward]

It's better to remove too little and cut again, than to take out too much and have to add material. Much better in the long-run, for sure.

What are you cutting with? I know you said snips... you mean the scissors-like snips? Yeah, that's probably a real pain.

I use mini bolt cutters like this one:  http://amzn.com/B000NQ4OYO

It gives you pretty good leverage, and snaps right through.

[Sir Brian]

I did end up puncturing myself in the thumb with a piece of stainless steel wire while my hands were filthy from the maille, may have to get a tetanus shot now I'm not sure if my maille had light rust on it from me cleaning it.

When you have an addiction to play with metal objects like pretty much all of us here, it is a good general rule to keep current with your Tetanus shots! 

[Sir James A]

I did end up puncturing myself in the thumb with a piece of stainless steel wire while my hands were filthy from the maille, may have to get a tetanus shot now I'm not sure if my maille had light rust on it from me cleaning it. All I know is I checked the sleeve again, I did taper it enough in the midsection but the lower arm is actually BIGGER than the mid arm, all thanks to my ties coming loose from when I was cutting it, now I have to measure the amount of rings and cut a bit of excess off and finish that sleeve later today.

As Sir Edward said, and I said on FB, better too little removed, than too much. In regards to sizing, the middle of the sleeve should never be thinner than the forearms; if your elbow is smaller you don't want it tapered in there, or you won't be able to get your forearm through it. Make sure it's a linear decrease in diameter.

[Sir Ulrich]

Heres how much I removed, I think I did a decent job, I just quick seamed it with butted links to see if it fit me well, I still think I need to remove maybe 3 rings worth of material in the lower arm to make it taper more but everywhere else I think I am good to go. Any suggestions?

[Ian]

Just always make sure that the lower arm is big enough so you can fit your fist through it.  The last thing you want to do is have a nicely tailored forearm and find you can't get your hand through it to put it on.  That's good that you're removing a few rings and then test-fitting.  Keep using that approach and you will get it exactly how you want it.  And pump up the Wardruna while you work and it will make it go by that much quicker

[Sir William]

Make sure you left enough material so that when you bend and flex your arm, it doesn't prohibit full range of motion.  Looks good on straight.

[Sir James A]

Just always make sure that the lower arm is big enough so you can fit your fist through it.  The last thing you want to do is have a nicely tailored forearm and find you can't get your hand through it to put it on.  That's good that you're removing a few rings and then test-fitting.  Keep using that approach and you will get it exactly how you want it.  And pump up the Wardruna while you work and it will make it go by that much quicker

I said the same on FB regarding making a fist for it.

However, I neglected to mention the Wardruna.

[Sir Ulrich]

Tried it with ONE sleeve, I used the rings I cut from the hauberk to butt together and seal it up because the riveting tool I got wont work with the rings I bought. I am still thinking I should remove more stuff at the top so it doesnt look so baggy there, but I worry my biceps will grow and will be too small and I am TRYING to avoid the armpit and I want it to look even. I am keeping it a bit baggy at the elbow because all the period pieces I have seen have had "pockets" at the elbows that were a bit baggy for mobility rather than a tube sleeve. It looks plain badass with my dargen great helm and imposing mace.
This is what I was attempting to replicate http://wallacelive.wallacecollection.org/eMuseumPlus?service=ExternalInterface&module=collection&objectId=60494&viewType=detailView
Notice how the elbows are somewhat baggy, I was thinking that would help me attach my elbow cops easier which I plan to wear and lace to the hauberk anyway. Not sure if that kind of hauberk was period for the 14th century though thats a mid 15th century example but it was the lowest I could find with full sleeves rather than half sleeves.