Glueing a Linothorax

[ouragos]

Setting the glue/not to glue debate aside and also, if I am not mistaken, the similar debate over the use of leather armour for the greeks... and assuming that you have chosen your timeframe AND you want to make a glued. linen linothorax - flat is right for construct.

I have made some 20 glued units and with the right technique you do not need to glue and let dry to get the linen on. Indeed, it is much better to work 'wet' in making the key body and yolk - as in, just keep layering alternative sides until you get your required thickness. Either from linen alone (in which case you need to get a few layers together and then re-use your pattern (and cut) to bring it back into shape as the material will stretch. Should be pretty stable after that. Alternatively a leather core will help hold rigidity much better... and, in effect, this just substitutes for a number of linen layers.

I strongly recommend you do not use cotton as inner layers to bring the cost down if gluing - different materials react differently with glue - and you can get the layers seperating. Also, if you use leather for the core, DO NOT use a ide with a gloss finish on it. The glue will not bond for long and the first bit of use and you will have to strip it back for repair.

As I said above, choice of glue is critcal - it needs to have elasticity but respond to heat (so that it hardens cold, softens warm)...of, and you will need a tile spreader for application.

Enjoy.