05-01-2008, 03:18 AM
Yes, 16 gauge is WAY too thick! I use .020 or even .015. It looks like he may be using something as thick as 20 gauge in the film, but maybe less.
There's a lacing loop from Corbridge which is apparently made in this fashion, and I could swear I've seen others that were also said to be done like this. (Just going by what the book says!) But I agree that MOST were made from rod, with the end flattened. It's a PAIN. If you can get a length of rod that's thinner on one end (for curling up) and thicker on the other (for flattening), that would make life easier. Darn Romans...
If 16 gauge is all you have access to, just cut the shape out as on the Legio XX patterns, with the narrow tongue to curl up without folding. Save some sweat.
Oh, and if you hammer on a SMOOTH surface (rather than the jaws of the vise!), you won't get so many icky tool marks.
Valete,
Matthew
There's a lacing loop from Corbridge which is apparently made in this fashion, and I could swear I've seen others that were also said to be done like this. (Just going by what the book says!) But I agree that MOST were made from rod, with the end flattened. It's a PAIN. If you can get a length of rod that's thinner on one end (for curling up) and thicker on the other (for flattening), that would make life easier. Darn Romans...
If 16 gauge is all you have access to, just cut the shape out as on the Legio XX patterns, with the narrow tongue to curl up without folding. Save some sweat.
Oh, and if you hammer on a SMOOTH surface (rather than the jaws of the vise!), you won't get so many icky tool marks.
Valete,
Matthew
Matthew Amt (Quintus)
Legio XX, USA
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.larp.com/legioxx/">http://www.larp.com/legioxx/
Legio XX, USA
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.larp.com/legioxx/">http://www.larp.com/legioxx/
