04-12-2005, 11:39 PM
Ave!
I've had a long interest in maille armor, and especially riveted maille. Now, I would like to start creating some, but I've got a question about it.
The rivets used in maille armor...you know, the little things that look like the tops of needles/kinda mushroom shaped...well, how would you go about making them? Especially for such small rings as would be used by the Romans. :?
I'm thinking of using somewhere between 18-16ga wire at 3/16-1/4" in size...so the rivet will be quite small. Any suggestions?
Also, where is a good place to get washers/solid rings at? Of similar porportions as the rings above...can be mild steel, brass or bronze.
And as a side note, any used that 16ga rebar tie-wire sold at places like Home Depot or Lowes? Think it would make good riveted maille rings? I've played with it some, and it is soft and easy to work with (though I've heard some claim it rusts quickly...I've got some I bought from Home Depot thats been from Arizonia to Kentucky to California...in like, 4 years, and it hasn't shown any signs of rust yet, and it isn't galvinized...just coated in this black oilly stuff...). Thoughts?
I've had a long interest in maille armor, and especially riveted maille. Now, I would like to start creating some, but I've got a question about it.
The rivets used in maille armor...you know, the little things that look like the tops of needles/kinda mushroom shaped...well, how would you go about making them? Especially for such small rings as would be used by the Romans. :?
I'm thinking of using somewhere between 18-16ga wire at 3/16-1/4" in size...so the rivet will be quite small. Any suggestions?
Also, where is a good place to get washers/solid rings at? Of similar porportions as the rings above...can be mild steel, brass or bronze.
And as a side note, any used that 16ga rebar tie-wire sold at places like Home Depot or Lowes? Think it would make good riveted maille rings? I've played with it some, and it is soft and easy to work with (though I've heard some claim it rusts quickly...I've got some I bought from Home Depot thats been from Arizonia to Kentucky to California...in like, 4 years, and it hasn't shown any signs of rust yet, and it isn't galvinized...just coated in this black oilly stuff...). Thoughts?
M. Artorius C. f. L. n. Sub. Silvanus
aka David Coleman
aka David Coleman
