04-16-2008, 01:21 PM
I do have some success to post already. I have no doubt in my mind that I figured the knee problem out already. I apologize if anyone knows this, and I am not meaning to point out the obvious, but here goes...
This process is done in inches so convert to metric for the world outside the US (as if I needed to say it :roll: ). Measure the length in the first picture to find out how tall your greeves should be. (THIS PICTURE IS FROM TARBICUS)
The rest of this corresponds to my diagram posted here. Note that the diagram is 1/3 scale roughly.
STEP 1:
Mark every inch for the height of the greeve on a piece of posterboard/paper/etc. It helps to have a grid on your paper. Then use a fabric tape to measure the circumference of your leg every inch from the bottom of where the greeve will hit to the top of the greeve. NOTE: You do not need to do this above the knee because the greeve does not wrap completely around the leg after the top of the calf.
Next, subtract 1 1/2 to 2 inches from the measurements so that there is a gap at the back of the greeve once it is bent to slide it on your leg. Plot these measurements at each inch mark all the way up the leg and then draw the outside perimeter for your template on ONE side.
Once you get above the knee, draw a dome top and curve it to meet up with the section that curves around the calf. Fold your paper in half by the center line and draw the same curve on the opposite side. AT THIS POINT YOUR GREEVE IS PERFECTLY SYMETRICAL. It helps to make two of these to use from this point forward.
STEP 2:
Hold a yard stick on the center line of your lower leg splitting your lower leg in half. At the point your leg starts to bend towards your knee, measure how far this is from the bottom most point of your greeve and mark its height on your template.
Now take measurements from the yard stick to the bone every inch from the point it starts bending to the inside of your lower leg and continue to take these measurements each inch up your leg to the height that corresponds to the center of the knee. For me, my leg started to bend at about 14 1/2" in height so I took measurements at 15", 16", 17", 18". Now plot the points on your template and draw a line showing the angle of the bend for your knee.
At the height that your leg starts to bend, also draw a line perfectly perpendicular to the center line and cut off everything above that line.
STEP 3:
Now draw a line perpendicular to the angled line that is following the true curveature of your leg at the point it starts to curve inside. Take the upper portion of the greeve that you cut off in the previous step and place it on the new x and y axis and trace it to your second template.
STEP 4:
Now start to connect the curve above the point that your leg starts to bend to the portion of the greeves that is symetrical below this point. The outside of the leg will bend more sharply than the inside curve. The inside curve will be more gradual. The reason for this is because you are "warping" your template to the curve of the knee and you want the lower portion to still wrap tightly to your lower leg comfortably.
STEP 5:
This is your final template. Notice the similarities with the greeve in the museum case I posted above. The greeve in the case that is flattened is for a left leg and this one I just walked you through is for the right. Also keep in mind that everyone's legs are different lengths, thickness, etc. so the exact curveature for the outside of the greeve will vary. The thing I want to point out is the way the lines curve from the knee to the lower portion of the greeve in two dimension.
STEP 6 (NO PIC):
When you start working the metal. I find that you should LIGHTLY dish a groove from the point that your leg starts to bend to the knee to the center of the knee. So basically, dish the knee partially before you start curving the lower section of the greeve. This will force the metal to keep that bend as you work the rest of it.
Next, curve the lower section of the greeve around your calf and get it perfectly right before moving on to dishing the knee completely or curving the metal completely for the knee.
FINAL NOTE:
At this point, I have not finished my project, but I have spent considerable time working on my first piece of metal trying to figure it out. I am certain that this will produce the correct result. The first attempt was a little too big because I left to much excess over the measurements I took, but it did prove that the knee and instep met up properly and the greeve will bend if you do it this way. I will post pics once I start the final run through next week. Expect pictures in roughly 14 days.
I am confident I solved the curveature problem. Now I just need to get the skills necessary to complete the rest of the hammering!
This process is done in inches so convert to metric for the world outside the US (as if I needed to say it :roll: ). Measure the length in the first picture to find out how tall your greeves should be. (THIS PICTURE IS FROM TARBICUS)
The rest of this corresponds to my diagram posted here. Note that the diagram is 1/3 scale roughly.
STEP 1:
Mark every inch for the height of the greeve on a piece of posterboard/paper/etc. It helps to have a grid on your paper. Then use a fabric tape to measure the circumference of your leg every inch from the bottom of where the greeve will hit to the top of the greeve. NOTE: You do not need to do this above the knee because the greeve does not wrap completely around the leg after the top of the calf.
Next, subtract 1 1/2 to 2 inches from the measurements so that there is a gap at the back of the greeve once it is bent to slide it on your leg. Plot these measurements at each inch mark all the way up the leg and then draw the outside perimeter for your template on ONE side.
Once you get above the knee, draw a dome top and curve it to meet up with the section that curves around the calf. Fold your paper in half by the center line and draw the same curve on the opposite side. AT THIS POINT YOUR GREEVE IS PERFECTLY SYMETRICAL. It helps to make two of these to use from this point forward.
STEP 2:
Hold a yard stick on the center line of your lower leg splitting your lower leg in half. At the point your leg starts to bend towards your knee, measure how far this is from the bottom most point of your greeve and mark its height on your template.
Now take measurements from the yard stick to the bone every inch from the point it starts bending to the inside of your lower leg and continue to take these measurements each inch up your leg to the height that corresponds to the center of the knee. For me, my leg started to bend at about 14 1/2" in height so I took measurements at 15", 16", 17", 18". Now plot the points on your template and draw a line showing the angle of the bend for your knee.
At the height that your leg starts to bend, also draw a line perfectly perpendicular to the center line and cut off everything above that line.
STEP 3:
Now draw a line perpendicular to the angled line that is following the true curveature of your leg at the point it starts to curve inside. Take the upper portion of the greeve that you cut off in the previous step and place it on the new x and y axis and trace it to your second template.
STEP 4:
Now start to connect the curve above the point that your leg starts to bend to the portion of the greeves that is symetrical below this point. The outside of the leg will bend more sharply than the inside curve. The inside curve will be more gradual. The reason for this is because you are "warping" your template to the curve of the knee and you want the lower portion to still wrap tightly to your lower leg comfortably.
STEP 5:
This is your final template. Notice the similarities with the greeve in the museum case I posted above. The greeve in the case that is flattened is for a left leg and this one I just walked you through is for the right. Also keep in mind that everyone's legs are different lengths, thickness, etc. so the exact curveature for the outside of the greeve will vary. The thing I want to point out is the way the lines curve from the knee to the lower portion of the greeve in two dimension.
STEP 6 (NO PIC):
When you start working the metal. I find that you should LIGHTLY dish a groove from the point that your leg starts to bend to the knee to the center of the knee. So basically, dish the knee partially before you start curving the lower section of the greeve. This will force the metal to keep that bend as you work the rest of it.
Next, curve the lower section of the greeve around your calf and get it perfectly right before moving on to dishing the knee completely or curving the metal completely for the knee.
FINAL NOTE:
At this point, I have not finished my project, but I have spent considerable time working on my first piece of metal trying to figure it out. I am certain that this will produce the correct result. The first attempt was a little too big because I left to much excess over the measurements I took, but it did prove that the knee and instep met up properly and the greeve will bend if you do it this way. I will post pics once I start the final run through next week. Expect pictures in roughly 14 days.
I am confident I solved the curveature problem. Now I just need to get the skills necessary to complete the rest of the hammering!
"A wise man learns from his mistakes, but the truly wise man learns from the mistakes of others."
Chris Boatcallie
Chris Boatcallie
