Late Roman Scutum Press

[Marcus Artorius Silvanus]

Ave,<br>
<br>
With talk of a Late Roman Scutums, I was wondering, would it be possible to make a "Scutum Press", similar to that of the press shown on the Legio XX site, but made for a Late Roman dished oval or round shield?<br>
<br>
Has anyone attempted this? Any ideas on how one could be made?<br>
<br>
My wife came up with an idea of having a number of boards cut to the shape of the shield, stacked ontop of each other, but each one smaller than the first, so it makes a sorta dome shape..then placing the shield over the dome and clamping it down on all sides.<br>
<br>
How possible would this be to work? Perhaps you could also make a top section of oval holes to fit over the top of the shield, to make a true press like structure, and clamp the top and bottom down onto the shield in the middle?<br>
<br>
Thoughts? Any better solutions?<br>
<br>
Marcus Artorius <p></p><i></i>

[Robert Vermaat]

Hi Marcus,<br>
<br>
It has been tried, but it did not work.<br>
The difference is that a press for a dished shield presses in several directions, the scutum press (or any press for a curved shield) just in two.<br>
<br>
The technique for a dished shield is more akin to making the planks for a barrel, or so they tell me. I've discussed this with two makers of dished shields.<br>
<br>
You could of course press the planks for a dished shield between two dished-shaped presses, and later cut off the exess material. But is is more difficult than with a dished shield. One of the manufacturers even uses industrial glue..<br>
<br>
But I'm always willing to learn - is anyone willing to experiment? <p>Valete,<br>
Valerius/Robert<br>
[url=http://www.fectio.org.uk/" target="top]fectienses seniores[/url]</p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

Rather than attempting the use of some sort of press, couldn't the variable thickness of the plank shields be achieved by simply shaping the wood with a combination of rasps and sandpaper? Glue together the planks having the maximum thickness of the center, 10mm to 12mm, and shape the surface so that the thickness tapers down to 5mm at the edge. The round shields from Dura did not have uniform thickness. Or am I missing something here? <p></p><i></i>

[Robert Vermaat]

You mean make a flat board and shape the planks after that?<br>
I has been done once, afaik, but you a) can't achieve the proper depth of the shield and b) it's not the way it was done in Roman times. <p>Valete,<br>
Valerius/Robert<br>
[url=http://www.fectio.org.uk/" target="top]fectienses seniores[/url]</p><i></i>

[Lvcivs Commodvs Cicero]

I wonder if they still make those dished aluminum sleds I had when I was a kid? This would be a perfect form for making dished shields from thin strips of wood.

[Primvs Pavlvs]

You might get two of the spun steel shields people use in the SCA.

[Marcus Artorius Silvanus]

Hmm..thats a good idea...try and find oval dished metal shields from the SCA...wonder if there are any around though, of the right size? Anyone know?

And if Deepeeka isn't able to provide any shields, I will probably attempt creating an oval shield press. I'm waiting on an email from them, they sound like they might start producing them.

[Robert Vermaat]

And if Deepeeka isn't able to provide any shields

Well if I read this thread ([url:26xkwyax]http://www.romanarmy.nl/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=2043&start=20[/url]) correctly, Deepeeka may be willing to offer their product after all. It may just take a few more people to write to them and say they will buy a few.

[Marcus Artorius Silvanus]

heh yeah, so let all Late Roman reenactors start emailing Deepeeka asking for the shields!

Perhaps if we bug them enough, they'll have oval AND round dished shields. :twisted:

So LR folks, get to emailing! :mrgreen: