for more stability at the expansion points of the neckline, waistline, and sleeves, I suggest adding some copper or bronze rings to make a 'dressing'- not only does it add support to those areas, but it looks right nice, specially with the more open gauge and internal diameter you're using with that 'berk. Looking pretty good overall. I need to resize my personal vest pretty badly- when I worked for UPS I built up almost half a foot more chest from shoving boxes maniacally. :(

Still pretty new to this, and haven't gotten around to decorating any yet. Guess I'll start with this one, since I plan on selling it. So, the dressing, is it just an extra layer of the same size rings in copper?

I'd prefer my personal armor plain, though. Cosmetic additions have never really been my thing.


Hehe, yup. Not much give to this stuff. Glad I'm a pretty regular size, and not planning on growing any more.

Basically it would be just the outer row or two (Rosettes, singlets, whatever you prefer to call them) done in a different metal, usually a 'yellow' metal, so as to give a nice accent. When using aluminum, it's very important since it's a lot of stress in those areas, with galvy, stainless, mild, etc iron/steel it's not so important, but great looking. I've been in and out of the biz for about 8 years, learned from Decordene back when he was still in business- his quality was so much better than Ring Lords. :(

I work in galvanized steel right now. Haven't used aluminum, though I might later on, to make some cheaper stuff for sale.

I'm pretty much self-taught. I just found a basic guide (very basic, didn't go beyond weaving, seams, and a habergeon pattern, as well as a sketchy guide for a coif), and puzzled out the rest. Started back in... June this year, I think it was.

http://www.mailleartisans.org/

Now you have quite a nice resource. Have fun, and looking forward to you doing a hauberk in 16g 3/4ID Bright aluminum :)

<stabs self> 1/4 ID.

Hehe. Thanks.

I was already starting on some 5/16 ID, 16 ga steel, though I doubt I'll make more than a coif in this size any time soon. (Those rings are tiny. O.o ) Anyway, I'm most likely going to make a full hauberk in 1/2 ID, with the 6-in-1 pattern, after the coif. After that, who knows?


By the way, you wouldn't happen to know a good supplier with 16 ga galvanized steel, would you? I'm having trouble finding it in packages of more than 200 feet.

There'll be suppliers on the maille forums. You'll get a lot of help there.

Alright, thanks.

Dude, thats awesome! I always wanted to learn how to do this, where did you learn it from?

Thanks. I've been wanting to start myself for years, and then I finally just got all the stuff and started.


I learned from a pretty sparse guide. You might want to look for a better one. I just got enough from here to puzzle it out on my own.

http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Cav...../oldindex.html

By the way, this can be a bit expensive, though if you sell some of what you make, it'll easily pay for itself.

Hahaha thanks! I'll go check that out :D

Have fun. ^^

What are your ring sizes/material/gauge?

Nice shirt. I'm thinking of doing a doubled Japanese 6-in-1 myself. I want it heavier but with a little more give.

Ah, forgot to update this one. Posted before I started including that stuff.

14 gauge steel wire, with 1/2 inch rings.




That should be interesting. Gonna post your work on FA?

 closetmonstercreations Already do =3

14 ga/ 1/2 dia... not bad, not bad. I'm thinking I might go just under half an inch and a quarter inch for the small rings, basically scaling up from the bracelet I made in the same pattern. even in titanium, the bracelet's got a fair heft to it, 16 ga, 3/8 and 3/16 rings. http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2582217/

1/2 inch is what I started with, mostly to learn on. I've done a little work with 5/16, as well, and I'm starting to like that size. Don't think I'll go much smaller, though.

see, I go as small as 20ga, 3/16. Which, by the way, are a PAIN.

I can imagine. 16ga, 5/16 is almost delicate work for me. I'm not dexterous enough to enjoy anything smaller.

16 ga, 3/16 in titanium actually takes a good deal of strength x3 the shorter the wire, the higher its tensile strength and thus the more protection it offers.... and the more resistance to work.

Yup. Tiny rings, harder to work. Sucks for me. :P


Isn't titanium harder to work than steel?

I've worked mostly in steel, done a tiny bit of aluminum, and nothing else so far.

Titanium is easier to bend. But it's much, MUCH harder to get it to bend -accurately-. Unlike steel, you have to over bend it slightly because it wants to spring back and ruin your nice, smooth closures.

Bronze has given me that problem. A good bit more springy than the steel rings.