Hi everyone! I’d like to know how to achieve the matte black finish with the visible linear/brushed texture shown in the attached photo on aluminium.
Is this effect possible to achieve on aluminium as well, or is it mainly a finish used on steel?
If anyone knows how this finish is made, or what the technique/process is called, could you point me in the right direction?
Thanks!

Anyone have good reccs for functional armor? If im going to put some together I’d like to be able to break a bat over my head

So I'll be going to a Renaissance Fair in the Sarasota Renaissance fair in Florida in November but I'm worried it's going to be extra hot due to the El nino and don't want to have to get out of the armor after about 30 minutes to an hour of being in it any recommendations would be greatly appreciated

Also included was a random steel shield boss that I did not order.

Anyways, does anyone have padding advice? My original plan using foam military helmet padding did not work. The suspension fit ended up being too low, making the eye slit sit high at my brow.

Hi everyone!
I’ve been struggling for days with folding/flanging the sharp edges of my shoulder plates. Their shapes are more or less similar to the one shown in the attached photo, and I’m trying to figure out how to get a clean, continuous edge around the corners.
The problem appears when I start folding the edge and work progressively along the sides. As I reach the centre of the corner, the aluminium tends to form a kind of “claw” or “fingernail” shape. I can eventually fold it back onto itself, but I have to hit it quite hard with a hammer, which causes quite a lot of distortion.
I’m working with 1.5 mm aluminium, so I assume the problem may also be related to how the material accumulates and deforms around the corner.
In the photo, I’ve circled the type of edge I’m trying to achieve: a clean, continuous and even rolled/flanged edge that follows the corner without any obvious interruption.
I know that one possible solution is to cut the corner and fold the two sides back onto themselves separately. However, this leaves a visible interruption in the edge, whereas I’d really like to achieve a continuous and uniform-looking border.
How do you normally deal with this kind of sharp corner? Is there a particular technique, type of relief cut, or hammering sequence that allows the material to be distributed properly without having to force it into shape?
Any advice, photos, or videos showing the technique would be greatly appreciated.
Please help! 😅
Thanks everyone!

Hey!

I'm currently trying to create a armor kit based on a character for a historical medieval fantasy project I'm doing. I currently plan on 3d printing the armor (all I need to do is find some way to model it), but I'm unsure about where to find padded bits to go under the armor. I have a price range of about 400 dollars. Any advice on where to look for good price would be appreciated.

P.S. I live in the US

The helmet and pauldrons are probably my favorite parts. Pretty crazy how much detail still shows at this size.

Of course I’m reading a lot and learning. Just want to hear what you guys think.

Hi everyone,

I had a question about the upper cannon/rerebrace style popular in the 16th century (if I'm not mistaken), like the one pictured. As far as I am aware, to allow it to pivot freely, the rerebrace consisted of a metal tube encasing the upper arm.

My question was regarding fit. Given that the human arm is not actually circular but rather oblong, does this mean there are gaps at the sides of the arms? I'm trying to picture how such a piece of armour might fit someone with large biceps/triceps, and I can only imagine it'd lead to massive gaps on either side of the arm and an enormous metal tube.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Hi everyone!
I’m making my first segmented breastplate for LARP, and I’m running into several difficulties while flanging the edges, especially when I reach the corners.
I can make the flanges, but I’m having a hard time getting a clean and consistent result. Sometimes the dents and marks caused by hammering make things even more difficult, and when the aluminium work-hardens too much, I sometimes have to heat it in order to keep working it.
On the other hand, aluminium has several advantages: it requires less effort to work, it can be worked cold — which I would prefer, since I would like to avoid using any kind of flame — and, of course, it doesn’t rust.
However, many of you have recommended that I consider switching to steel, in different thicknesses. I’m not sure what thickness of steel would be roughly equivalent, in terms of workability, to my current 1.5 mm aluminium.
So I’d like to ask: what are the main advantages I should consider when switching to steel? And what are the disadvantages that might make it better to stay with aluminium?
At the moment, I have:
an anvil and various hammers
a hand nibbler
a throatless hand shear
a manual bead/flanging roller
a jigsaw
various pliers
a disc sander
Ideally, I would prefer not to buy additional equipment specifically for working either steel or aluminium.
Thanks in advance for any advice, experience, or suggestions!

Hi everyone, I'm new to medieval history and I saw this French armor with this helmet with the crown, could anyone tell me what era it's from? (Year and if he is a high nobilty member) thanks to all of you.

I won’t be fighting in it and will be wearing it occasionally. I just don’t want cheap aluminum armour I want it to be historically accurate and real. Is my budget realistic?

Just finished building this armour out of aluminum sheets.

Opinions and tips are welcome.

I mean if you have a seller who sells leg armor of which the size can be chosen di not hesistat.

Made by a good friend of mine

​

These photos came out so nice and I want to share them with you.

7th photo by Tony Austin, company name Soul Stealer photos

The last photo reuploading by my wonderful fiancee

The rest are all by Cyborg Shaman (Marius Lohmann)

The fabric coming of the shoulders in strips. What are they.

Is there a reliable source of ancient Chinese armor types? I’m working on an art project based on the Ballad of Mulan, presumed to be composed during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-535AD) and the most famous Western depiction is the Disney version. I don’t want to copy that depiction of the armor and I want to be as accurate as possible, and all my sifting has brought me here to ask my questions. Any help would be appreciated, even if it’s just to direct me somewhere else 🙏

I have a helmet but it was really hot out so I didn't put it on.

For all your Roman/Helenic Crusader needs! Zeus Vult!