ANST - shield covers

[Joe Wolf]

I fight with a layered wooden heater, that has received many compliments - it is very period in appearance, and has endured well.  It began as a wetted-plywood base that was curved and allowed to dry (thanks Sir Alexis!) to which I added hemp-rope edges and a layer of wetted rawhide (using a woodglue and nails upon the backside).  I finished it with a painted, canvas cover firmly afixed to the rawhide (again with woodglue and nails). 

Mark.S Harris asks:

>1) Do you have a particular glue recommendation? A wood glue? Something
>more waterproof? I guess I'm thinking of the recent Gulf Wars and a few
>other events. There often is not space in the tent to store a shield.

Woodglue seems to work fine for the internal structure... but an important step is the treatment of the wood BEFORE covering, then the treatment of the canvas cover.  Stain your plywood with a waterproofing stain (it saves the wood and makes the back of the shield look nicer).  The canvas cover should be gesso'd heavily.  Apply plenty... then put some more on. Light sanding between coats makes for a smoother finish (which your artist will appreciate!) It also waterproofs the face of your shield.

>2) Have you ever tried painting first and then glueing
>the cloth to the shield? I'm wondering if that might be easier, particularly 
>for complex heraldic designs.

I made this mistake... put the canvas on the shield FIRST!  The design won't line up properly if you don't.  Also, it allows you to stretch the fabric more tightly across the face of the shield with out cracking or maiming the painted design.  Again, woodglue worked just fine between the canvas and the face of the shield.

>3) After you glue the cloth to the shield, do you coat the cloth with
>anything? more glue? gesso?

As stated, gesso does the trick... sand between coats.


>4) From your description, you apply the edge hose after the cloth. I
>think I've seen some shields where the cloth is applied over and
>around the edge tubing. I can see where this would have the advantage
>of hiding the ugly mundane tubing.

That's what I did (edging first).  It makes for a neater finish, and the rawhide and canvas save wear/tear on the edging, making the entire piece last longer.  One note I plan on my next shield; some sort of flat metal flange between the plywood edge and my edging material.  Something like alluminum weather stripping.  Make the wood last even longer.

>5) Do cloth covers work on all shapes of shields such as rounds? I
>know that I've seen them on heaters and kite shields.

Using the method I describe, I don't see where shape would be a problem.

>6) Do you just tuck the cloth over the edges of the shield and perhaps
>glue it? Or in the case of plywood shields do you staple or tack it
>down?

Yes, glue and tacks... and an additional note.  A piece of gesso'd canvas gives you a wonderful surface to write some sort of message upon, be it a period prayer, a sonnet from your paramour, or even just your name.


Herr Manfred von Wolf
Barony of the Stargate

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