ANST - shield covers

[Mark.S Harris]

Joe Wolf wrote:
> 
> 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).

Hemp rope? Where did you find this? Or do you really mean the sissel (sp?)
or manila found in the usual hardware stores? After looking at the ropes
on my pavilion at Gulf Wars, I realize I need to replace most of them
becuase they are wearing away or shredding at the tent stake loop and
sometimes at the loop that fits over the top of the tent pole.

I would love to be able to use hemp rope. It is much stronger and was often
the period material. Unfortunately, our paranoid government has made it
rather difficult to get. I would have preferred to have used hemp cloth
in the pavilion itself. Canvas was originally made of hemp. It wears
much better than cotton canvas, but unfortunately because of the aforesaid
rules costs over $10 per yard. As my pavilion is about 70 yards of cloth
that would have been too expensive.

For those wanting more info on hemp products in period and now, check the
henp-cloth-msg and hemp-msg files in my Florilegium.

<snip>

> >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.

I thought a metal edge was required over the wood before the hose? Perhaps
that is just a recommendation. I used square 'C' shaped alluminum extrusion.

> 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.

Interesting. Would this message be on the front or on the back of the
shield? I assume the latter. Any indication this was done in period?
 
> Herr Manfred von Wolf
> Barony of the Stargate

Thank you, Manfred. Additional comments such as yours are exactly why I
sent my questions to this list and not just privately to Sir Lyonel by
email. And yes, these are good enough to be going in the Florilegium. :-)

Lord Stefan li Rous
stefan at texas.net
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