New Maille project

[Greg]

I wear my maille, for rangering purposes, over a linen under-tunic (at least, that's what *I* call it) and my wool tunic, which is basically a shorter wool longhunter shirt, and it's plenty comfortable. However, I doubt if there'd be a whole lot of impact protection there...mostly just protection from glancing edges and drawcuts, but that's basically all a short-sleeved maille shirt can expected to handle, anyway.

Let's just say that if I were to find myself in a live combat situation, I'd kill somebody from the other side wearing something a little more substantial, and take 15 minutes of personal time to borrow some spalders and a helm, at the least.

[Eric C]

Okay, a bit of an update. I've refigured a few things on the maille and actually have something taking shape. But I've reached a point where I need to ask a question or two of you who have made maille before. Here is where I get my ideas from: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/trevor.bar ... r/mail.htm

So in the plans, it talks about expansions and contractions. I am currently trying to figure out how to make the expansions running from the collar bones to the shoulder blades.

Now, questions: Are the expansions and contractions necessary? And can anyone explain them any better than the site I posted. It just doesn't make that much sense to me. Maybe if I do it a time or two, it'll make more sense to me.

Oh and pics coming by week's end.

[Peter Remling]

Expansion and contraction knits have their own drawbacks, both decrease the flexibility of the expanded/contracted area. The weave is pretty visible in the diagrams but with the normal flexibility of maille, you probably don't need to alter the weave, unless the person it's intended for has a very narrow chest and hugh hips.

[kaelln]

with the normal flexibility of maille, you probably don't need to alter the weave, unless the person it's intended for has a very narrow chest and hugh hips.

What kind of hips does Hugh have?

[Peter Remling]

with the normal flexibility of maille, you probably don't need to alter the weave, unless the person it's intended for has a very narrow chest and hugh hips.

What kind of hips does Hugh have?

I'm surprised you don't know him, he has absolutely HUGE hips!!!

[Eric C]

with the normal flexibility of maille, you probably don't need to alter the weave, unless the person it's intended for has a very narrow chest and hugh hips.

What kind of hips does Hugh have?

I'm surprised you don't know him, he has absolutely HUGE hips!!!

You guys ain't right!

Well, since I started back on the softdrinks, the belly's a bit huge. But I'm gonna take care of that starting very soon.

[Willrett]

dropping soda's hard I went from soda all the time down to G2 (low cal Gatorade) now I'm trying to get to mostly water with a mix of g2 and minute maid light drinks, I love the lemonaid its only 15 calories per glass.

cant wait to see pics.

[Greg]

Now, questions: Are the expansions and contractions necessary? And can anyone explain them any better than the site I posted. It just doesn't make that much sense to me. Maybe if I do it a time or two, it'll make more sense to me.

What pete says is quite true...I tried it on my own shirt, and it made the area a little stiff..almost like the rings were locked together in some places. So I said 'heck with it' and went back and did the whole thing as a solid square/rectangle with the necessary holes in it, etc., and it's a lot more loose and flexible.

[Jon]

Yeah... On my maille shirt it's just a plane old rectangle with no expansions at all. I had to put expansions in the coif I'm making (obviously) and found out that it's terribly fun! Don't know why I find it fun it just is...

[Eric C]

Update pics:

Hey LOOK!!! A halter top


And the back:


The bad news is that I just wound up the last of my spool of wire into coils to be cut into rings. But that's just my first spool.

[Greg]

You, my good sir, are making a TON of progress. Bravo!

Where'd you get your wire from?

[Willrett]

lookin good the hobbit will be happy

as fast as your knocking it out you will be selling in no time.

[Eric C]

Thanks. It could still be a while before I'm ready to sell.

I get the wire from our local Ace Hardware store. I'm thinking it is called rebar wire. I'll have to check.

[Cleddyf]

try farm supply stores, ask for lacing wire, its good to work with and is slower to rust then other wires

[Eric C]

Hmm, this is a good tip. A small patch of this wire got something on it and I used a cleaner to get it off. So it's already rusted.

The Hobbit had better like it! I'll hang him on the hook in the corner by his waistcoat and make him miss second breakfast if he complains!