Leather Armor "hardening"

[HellfireJack]

Awesome, thanks for answering.

I'm 40 years old and I've been playing since 86 - so the game isn't new to me. The thing is, I'm not at all concerned about 'bounces.' Since I've given up tourney play in 02 - I only play rec and scenario ball for fun anymore.

I'm all about a "look" or a "persona" in this project. The 15-30 minute reinsertions keep me in the game, which I play all day or all weekend long. Think about "Halloween" games "in costume" at many of the bigger fields...Sherwood Forest, Skirmish [my home field] and EMR...It's all fun for me and nothing "all to serious" anymore.

I just want a "wow" factor on the field....but I don't want the leather ruined by Evil or Draxxus paints either. Even PMI Premium is difficult to get out of Jerseys...and I Scotch Guard the crap out of them the day before.......lol.

I was originally going to go for a "Coat of Plates" type of armor but I think I will change that to a Cuirass"]http://www.swordnarm...368.htm]Cuirass[/url] or Lorica Segmentata style breast and back plate. It will be easier to carve but more difficult to make into hardened armor. I'm going to need a dummy or mannequin to mold the hot, waterlogged leather on.

That's all good then. As a field managers I saw tons of people trying the body armour idea, just never in leather. Once I saw someone try to play in motocross gear. He was literally stripping down during his first game. I'd hate to see someone spend the money and take the time to build something that was used for 10 minutes and then wound up sitting in a closet. You have the experience though to know. I'm about the same age and I played from '87 to about '99 when I moved out of state and there simply isn't a decent field in my area. I looked at a couple and they turned out to be tiny "back yard" fields and the people running them really had no clue. Now I just don't have time (or the stamina) to go play anymore. The extra added weight from learning the joy of cheese steaks doesn't help either.

I'm not sure the polyethylene glycol based "paint" would penetrate a properly sealed piece. I'd be more concerned about the balls marring the piece on impact than anything. I'm betting in the end you'll have tiny color marks all over the piece where the shells penetrated the sealer and into the leather and allow the paint to penetrate anyways. You'll probably have to spot dye the piece a lot so I'd go dark colors and try for a matte finish.

You play at Skirmish up in the Jim Thorpe, PA area? I'm about an hour and a half south of you if that's the case. I had always meant to get up there for an event but just never made the drive.

[druid]

That's all good then. As a field managers I saw tons of people trying the body armour idea, just never in leather. Once I saw someone try to play in motocross gear. He was literally stripping down during his first game. I'd hate to see someone spend the money and take the time to build something that was used for 10 minutes and then wound up sitting in a closet. You have the experience though to know. I'm about the same age and I played from '87 to about '99 when I moved out of state and there simply isn't a decent field in my area. I looked at a couple and they turned out to be tiny "back yard" fields and the people running them really had no clue. Now I just don't have time (or the stamina) to go play anymore. The extra added weight from learning the joy of cheese steaks doesn't help either.

Yeah.......lol. remember Cobra Command? That was my FIRST "field" to play waaaaaaaaaaay back in the day. Also did some day trips with friends to Top Gun in NJ but that was right after they opened but before their "legal wrestling" with NJ State and prior to them winning their suit. I still have the stamina but not as much time...lol. 3 daughters later...gives life a whole new "twist"...lol.

I'm not sure the polyethylene glycol based "paint" would penetrate a properly sealed piece. I'd be more concerned about the balls marring the piece on impact than anything. I'm betting in the end you'll have tiny color marks all over the piece where the shells penetrated the sealer and into the leather and allow the paint to penetrate anyways. You'll probably have to spot dye the piece a lot so I'd go dark colors and try for a matte finish.

Agreed. I don't think it's the paint fill so much as it is the paint shell slowly "chipping away" at the finish as they break, where the fill would get in and stain it if and when the finish is worn to the leather itself. I think "regular maintenance" should probably take care of that, wiping it down and then re-sealing it.

You play at Skirmish up in the Jim Thorpe, PA area? I'm about an hour and a half south of you if that's the case. I had always meant to get up there for an event but just never made the drive.

Yep, Skirmish is about 45 mins Northwest of me. You are the equivalent of my distance to EMR then [almost at the NY border]. It's a bit of a hike...lol