raysouth Report post Posted March 17, 2013 I have no idea why I want to make a large leather shield but have wanted to undertake this project for quite some time. I'm sure that some of you have done this and could help me get started, preventing wasted time and resources. I did purchase enough heavy weight leather to do this and now want to give it a shot before time runs out. Any and all tips/advice, etc; will be of great value and much appreciated. If I can turn it out as a worthwhile project I can use it to protect myself when I have to shop at Wallyworld. lol. I have seen some of the fantasy work folks have created with leather and all I can say is, WOW!!!!! Beautiful creations, great imaginations and superb artistry. Help me out if you can. God Bless. Ray Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dwight Report post Posted March 18, 2013 One of my "alter egos" is the Centurion of Capernaum. He needed a shield, . . . this is it. It is 1/4 inch luan plywood shaped by water and dried. Covered with 3/4 vegetable tanned leather. Painted with water base house paint from Lowes, . . . ask for their little sample containers, . . . I think they were $1.50 or so. It's the only one I have, . . . May God bless, Dwight Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bob Blea Report post Posted March 20, 2013 Hi Ray, I guess I'm in that club that would like to make a shield someday. I would love to make a full set of chest armor, leg protectors and a shield. I was really impressed by a Cetlic Targe that someone had posted here when I first joined LW.net, and have wanted to make one ever since. Tandy at one time produced an instruction sheet that said how to make a targe, including a Celtic design for the front. I'm pretty sure I got it from the leathercraft library, and it may have been a free download when I got it. Regardless, it's probably a good place to start if a round targe is what you had in mind. Hope this helps, and whatever you make please post pics so we can see the results. Bob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dwight Report post Posted March 21, 2013 Bob, . . . it isn't that hard to do, . . . chest armor. The "hard" part is the mold. I made mine literally out of 2 x 8's wrapped in old towels and a Tee Shirt. I used the towels to build up the chest muscles, back muscles, etc, . . . while looking at the Tee Shirt to see that the "body" looked authentic. I happened into Tandy's the right day, . . . they had some 12/13 oz pre dyed stuff that was on a "clearance" table, . . . that is what I made mine out of. Soaked it in the bath tub of hot water (as hot as my hands could stand it), . . . molded it on my "body" mold, . . . laid it on a round roll of chicken wire hanging over a floor register to dry out. Once you get the front and back pieces made, . . . the rest is just ornamentation, . . . you can go Roman, Greek, Mythic, or whatever flavor you want. If you want to make really hard armor, . . . you submerge the leather in liquified parrafin or beeswax, . . . I've only done small pieces, . . . gets really hard, . . . Anyway, . . . go for it, . . . it's fun having your own "alter" ego. May God bless, Dwight Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bob Blea Report post Posted March 21, 2013 Dwight, that is an awesome outfit! Long before I became interested in leather work I had though what a great Halloween costume a Roman Centurian would make. Your process sounds pretty simple, just one question: I believe any carving I would do to the armor would need to happen before molding? Bob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
