targe help

[Luckey]

OK, call it inspiration by thread. I've been wanting to build a targe to hang in our Clan Lamont tent for some time now, and Brasilikilt's pics have forced my hand. I've cut the wood and purchased some tanned deer hide. The guy who sold the hide to me said to wet it down and then stretch it over the wood. My question is how wet do I get it - just a little wet or soak it overnight? Also, do I really streeeeeetch it or just pull it snug and then tack it down. Does it snug up on its own when it dries? It seems to be pretty stretchy already. Thanks for any help.

[Woodsheal]

Dipping the leather in water for a few seconds actually wets it enough. I usually cut a "saw-blade" pattern around the rim of the front-face leather (with about 1.5" teeth) which prevents bunching up of the leather as you draw it over the rim and onto the back side of the targe. Fasten each "tooth" down on the backside with an upholstry nail. When the leather dries it will draw up tight. The back-side leather can either over-lap the front piece (this is the method most seen on originals), or the front piece can overlap the back. Both methods are shown here:

[Luckey]

Thank you Woodsheal, that's most helpful.

[Woodsheal]

Luckey,
One more point: you can see that I cut off the points of the circular saw "teeth" once the leather was nailed down and dry....

[Brasilikilt]

Yes
Conspiring to produce weapons to be used against the armies of his majesty King George tsk tsk.

If Woodsheal was alive in 1746 he would be hunted down like the rebel dog that he is :-)


I have to say that Woodsheal was immensely helpful while I was building my first targe.
I shared what I learned with friends and that has resulted in the construction of about 5 targes so far.