Chainmail coif completed.

[mbhandy]

Real nice. Just wondering what is the weight of your Coif? I tried on a tunic once and it was about 30-35 lbs. It was not fun to wear about.

MrBill

[BLAZN]

That's beautiful work, BLAZN. How long did it take you to complete?

Oh, wow... ummm... I think, if you count time making the rings I think it took a good 40 hours or so. Pretty much a little more time than a handsewn kilt takes me.

Well done! looks like 4/1 weave. What size rings did you use? Did you do this for ren/larp/sca/ or just because it's cool. The copper w/the stripes IS cool.

Yes... the coif was done in a European 4-to-1 weave. Later photos in another thread will capture some of the jewerly I've taken to making from chainmail. My wife rather enjoys at least two of the bracelets I have done.
The stripes were an off the wall idea I went with just to break up the orange monotony.
As for why I did it... I got the idea at faire. I've picked up kilt making, leather working, and now chainmail making, because I saw some at faire that I liked and decided to make my own.

Beautiful work and a beautiful little girl!

Thank you, on both accounts. The little princess wanted to model it after every row! It was really quite comical.

Thats some talent!

Impressive.

Very well done. You got the dome on that just perfect.

Thanks. I didn't think it would turn out so nice. Other than a strip of mail I made to figure out how to weave, this coif was my first project.

I can't remember having seen someone use so much copper before. It looks great and the stripe really sets it off. I know how much it can be to do chainmail (its why I don't own any), so thumbs up on all the hard work!

I started off, and here's why I used copper, with a good 15 feet or so of the 14ga copper just lying around (enough to finish the dome). When I went to buy more copper ($33 for a 500' [about 154 meters, for my metric brethern] spool was a good deal), I saw the steel wire (it's meant to be the hot line on an electric fence) and the stripe idea hit me.
As for any difficulty doing the mail... it is a bit difficult (particuarly certain types of weave), but I find it pretty relaxing. Plus, there's the added benefit that I can weave while I watch WWE Monday Night Raw or Mythbusters or HBO's Rome.

If you're kids are anything like mine, now she is asking for her own chainmail.

Oddly enough, the boys DON'T want any.
My eldest does the pirate thing for faires and swears that a pirate hasd no need for chainmail.
The middle kid doesn't wear garb for faire... yet he LOVES going.
The princess loves the jewelry, but not actual armor.
I plan to do some armor pieces for myself when I start buying aluminum wire. I've got an idea for a mail shirt with a saltire on the front, and some item with a Lion Rampant.

Wow! That is nice!

Now THAT is a LOT of work. Looks good!!!!

Thanks. Like I said somewhere above... the work is relaxing and passes quickly when I work and watch TV at the same time.

Real nice. Just wondering what is the weight of your Coif? I tried on a tunic once and it was about 30-35 lbs. It was not fun to wear about.

Y'know, I haven't bothered to weigh it at all. I'd dare say it weighs a good 7 or 8 pounds, perhaps a little less. The Princess has no trouble carrying it about, so it can't be too terribly heavy.
As for the weight of the tunic... it's the exact reason I want to do one out of aluminum! lol Not to mention I can get the aluminum in a lovely array of colors.


THanks to everyone for the complements. Keep a look out here... I plan to start another thread later to showcase some jewelry I've done and to showcase my current project: a European 6-to-1 coin purse with 14ga copper, 16ga blackened steel, and .062" Nickle-Cadmium-Iron alloy (swiped from work... it's used as locking wire for valves and what not to prevent them from being operated).

[solstice]

Not too bad... Your closures are pretty good but the aspect ratio is far too high for my tastes but to each his own I suppose. You should try one using 16g 1/4"ID Spring stainless next time, that should prove very informational. I'd post pictures of the one I did but I sold it before I had the chance... don't ya hate that?
I have a small side business making maille jewelry and such but, making the same old Half Persian necklaces and bracelets, and the Euro chokers and the elfsheet bracelets.... well you get the idea, it all has me fairly burned out. I'm currently working on an inlay of the Aum in bright aluminum and black anodized aluminum to relieve some of the burn out.
I could discuss this subject with fellow maille-smiths for a while so I'll shut up for now...

[gangreenfootball]

Great looking piece. Excellent craftsmanship

[BEEDEE]

Raising one to your skills and craftmanship!

Brian

[Shawnesse]

Blazn

If you want I know of a website that can teach you to do other designs. let me know if you want it.

[cwr89]

thats pretty!

bit large for my tastes, looks by the hang, my guess is 3/8 inch ID.

care not to hit it with something, you will rip it, copper is quite soft.

I highly recommend www.theringlord.com thats where I get my supplies from. great prices, great quality, really fast service.

I like the galvy strip you have in it. and I like the hang of your expanding circle.

congrats!
(now GO START A SHIRT!)

[BLAZN]

Raising one to your skills and craftmanship!

Thank you, Sir.

Blazn

If you want I know of a website that can teach you to do other designs. let me know if you want it.

Please. Do share.

Not too bad... Your closures are pretty good but the aspect ratio is far too high for my tastes but to each his own I suppose. You should try one using 16g 1/4"ID Spring stainless next time, that should prove very informational. I'd post pictures of the one I did but I sold it before I had the chance... don't ya hate that?
I have a small side business making maille jewelry and such but, making the same old Half Persian necklaces and bracelets, and the Euro chokers and the elfsheet bracelets.... well you get the idea, it all has me fairly burned out. I'm currently working on an inlay of the Aum in bright aluminum and black anodized aluminum to relieve some of the burn out.
I could discuss this subject with fellow maille-smiths for a while so I'll shut up for now...

Honestly... the only aspect ratio I know anything about is when tires are involved. With chainmail, I just weave. If it looks good to me, I keep going. If not... I take whatever it is apart and try something different. Byzantine STILL kicks my rump.

Great looking piece. Excellent craftsmanship

Thank you.

[morrison]

Looks like fun to wear too!

[BLAZN]

thats pretty!

bit large for my tastes, looks by the hang, my guess is 3/8 inch ID.

care not to hit it with something, you will rip it, copper is quite soft.

I highly recommend www.theringlord.com thats where I get my supplies from. great prices, great quality, really fast service.

I like the galvy strip you have in it. and I like the hang of your expanding circle.

congrats!
(now GO START A SHIRT!)

Actually, all the rings are 7/16"
I have been doing some other stuff with some 3/8" and some 1/4"

I plan to start a shirt soon enough.

I also plan to use theringlord.com for some titanium and some aluminum wire.