Post by nismos14270r on Oct 1, 2011 1:30:08 GMT -5
I've attempted to make a few different pieces over the past couple of years. I don't think I've yet yo actually finish any of them. But that's ok, I've learned quite a bit on how to work with different materials, construction techniques, and all sorts of knowledge about armor from all over the world.
For my next project I feel like I'm ready to tackle a much bigger and more complicated project. And, I've decided I need a dou! Now, I'm only making this for dress, as a costume, and to display. No fighting will be done, but I want it to be as authentic as I can get within reason. I'm ok with making concessions in style and materials, but I do want to retain the proper look.
Originally, I wanted to make a sendai do. I made the patterns, collected materials, and got started. However, my metal working skills were subpar, as well as my tools. Sooo I decided to head in a different direction with my dou after I saw this thread:
tousando.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=armour&action=display&thread=3668
I studied effinghams guide on iyo zane construction as well as any other resource I could find. Firstly, I decided that nothing will be made of plastic, and that I'll be using rawhide. I managed to find a decently thick bend of rawhide, most of it is a hair under 1/8". I'm currently working on cutting the rawhide into scales and getting those flattened out. I'm surprised at how resilient it is, but its not too bad to work with using sheet metal tools.
I've yet to drill any holes, as I've been trying to figure how to properly maintain alignment, get the proper curves, and create tapered dishing effect on the lower boards. Here is my idea: since all the scales will eventually get bonded together with finishing leather and glue, I'll lay out each board perfectly, glue the overlaps together, map out my holes, and then drill the shita garami holes, and then lace it with leather strips to a steel backing shiki. Any thoughts on how to improve this process?
Now, once I have the boards laced, should I lacquer the boards now? Would it interfere with bonding the next thin leather layer?
I've been trying to get what I could use as a urushi replacement, and so far I've only tested a polyurethane coating. It's a satin finish, goes on thick, adheres well, sands easily, and is quite durable. I've also heard that an acrylic enamel paint would work well. Any ideas on what else could be used to finish the thin layer of leather that will be covering my boards?
Finally, assuming I finish all of my boards, I am a bit torn as to how I want them laced together. Sugake odoshi looks great, it the additional color would be nice, but I really like the dou I linked. The horizontal stitching combined with the shita garami looks great. Along with the sealed look of the whole thing. One thing I'm unsure of is the horizontal lacing material used to tie the boards together. In the pictures its been lacquered over. Did they use lace or leather? What type of lace could I use that can be lacquered and painted over? Can I use a colored horizontal lace to give it some color? I'm open to any suggestions
I think that's all I got so far. I have a pattern I'm following, all my scales are sized to fit me and create a similar look to the dou I linked. Except mine will be hinged under the left arm and open under the right. Also, please excuse any errors and the jumping around. I typed this on my phone at work. I'll clean it up tomorrow.
Thanks in advance!
(Attached is a picture of my scales laid out to test their flatness. They are 1"x3" designed with a .5-.75" overlap between boards. I gave myself some room for error incase I want to change things once I get further in)
For my next project I feel like I'm ready to tackle a much bigger and more complicated project. And, I've decided I need a dou! Now, I'm only making this for dress, as a costume, and to display. No fighting will be done, but I want it to be as authentic as I can get within reason. I'm ok with making concessions in style and materials, but I do want to retain the proper look.
Originally, I wanted to make a sendai do. I made the patterns, collected materials, and got started. However, my metal working skills were subpar, as well as my tools. Sooo I decided to head in a different direction with my dou after I saw this thread:
tousando.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=armour&action=display&thread=3668
I studied effinghams guide on iyo zane construction as well as any other resource I could find. Firstly, I decided that nothing will be made of plastic, and that I'll be using rawhide. I managed to find a decently thick bend of rawhide, most of it is a hair under 1/8". I'm currently working on cutting the rawhide into scales and getting those flattened out. I'm surprised at how resilient it is, but its not too bad to work with using sheet metal tools.
I've yet to drill any holes, as I've been trying to figure how to properly maintain alignment, get the proper curves, and create tapered dishing effect on the lower boards. Here is my idea: since all the scales will eventually get bonded together with finishing leather and glue, I'll lay out each board perfectly, glue the overlaps together, map out my holes, and then drill the shita garami holes, and then lace it with leather strips to a steel backing shiki. Any thoughts on how to improve this process?
Now, once I have the boards laced, should I lacquer the boards now? Would it interfere with bonding the next thin leather layer?
I've been trying to get what I could use as a urushi replacement, and so far I've only tested a polyurethane coating. It's a satin finish, goes on thick, adheres well, sands easily, and is quite durable. I've also heard that an acrylic enamel paint would work well. Any ideas on what else could be used to finish the thin layer of leather that will be covering my boards?
Finally, assuming I finish all of my boards, I am a bit torn as to how I want them laced together. Sugake odoshi looks great, it the additional color would be nice, but I really like the dou I linked. The horizontal stitching combined with the shita garami looks great. Along with the sealed look of the whole thing. One thing I'm unsure of is the horizontal lacing material used to tie the boards together. In the pictures its been lacquered over. Did they use lace or leather? What type of lace could I use that can be lacquered and painted over? Can I use a colored horizontal lace to give it some color? I'm open to any suggestions
I think that's all I got so far. I have a pattern I'm following, all my scales are sized to fit me and create a similar look to the dou I linked. Except mine will be hinged under the left arm and open under the right. Also, please excuse any errors and the jumping around. I typed this on my phone at work. I'll clean it up tomorrow.
Thanks in advance!
(Attached is a picture of my scales laid out to test their flatness. They are 1"x3" designed with a .5-.75" overlap between boards. I gave myself some room for error incase I want to change things once I get further in)
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