11-09-2005, 02:40 PM
Well, it's taken forever to find a decent source of parchment rawhide within the UK for my scutum (note: suppliers in the USA refuse to export a single piece - too much hassle).
Now the hide glue is the problem, but there is a source in the USA and I'm sure that won't be a problem at Customs.
My question is, do you think I should use hide glue, or bone glue? Hide glue seems to be the strongest, and is compatible with sinew. Just thought I'd ask for opinions before it gets very messy in the Tarbicus household.
As a recap, this is what I intend to do:
Bare scutum with metal fittings already made by Len Morgan ("Augustan" shape, plywood).
Layer 1 - Linen soaked in hide(?) glue with sinew fibres mixed in.
Layer 2 - Parchment rawhide (ala Dan Peterson).
Layer 3 - Encaustic paint (plain red, no painted decorative motifs).
Layer 4 - Metal furnishings for the decoration and further reinforcement.
Based on advice given of the Dura scuta (thanks Antonius Lucretius and Drsrob), and many finds of metal furnishings thought to be for scuta.
The plan? Throw heavy pila at it to see if they bounce.
If they don't? Kick a dog and weep like a small child.
Now the hide glue is the problem, but there is a source in the USA and I'm sure that won't be a problem at Customs.
My question is, do you think I should use hide glue, or bone glue? Hide glue seems to be the strongest, and is compatible with sinew. Just thought I'd ask for opinions before it gets very messy in the Tarbicus household.
As a recap, this is what I intend to do:
Bare scutum with metal fittings already made by Len Morgan ("Augustan" shape, plywood).
Layer 1 - Linen soaked in hide(?) glue with sinew fibres mixed in.
Layer 2 - Parchment rawhide (ala Dan Peterson).
Layer 3 - Encaustic paint (plain red, no painted decorative motifs).
Layer 4 - Metal furnishings for the decoration and further reinforcement.
Based on advice given of the Dura scuta (thanks Antonius Lucretius and Drsrob), and many finds of metal furnishings thought to be for scuta.
The plan? Throw heavy pila at it to see if they bounce.
If they don't? Kick a dog and weep like a small child.