Scutm Press

[Hibernicus]

Avete<br>
<br>
HIbernicus here!<br>
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Here're a few pics and some URL's for more pics of the scutum press we've been using.<br>
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This particular one is about 10 years old, the style is 25+ years old.<br>
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Very versatile! You can press Republican scutums, 1st C AD Imperial scutums, the slightly smaller 2nd and 3rd C AD Imperial scutums, Auxilia, AND you can vary the depth.. deeper curves and shallower curves.<br>
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We have three of them and they live outside.<br>
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The frame etc is primarily 2x4's all screwed together.<br>
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The threaded rod is 3/4".. we've found that a thicker rod is better than thin... thin can bend!<br>
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Basically you crank down the hex nuts, a few turns on each rod in sequence until you attain the desired curvature.... we allow the pressed scutum stay in the frame for 24 hours<br>
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You can press 2, 3 or 4 (we did one with 6 once just for fun!) layers of 1/8" luan plywood, 2 -3 layers of 1/4 plywood...<br>
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We use spring clamps along the curved side, lath strips and some C clamps along the straight edge to make for a nice tight gluing.<br>
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<img src="http://www.rlqm.com/01sideviewdimensions.jpg" style="border:0;"/><br>
.<img src="http://www.rlqm.com/05pressedandclamped.jpg" style="border:0;"/><br>
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Additional pics:<br>
http://www.rlqm.com/02endviewdimensions.jpg
http://www.rlqm.com/03templatedimensions.jpg
http://www.rlqm.com/04templateinframe.jpg
http://www.rlqm.com/06clampdetail.jpg
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[Anonymous]

Sean,<br>
<br>
it kind of looks like a boat! <p>Magnus/Matt<br>
Legio XXX "Ulpia Victrix"<br>
Niagara Falls, Canada</p><i></i>

[Octavianus]

Salvete<br>
Here is my press, a "japanese" model.<br>
With the first scutum blank.<br>
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Octavianus<br>
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<img src="http://www.mambri.com/cosax/images/HPIM0078-petit.jpg" style="border:0;"/><br>
<img src="http://www.mambri.com/cosax/images/HPIM0076-petit.jpg" style="border:0;"/> <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub45.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=octavianus@romanarmytalk>Octavianus</A> at: 4/6/04 7:24 am<br></i>

[richsc]

I like that one Octavianus; how do you hold the wood down, straps? <p>Legio XX<br>
Fortius Conamur<br>
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</p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

Just a question, but how do you go about making the republican blank? Just cut the wood to shape and clamp the 2 pieces in, same as the imperial one? I have my own press like Matt Amt's "advanced one", might be cool to try a different shield one day. <p>Magnus/Matt<br>
Legio XXX "Ulpia Victrix"<br>
Niagara Falls, Canada</p><i></i>

[Matthew Amt]

For any shape, I find it better to use rectangular wood, and cut to shape after it is curved in the press. I used 3 layers of 1/8" wood for my Republican scutum, but we only use 2 layers for our Imperial ones. (Should have a couple more curve-sided ones on the field this spring!)<br>
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Vale,<br>
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Matthew/Quintus <p></p><i></i>

[Octavianus]

Salve<br>
Two layers of rectangular 1/6" wet wood.<br>
Lots of carpenter´s glue.<br>
C-clamps using the holes in the semi-circles.<br>
24 hours.<br>
And I also think it´s easier to cut the shape after it´s curved.<br>
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Octavianus <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

Matt, if you use 3 layers, how do you re-size your press for the extra 1/8"? Mine has a 1/4 gap and couldn't go another 1/8.....do you have yours set up for 3/8" and just put spacers in when you're making the imperial scuta? <p>Magnus/Matt<br>
Legio XXX "Ulpia Victrix"<br>
Niagara Falls, Canada</p><i></i>

[Hibernicus]

Avete<br>
<br>
All the various shield presses work, but the one we (Leg IX) use is functional for nearly any curved shield, any number of thin layers, 1/8" to 1/4", luan, cdx plywood, marine grade plywood... no wetting, no scoring required.<br>
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You can even press a metal sheet cover at the same time.<br>
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Hibernicus<br>
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