Belt plates with folded-over edges

[Neuraleanus]

It was about time, after yesterday's march while in the process of removing my belt the leather tore. I'm now in the process of removing all of the belt plates so that I may make a new belt. I've been using the Herculaneum plates from Albion and I recently had the opportunity to see the originals at the Pompeii exhibit. I'm wondering, other than by casting, could the pins that the edges of the plates are rolled over be made from wire? I'm wondering whether something similar could be made by peening the ends of wire, perhaps using a die.

[Matt Lukes]

I found that i could make reasonable round tipped pins from standard rivets just rounded with a file, then solder two together for a single pin. Not, perhaps, the most accurate method, but it works if one can't make castings. It's also possible to just make them by grinding down a rod- round the ends, and narrow the middle. Or maybe placing the rod in a vise, peening the ends, and shaping them into spheres would work...

I plan to try these all so once I have some results, I'll let you know.

Matt

[Gaius Decius Aquilius]

yes sir ...

Use brass or silver wire of the gage you want. Cut about 1/4 inch longer than the interior length. place them in a grip so the piece is vertical. Flux it. Heat top end with a torch untill the tip melts into a bead. The instant it melts pull back the torch. Reverse the wire and do it again. This is also how you can make small rivets. The silver melts a bit quicker. you may mess up the first one or two, but then it's easy.

I would recomend a small oxygen / acetylene torch like the "Little Torch". Use a medium or small tip. You can use an air / propane torch but this takes longer. Also, and I learned this the hard way, anything that puts out a blue flame also throws ultraviolet. Use dark glasses and you won't have to wear an eyepatch for three days while the burn heals.

Gaius Decius Aquilius
(Ralph Izard)

[jsantell]

You could use a steel pin and metal beads similar to the ones in the link below. Just grind the end of the pin down until it fits through the hole in the bead and pean it.
http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/solid-metal-beads/

By the way, lots of fishing supply places sell these beads, Bass Pro Shops etc.

[Neuraleanus]

The 1/8 inch diameter brass beads should do the job nicely. I checked the drawings in the Vindonissa Catalog and many of the knobs are quite spherical. Last night I ordered a bunch of these beads.

[jsantell]

When you get the posts mounted on your new belt,post a couple of pictures, I want to see how they turned out.

[Neuraleanus]

And here is a detail shot showing the beads:


A larger version of the image of the entire belt is here:
[url:x5g4dc67]http://69.245.185.34/roman/belt01.jpg[/url]

The plate edges are folded over a piece of 3/64 inch brass wire on which the beads are soldered.

[Peroni]

They look excellent!

I have seen the bead method used many times before. Very nice.

[Tarbicus]

Tres tasty, very nice.

I went for the other Albion plates and am now regretting it. Far too chunky and heavy, and am eyeing up some brass door plates I have wondering if I can have a go myself. :?