Bazubands-or armour for your forearms

In this instructable i"ll be trying to go over how i built my bazubands.

I'm afraid I am missing a bunch of pictures, i had to use 3 different cameras while i was doing this, and one of them got lost. I'm pretty sure the missing pics are for things that I'll be covering in separate instructables anyways, so it shouldn't be the end of the world.

you will need...
16 or 18 gauge steel.
something to cut it with (i used a jigsaw)
a dead blow mallet(recommended)
a dishing hammer and dish
some form of ball stake
some form of T stake
welding or riveting supplies
a sharpy
a fabric measuring tape(ideal a regular one will work)
posterboard

Step 1 Designing Your Pattern

Here is a picture of the pattern i used. odds are it wont work for you unless your almost the same size as me.
to make your own pattern you will need to...

1] measure from the point of your elbow to just where the bump on either side of your wrist starts.
draw a line this long on a piece of poster board. add 1/2" or so to the end

2] measure the circumference of your wrist just back from where it bumps out draw a line about 2/3 of that length across your first line.

3] measure the circumference of your forearm at the thickest point. draw a line about 2/3 that length across the same point on your first line.

4] draw another line an inch or so back from your third line, it should be the circumferance of your forearm less an inch or 2.

5] play connect the dots to come up with the rough outline of the front 2/3 of your pattern.

6] eyeball in the 2 points on the back and then experiment with tape and paper untill you get it working how you like.

your finished result should still look fairly close to what i have here, just proportioned a little different.

once you have a pattern your happy with trace it out onto your metal and cut it out.

This pattern is meant to be welded, if you are going to rivet it add a 1/2 inch or so tab up the inside edge of one point for the rivets.

Time for the next step

Comments

[skimmo]

 how do you straight your arm?

[The Jamalam]

Looks awesome, though I prefer Vambraces because they don't restrict movement, like these ones might in the elbow.

[Deathcapt]

Looks awesome. Good job. Looking forward to future instructibles!

[shinyhalo]

Please include your arm measurements and your pattern measurements for example purposes since we can see the final product being worn on your arm.

[armourkris]

no problem, i just gotta dig up the pattern.

[armourkris]

measurements of my pattern are now in the mouse overs.

[ineverfinishanyth]

do you think you could use this technique for a salet (helmet) or something like that? For most of my armor needs I make my own maille but as for covering the head I dislike coifs and was looking for a simple way to make some sort of helmet.

[armourkris]

I've actually seen it done, the pattern for a salet done this way in more or less heart shaped. I'm not sure how you'd have to take measurements for it though.

[Cthulu]

Sweet, I would love to see more instructables on this topic!

[armourkris]

I'm glad you liked it. I'm planning on doing up the dishing Instructable after x-mas. i'm just too busy before hand, after that i was actually thinking of doing something about tools, so now i guess I'll have to.

[sonaps]

This has been favorited, and also looks totally amazing. I'm waiting for your instructable on how to do dishing, and maybe hoping for some links or an instructable on where to find/make some of your tools.

[gmoon]

Great stuff.... How is the final finishing done? Do you clean the rust off chemically and polish, or is it all a mechanical process?

[armourkris]

I work at in a metal cleaning shop, so i just use the machines at work. for the finish on these I ran them in a tumbler with steel ball-cones for media. i just tossed them in at the begining of the day and they were done by lunch.

[limpach]

Dude these look awesome. Nice work. Looks professional.

[Weissensteinburg]

Really well done...even with the missing pictures, your explanation pretty much conveyed it all. Even if I probably won't be making these, they gave me some good insight into how it's all done.