3 Simple Ways to
Share What You Make

With Instructables you can share what you make with the world — and tap into an ever-growing community of creative experts.

PhotosPhotos

Share one or more photos of a project, recipe, or whatever you've made, quickly and easily.

Get Started

Learn more & Get Tips

Step by StepStep-By-Step

Share your step-by-step photos with text instructions of what you made so others can do it too!

Get Started

Learn more & Get Tips

VideoVideo

Share your how-to video. You'll need your embed code from a video site such as YouTube.

Get Started

Learn more & Get Tips

View Contest Results

This was a
Second Prize Winner!

Favorite

How to make a gauntlet armor tutorial

video How to make a gauntlet armor tutorial

This is a gauntlet I made as a film prop for a book trailer (same as a movie trailer) for one of my books. It's fully functional and wearable, and made of brass. Free template available here: http://www.davidjguyton.com/gauntletdavidjguyton.pdf (note that this template is for a LEFT handed gauntlet, for the right hand, flip the parts over).

76 comments

1-40 of 76

May 8, 2012. 9:20 PMputzy16 says:

So I'm having problems fitting the finger pieces in the paper model any tips on how to fit the fingers in paper. Also I'm using 110 card stock. Any tips are welcome.

Apr 4, 2012. 7:31 AM

cobourgdave says:

Congratulations on your win! Your tutorial was great as was the result. I am in awe of your craftsmanship. I have never worked sheet metal beyond high school level. You have shown me what I am missing. Many thanks

Feb 4, 2012. 6:22 AMgenericusername5 says:

Is there any way you can put up a short video on how you assembled the finger pieces and how you connected them to the rest of the gauntlet? this would be incredibly helpful.

Jan 27, 2012. 3:12 PMsandrat67 says:

what was the length of the rivets that you used were I can get them they sell them by size and length as in a kit or in lots of 1000 but the lots have the size like as in small and large they go by length in the kits and small bags

Jan 25, 2012. 1:00 PMgenericusername5 says:

This Gauntlet is just so incredibly awesome. You sir are awesome.

Jan 4, 2012. 5:11 AMfluffybunnys123 says:

i made one of these for a school project and it was awesome!!!! aluminium instead of brass though. i was think of copper highlights for the knuckles but i ran out of time...

Nov 28, 2011. 11:26 AMsevlikeseven says:

AWESOME!!!! This will help so much with several costumes I wanna do, especially since the design is so easily modified. HUGE HUGE THANK YOU

Oct 6, 2011. 7:17 AMhandful of dust says:

How much sheet metal did it take for the entire gauntlet? I'm trying to figure out how much to order.

Aug 6, 2011. 7:47 PMmadpharmy says:

I had read from another tutorial that instead of making a jig to bend the pieces you can just use a lead block, hammer your pipe into the lead and theres your jig

Aug 2, 2011. 3:24 PMsandrat67 says:

how big was the rivet you used l wolud like know that can you let me know

Jul 6, 2011. 4:03 PMLuciferJr says:

Thank you so much! I looked forever to find a cool tutorial for this. I will defiantly use this when i build my armor. One question though, I am making this out of 2 liter bottle plastic (I am entering a recycled art contest) and i cant figure out how to do the articulation and rivets, do you have any ideas?

Jul 21, 2011. 5:51 PMjcbull117 says:

use those little brass tabs like what little kids use in art projects to make joints in paper

Jul 21, 2011. 6:42 PMLuciferJr says:

ok i gotta get to town to do i tho this might be a while but thanks

Jul 9, 2011. 8:22 PMrecklesskiba says:

completely awesome. you must have tons of fun lol

Jun 29, 2011. 7:14 PMmyakka says:

your doing this for runefest arent u

May 8, 2011. 1:10 AMskimmo says:

i have quite large hands how do i scale it up

Jun 26, 2011. 6:55 PM

pfred2 says:

It begs the question though of just exactly why do you need metal gauntlets?

Jun 26, 2011. 9:31 PMlordguyton (author) says:

It is a film prop for a short film to promote one of my books.

Jun 26, 2011. 10:33 PM

pfred2 says:

You're "skimmo" too? Would that be short for schizophrenic? I know why you can use one, I've got this whole reading thing down pretty good now. I wondered why they did. But if you're them then that explains much ... or not.

May 8, 2011. 12:38 PMlordguyton (author) says:

When tracing out the template pieces just draw an additional 1/4 inch or whatever around the pieces. The template parts are not EXACT, so you'll have some play in it. Just trace them bigger and assemble it in paper first to check for size and fit. If you need to make changes, make them in paper before committing to metal.

May 8, 2011. 9:02 PMskimmo says:

that makes a lot of sense thanks

May 22, 2011. 4:55 PMbengel1 says:

looks nice, just one thing, it's very dangerous to grind bronze or brass on a stone grinding wheel, the metal can melt into the wheel actually explode after cooling, I've only seen this happen once to a smith where I live, but he said that's why. if you use a sander it works just as well

May 16, 2011. 5:43 PMbradymcbones says:

awesome mate looks amazing

May 13, 2011. 6:28 PMkingspeget says:

The PDF pattern you posted doesn't seem to be the same one you used. When you display all the parts, it looks like the Wrist 1 and 2 pieces are quite different.

May 13, 2011. 7:28 PMlordguyton (author) says:

The parts you see on display in the video had to be modified as I built the gauntlet. I designed it all as I went, and I had to make changes in order for each part to properly work with each part next to it. The PDF template parts are pretty close to the final shape of the parts, however they are not perfect and you will have to do a lot of fitting and bending and grinding to get your parts to work perfectly.

May 12, 2011. 8:32 AMCthulu says:

AWSOME!

May 12, 2011. 4:05 PMlordguyton (author) says:

thank you!

May 10, 2011. 5:13 PM

poofrabbit says:

I'm so excited you are in the finals for the makerbox!! I have watched your video several times in awe!

May 10, 2011. 6:37 PMlordguyton (author) says:

Why thank you! Glad you enjoyed the video

Apr 27, 2011. 2:16 PM

Nemesis201077 says:

Very nice looking end result. Any chance of an instructable with printable templates? or is that just me being really lazy?

Apr 27, 2011. 3:07 PMlordguyton (author) says:

If you go to the YouTube website and click the description section under the video, there's a link to a free PDF template download.

Apr 27, 2011. 5:42 PM

ilpug says:

Could you possibly post the link here? i looked all over the YouTube page and could'nt locate it. i definitely plan on making some of these.

Apr 27, 2011. 5:47 PMlordguyton (author) says:

http://www.davidjguyton.com/gauntletdavidjguyton.pdf
That's for the LEFT hand gauntlet, for the right hand, flip the template parts over

May 8, 2011. 4:09 PM

ilpug says:

thank you. i made a paper one first, like suggested. The paper i used was a bit flimsy, so i could not get good measurements out of it. I am now making my sizing model out of cut up soda cans.

Apr 28, 2011. 9:54 AM

ilpug says:

thank you very much. i have been looking for good gauntlet design.

May 8, 2011. 6:55 AMsonofstone says:

i've got very much respect for you, this thing is beautiful, i think i'll try it once i gathered all the materials

May 8, 2011. 12:38 PMlordguyton (author) says:

thanks!

May 7, 2011. 10:29 AMmoneymoneymoney says:

this is really nice....but since i dont have all the materials to make it i just made it out of card board spray painted it ...it still looked pretty cool but not as good as yours...thank for the video

May 4, 2011. 6:14 PM

d.i.y master says:

such a beautiful peice of art i just finished making mine out of paper from your template. thanks for sharing thi ible.

Apr 27, 2011. 7:25 PMspacesaver says:

Great video!!:) I used to work in aircraft sheet-metal and always found the act of working and shaping metal by hand to be very rewarding. The only thing I might caution against is the use of a grinding wheel with soft, non-ferrous metals. This is a no-no for a very good reason; the soft metals get pushed into the pores of the grind-stone and can, over time, build up tremendous pressure causing the wheel to fail during use at high speed. You can well imagine the damage potential of half of a grind-stone being flung into your face at 1500+rpm. Better to use a file or sanding discs. Otherwise excellent work!

1-40 of 76