Tandy pre-punched armour plates

[David of Doell]

So for anyone who is interested I just saw that Tandy is selling "pre-punched armor shield plates". Here's the link: www.tandyleatherfactory.com/search/searchresults/44228-25.aspx?feature=Product_2&kw=pre-punched+armor

It's the same price for members and non-members right now. So small plates come out to 1.09/plate and large come to 1.63/plate. This would be a good option for anyone who wants armour without having to invest in lots of tools or doesn't want to get full-on into leatherwork. All you need is some sort of lace, dye and a finish to protect it.

[Moginheden]

I looked into them when I started building my armour... they are insanely expensive vs creating them yourself.

I bought a hide and a leather punch from tandy, a pilot marker from walmart, and a utility knife from princess auto.

Making lamelar plates takes approximately 5 equal steps time wise:
-Trace pattern from cardboard template onto leather
-cut out pattern
-punch holes as indicated by pattern
-cut out lacing strips from edge of leather
-lace together

If you buy the pre-made plates you can skip the first 4 steps, but you also spend WAY more.

[Cib]

Oh! That is a good deal. That is $10 of club price, which makes them MUCH more reasonable! If anyone wants to buy these rather then make them... now is a good time to do it.

How many plates to you think your armor will use when completed Mog?

[Moginheden]

well I use 19 plates around for the main body I think that was 5 rows, and 15 around for each layer of the warskirt that's at 3 rows now and needs at least 2 more. Plus 10 at the top of the front, and 14 at the top of the back, and another 20 for the shoulders

So I'd guess 214 plates. I'm using a different template than the Tandy pre-punched ones though.

[David of Doell]

I like your more pointed shape better than their rounded one. I'm just a pointy kind of person I guess

[Moginheden]

Mine also overlap more than theirs do. There is no where in my armour except the edges where it's only one plate thick. Using their pattern about half of the pattern is only one plate thick.

One thing to note. Their pattern is the standard that most people use. There have been many historical references to that pattern, none to the one I'm using that I'm aware of. Their pattern is looser and allows more mobility, mine might not bend enough if I hardened my leather.

[Fafhrd]

The Tandy armour plates are not Bel minimum thickness. They're 8-10 oz. leather while the minimum is 12 oz. in the BoW. As far as the layering rule goes, it's a grey area if lamellar overlap counts.