58er Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 Friend wanted a mace made..... here is my attempt so far. Forged ball from 4"x5" cylinder. Just need to weld spikes, make handle/chain and assemble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 How much does it weigh? Medieval ones were surprisingly light and they got their impact from speed rather than being slow and heavy. Now Hollywood often has gone for ridiculously large weapons and video games/anime even worse (I saw one estimate for the cloud sword as being over 400 pounds if made from steel...I could take someone wielding that on with a dull bamboo chopstick and win!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
58er Posted July 8, 2017 Author Share Posted July 8, 2017 This will be a beast. I suggested making a hollow sphere for the ball but the guy insisted on a solid ball. The ball weighs about 20 # hehehe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 Is the chain long enough for the ball to hit the hand holding the haft? Longer or shorter works better. (Don't ask me how I know this...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
58er Posted July 9, 2017 Author Share Posted July 9, 2017 He wants 12" long chain. Not sure if it will hit hand or not. Im not sure how functional it will be. I know I can't go wrong if I build it to his specs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 9, 2017 Share Posted July 9, 2017 Doesn't the chain make it a flail rather than a mace? I hope you're charging enough to make the lesson memorable. Frosty The Lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anachronist58 Posted July 9, 2017 Share Posted July 9, 2017 Wow. Reminds me of a weighted staff I made years ago - I thought I was pretty good with it til I clocked myself on the head - I'm glad it didn't have spikes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
58er Posted July 9, 2017 Author Share Posted July 9, 2017 Yes. Flail indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted July 9, 2017 Share Posted July 9, 2017 Have the customer sign a release acknowledging that this is for decoration only, and that you are not responsible for any injury or property damage that may result from any other use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
58er Posted July 9, 2017 Author Share Posted July 9, 2017 Yes.for sure. Release already taken care of. Thanks. What lesson are you referring to frosty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 9, 2017 Share Posted July 9, 2017 2 hours ago, 58er said: Yes.for sure. Release already taken care of. Thanks. What lesson are you referring to frosty Charge him a LOT! If it's a wall hanger it should be hollow or it could fall on someone. If it's a user he has zero clue about the instrument he's having made. Either way this bit of education should be expensive so he'll remember it next time he gets a bright idea. I'd be thinking more than a thousand $. How are you attaching the spikes? I'd be thinking barbed shank interference fit Frosty The Lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted July 9, 2017 Share Posted July 9, 2017 I read some where that the originals were wooden balls wih iron spikes. That would keep it under a kilogram ( 2.2#) still, with an 18" handle and 6" of chain it would make a scull look like a melon vs the sledgomatic Speaking of maces, I haven't gotten my head wrapped around how the 4 flanged ones were forged Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted July 9, 2017 Share Posted July 9, 2017 3 minutes ago, Charles R. Stevens said: I read some where that the originals were wooden balls wih iron spikes. That would keep it under a kilogram ( 2.2#) still, with an 18" handle and 6" of chain it would make a scull look like a melon vs the sledgomatic Certainly would be easier to build: just drill holes all the way through, and hammer in spikes a couple of inches longer than the ball's diameter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
58er Posted July 9, 2017 Author Share Posted July 9, 2017 I should do very well on this one if it takes me the time I believe it will. As far as attaching spikes. My first thought is to forge them out and weld a 3/8 volt stud on the bottom of them, drill and tap ball where I'd like them and weld and blend them in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 9, 2017 Share Posted July 9, 2017 I'd make a set tool that fit over the spike sort of like a specialized monkey tool. I'd forge the spike tangs with only a little taper but barbed like a hammer wedge or maybe like a sparse wood rasp. Heat the ball and punch the receivers a little too small for the tangs. Let it cool to around 400-500f and using the monkey tool drive the COLD spike tangs into the receiver holes. When the two equalize you ain't going to get the spikes out. When sweating interference fit do NOT bring the receivers to red heat or it will stretch around the tangy thing and it'll be loose. You only want it expanded a few thousandths and if you REALLY want a tight fit, chill the female joint in alcohol and dry ice. The medieval equivalent would probably make it a winter job. Frosty The Lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 9, 2017 Share Posted July 9, 2017 CRS I had one *GUESS* on how to make one: start with a wrought iron strip and fold it double in 4 places and forge weld the doubled section and carve to suit Finally heating and bending into a tube with the pointy bits out and forge weld the seam. Seems to me that would be stronger than jump welding the flanges or brazing them on... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted July 10, 2017 Share Posted July 10, 2017 I see that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
58er Posted July 15, 2017 Author Share Posted July 15, 2017 Forged chain today. Made progress on handle. Hopefully spikes tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFC Snuffy Posted July 15, 2017 Share Posted July 15, 2017 Man, that guy is going to seriously hurt himself. I fooled around with a flail years ago, bruised a few ribs, and decided to stick to non-articulated weapons. The head only weighed about 2 lbs and I likely could've killed myself if I had been a little less-careful. This monster's going to make a serious impression (pun intended). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gergely Posted July 15, 2017 Share Posted July 15, 2017 On 2017. 07. 10. at 1:43 AM, ThomasPowers said: CRS I had one *GUESS* on how to make one: start with a wrought iron strip and fold it double in 4 places and forge weld the doubled section and carve to suit Finally heating and bending into a tube with the pointy bits out and forge weld the seam. Seems to me that would be stronger than jump welding the flanges or brazing them on... I have read about one museum piece that the flanges were forge brazed. Although lots of the flanged maces were mainly prestige items and not as much every day weapons. That very piece could have been one of those decorative ones. Bests: Gergely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawk200 Posted July 19, 2017 Share Posted July 19, 2017 That is a beast! Even dropping it on a foot will do some damage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
58er Posted July 19, 2017 Author Share Posted July 19, 2017 finished. its a beast definitely display only disclaimer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anachronist58 Posted July 19, 2017 Share Posted July 19, 2017 So Pretty. So Ugly. Nice spike to ball blend. Robert Taylor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tubalcain2 Posted July 19, 2017 Share Posted July 19, 2017 AWSOME!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
58er Posted July 19, 2017 Author Share Posted July 19, 2017 Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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