How to Make Chainmail, Chainmaille Suit/Shirt Part 2

[scorpio22321]

you were absolutely right on my prob and all is well now thanks to you! many thanks my friend!

[kurnous34]

@scorpio22321 glad to help

[scorpio22321]

Im having the same problem as Kurnous34...... about joining the sides together when in fact the weaves are running opposite of each other, Im unclear about what you mean when you say to just run one row of rings? I cant see where that will make the fix?  help please?

[kurnous34]

@scorpio22321 if you look at a set of chain you will see that the rings flow in two pattern, left to right and right to left. these directions alternate between each other as you travel down the suit. what i believe your problem is, is that the rows when you attempt to join them are running in opposing directions. by adding one row of rings down one boarder you will reverse the flow of those rings to match the flow of the opposing side. give it a try and see and good luck

[VincRock94]

@kurnous34 where do you mean the boarder i should add one row? (excuse me for my bad english) i have the same problem and not sure what the solution is. thank you for helping

[kurnous34]

@VincRock94 your english is just fine, it actually is mine thats bad. I meant to say 'border.' in other words add just one row of rings on the very bottom of just one side of the suit

[VincRock94]

@kurnous34 what this will make, the pattern is still facing face to face?

[WangsterBling]

how do you attach the arm pit to the side

[kurnous34]

@WangsterBling trial and error mostly, ive made several suits ans each one i have atteched the armpits a different way

[WarrivarNeo]

i found that if you make a 45 degree seam where the armpits would be helps in making a smooth transition from the body peice to the sleeves. i struggled with the sleeves in my many attempts to make a perfect shirt for a very long time before i figured that out.

[polishromeo]

hey there bud, great video, but i am having a problem with it now, i got to the point of connecting the sides together, and the left right weave of the chain mail doesnt connect well with the front and back, they go in opposite direction. is this normal? should i continue linkinging them together, or did i flop somewhere?

[kurnous34]

@polishromeo i dont think you did anything wrong, this is a common problem with this method. One of the side, try adding just one row of rings. Not a set of 4 in 1 but just one row of rings.

[squekeyman]

What about if you wanted to add a hood?

[TheKingpuyo]

hello watched videos I saw, I was very impressed, I am really amazed at what you can do it.

please send me drawings (and I will adapt them after my body size), the mail.

Thanks!

[kurnous34]

@TheKingpuyo sry man but i not going to send mail to a complete stranger. This method is simple enough to pick up and be attempted by anyone. This is a very forgiving method so learning by trial and error is the best way.

[Sylvelame]

Hello, first of all, many thanks for your tutorials, they are really useful. But I have a question on this one. You say on minute 1.21 that we have to split the suit in two parts for more freedom of movements. but you say that we only need to do this on the front and after you say on the back. what is it now?? ;-) front of back???

[kurnous34]

@Sylvelame front

[raen714]

Are the sleeves actually attached to the torso at the sides and bottom or only at the top?

[kurnous34]

@raen714 its up to the maker. ive had suits with only the top attacked, and ones complely stitched together. its a matter of personal preference and whatever you think feels most comfortable.

[raen714]

@kurnous34 On the suits that were only attached at the top, how many rows of links were empty between the suit and the arms? Or were the two pieces right against each other, just not connected? Sorry if that doesn't make sense.

[kurnous34]

@raen714 i threw my suits away a long time ago, and sry but i dont understand your question

[Joey6131995]

@raen714 I made a suit like this, mainly because I couldn't figure out how to attach the sleeves to the torso piece, but mine has one row missing, they are rightr against eachother. But I added some leather strings so it is atleast not too niticeable. Im sure your question has been answered by now, just putting in m two cents. Btw how is the shirt coming along?

[austin01478963]

hey man will you please make me a chainmail shirt i dont want the suit i just want shirt so will you please make me one? i am only 11 and i am into midevil stuff like battle axes swords armor and stuff like that and i dont know how to knit it and i dont have the material or the tools to do anything i can py for it but not to much i dont have much money tt all so will you do it for free for me or do you want me to pay you but remember i dont really have any money

[kurnous34]

@austin01478963 sorry but i made all these videos almost three years ago. I've thrown away all my suits and I simply don't have the time to make one nor the finances to invest time and supplies to make one for free. I suggest showing this video to your parents and asking them first permission, then how to get started. If you have any questions I havent previously answered Ill be more than happy to.

[raen714]

@austin01478963 If you drink soda, you can do what I'm doing. I've been making chainmail for myself out of the pull tabs from soda cans.

[Joey6131995]

@raen714 thats gonna be one ghetto looking suit xD

[BOPYLAO]

dude, this eas awesome.

I already knew how to weave, but had no idea on how to actually make the shirt.

well, now I know : )

congratulations for the videos, they're awesome.

[Commandohuner]

all chainmail makers on youtube have a few videos of there cat.

:L

[stelmuzis]

Your videos are very helpful. Keep it up. But um could you explain how to attach sleeves PROPERLY to a vest? I would be very thankful.

[xevildragon5]

wow... i watched all of them... its much easier than i thought it was

[goldenscales]

Hey there.

I've watched this segment a lot as I've taught myself to make chainmail.

My question is this: How do I stop the links from expanding from across the shoulder when it is joined to the shoulder and chest pieces?

Do I weave in some leather strips to tie it up, or something?

Please help!

[kurnous34]

if you could post a video plz i could help you out

[Grottman96]

How big are the wire you're using in milimeters?

[4GDragon]

@goldenscales I'm guessing your a big guy because that happend to me, I just added a second layer for support ontop of that, makes me look more...menacing.

[TheDiskodog]

making suite take long but u may use faster ways to do it its more like 1 week-7weeks

[kurnous34]

for example......................?

[MetalTala]

where can i buy the wire in the uk, or online such as ebay. im not sure what wire to use or how thick it should be

[Mayes041]

@MetalTala You can use pretty much any wire you want. I'd reccomend anywhere from 12 to 18 gauge wire. If your going for authenticity the Romans used 16 (1.6mm) gauge mild steel 'wire'. I say 'wire' because most of the time half the rings were punched from steel metal and the other half were riveted shut. But, for simplicities sake normal wire is more than good enough. I should be easy enough if you live near a decent sized town, welding shops will prolly have wire, good luck man!!

[AnimatorsatWork]

on average how long does is take to complete the suit/shirt?

[RigamortisTortoise]

this was very helpfull, thanks for poasting

[medievallover120]

How do you attach the sides? i can't figure it out!!!

[johnytheprick]

hey.

im currently making a authentic looking knights suit complete with sword/shield etc. heck i might even rent a horse aswell.

this is for a summercamp with the boyscouts this year. we will be making it kind of a medevil theme camp. we will also be playing a exciting game where the younger kids have to defeat a evil black knight (wich will be me. muwhaha)

with this tutorial i'll be halfway to completion. and im hoping it will look both cool and authentic.

thanks!

[johnytheprick]

now i just need to design a helmet that looks a bit likes the one that sauron has.(from lotr) also a schoulder piece,

oh and a pair of gauntlets+arm plates

i already digged up a sword from a hardrock store, and made a wooden Kiteshield.

[trooperalex01]

wow

[frythatturkey]

Hi, Im having trouble connecting the Front and Back pieces that you mention at 0:18 the pattern runs in different (horizontal) directions, any help?

[Darklust212]

I'd love to make chainmail and was greatly informed by your vid. I'd also like to see more informational videos on the trade, if that's possible. I have faved all your vids and will be using them to their full potential as I create a full shirt of medeival chainmail. Still I would like to see more on the trade as a big help to my endeavours. DC Mac

[majorblahblah]

It's a hauberk not a halberd. In the video at 1:12 you called it a halberd, which is a medieval weapon. A hauberk is a chainmail garment which has full length sleeves and reaches down to the knees. I just wanted you to know that.

[mostro32]

@majorblahblah be thankful he made it and is showing us.

[kesheth180]

i have been working on my suit for the past several months, i have connected the sleves to the vest but i have a gapp under the arm pit and i can't figure out how to knit the botem of the sleve to the main vest, can you help me out?

[gggt59vke4]

do i have to do anything special about the arms. so the pattern don't go the wrang way. like you have talked about in PT.1

so when your arms are down the rings will not pull apart making those gaps...

sorry for bat english!

[kurnous34]

There is a way to knit the arms separate from the rest of the suit but this is hard to attach since the pattern does not flow well with the rest of the suit. The way I show the pattern unfortunately does cause the gaps. I showed this method since it is simple. And don't worry your english was fine :)

[gggt59vke4]

could you make a video of how to make the arms,, if it isn't to much effort?:)

[whowantsabighug]

can u show how to make shoulder flaps like on the roman style chainmial? (its called lorica hamata btw ;) )

[Roktharrr]

Great serie of videos! Thanks a lot you have really helped me and inspired me in making my own chain mail suit. Thanks a lot again!

[declaurence]

youve really inspired me into chain mail making, i just have one question though, if your making a traditional hauberk with the skirt-like bit at the back, you said not to do the front that way, so how do you connect the loose rings of the trouser-bit at the front to the skirt bit at the back?

[kurnous34]

the split im talking about is called a riding crop. WHat most ppl do is knit the entire suit, and then just remove a row of rings in the front to make the riding crop.

[guitarcase87]

where do u get the chain mail rings?

[Yoyoyo1993]

thx a lot for the vids and i like your drawings

[SeekingSanctity]

These videos have been really great, and have kind of inspired me to try my hand at this. I have a quick question though, about how much Fence Wire would I need to construct a full Hauberk? Would a 1/4 mile reel be enough, or should I invest in more? I'd like my project to be as inexpensive as possible.

[SeekingSanctity]

Ah, just found your Q&A Video, I'm guessing a quarter mile roll should be enough

[BelligerentAuthority]

Would making measurements help?

[medievallover120]

lol nice my poorly illuatrated drawings lol

[allenph7]

hi its allenph again om ive been watching the video as i go and I dont really understand the arms and i know i complain alot so i understand if you ignoring me so sorry ill send u a pic of the mail and the plate on me when im done well thanks!

[j3pwalrus]

Excellent video, very helpful, but I think you mean a hauberk, not a halberd. One was a suit of armour, the other was a weapon.

[Joshbad4695]

Hey i was going to make me some chain mail for my first time i know the 4 and 1 pattern so i can make some nice squares.

I was wondering if i made 2 squares big enough for your back and your stomach, that if you layed those 2 squares on top of each other and then connected the 2 sides with rings, but skipping a few inches on both sides for your arm holes, and then ringing the top up but skipping a spot in the middle for your head if that could be an easier way of making a sleaveless chainmail?

[nyj1284]

i think thats what im doing if i understand what your saying and i havent run into a prob yet

[nyj1284]

ok i got the 4 pieces and i ran into some trouble w/ the ring patterns going in different directions, where then sleeve connects to the body and connecting the front to the back, i would love if you could help me out

[kurnous34]

the rings should be all be facing the same way. going across the body and down the arms. I;m thinking that you make have missed a row of rings and that goofed up your pattern. send a vid plz.

[nyj1284]

i took it apart so ill try to fix it and if i cant i can take a pic and end it to your email or something?

[kurnous34]

send me a vid via youtube

[nyj1284]

hi i was wondering if you can tell me how i know how large to make each of the 4 pieces

[kurnous34]

it depends on how large you need to make the suit, it really just trial and error. out it on and see if it fits.

[starfiremale]

They had no steel back then. What did they use??

[TeamIsaiah]

back then they used mostly iron they also used steel but it was more expensive.

[Darkfear62]

what would be the estimated price for materials to make a full halberk? (if you were using steel wire)

[gamerferree]

A big thanks for your videos!

[GwendyDoll]

It's called a HALBERK.

[Fishfliphatsock]

Or hauberk, hauberge, haubergon. don't try to be pedantic.

[damonlied]

the pattern for the arms.. dose it go up and down the arms or across?

[kurnous34]

its exlpained in the video

[TeslaVoltageInfinite]

could you seal the rings, like sauder them?

[PostTheMissing]

You could.

I wouldnt hurt, wouldnt help much either.

[kurnous34]

bingo

[P4452]

solder is really only useful in electronics. Welding would help, but you can't weld metal that thin. Maybe a higher gauge would weld... but you probably can't weld anyway...

[kurnous34]

yeah your right, you would have to spot weld them. But it can be done. they do it on modern diving suits. not very effective unless you welds the rings together. But then again they use titanium i believe.

[Tombrink]

This is really cool and all but i have a question....When do my hands stop hurting from the pliers? lol

[gojiravsgigan]

im two hours away from finishing my Titanium alloy rose anodized 16ga 5/16" shirt! woooooooooooooot

[pinkgorimomo]

I was curious if you ever made a 3-1-3 (6 ring) chain mail suit yet. If so, when making the shirt, does it now matter which way the rings face (left to right / up or down) because they don't give the opening holes when stretched like on a 2-1-2.

[colinm333]

hey man i am using 1/2 inch dowl rod and 12 gauge wire for my suit but i was wondering if it matters to have ungalvanized or galvanised it would be great to hear back i have watched all of ur vids and i have learned a lot thanks

[kurnous34]

read previous comments and the video "plz watch before posting questions"

[broodwarcd]

sorry i have to correct when you said halberd...you were probably searching for herbuk...

[Valspara]

hauberk

[malachi1616]

Yeah, noticed that too, but he said it correctly in another video. Just a slip of the tongue I imagine...

[iceblade1597]

Your videos rock man. I just ordered some stuff to do it after reading a few tutorials online. seeing it done makes me even more excited to start.

Christmas is a long way off, but I think it'd be fun to give a few small pieces of chainmail for Christmas to people. After seeing your vids, I'm even more excited about it!

[w00ty32]

Wow, these videos are much more understandable than your instructable. I think i might try to make a bracelet.

[lukepivot]

hey um are you making a shirt with a coif head cover and can you show some of the armor you made

[monkeyknuckles900]

that was better than you thought it was i compleetley understood it

[Pertra21]

I like all the video's well done. i have 1 question tho on youre 4 pieces for the top whats like an inch to link conversion for custom armor so it will fit properly? Thank you.

[kurnous34]

hehe your making this too difficult, just put it on, if its too small just add more rings or rows.

[TurdFerguson98]

What I found to be easy is cutting an old shirt lengthwise along either side to the sleeves and then removing the sleeves. This gives you a pretty good pattern to follow. I make long single lines of 4 in 1 then line them up along the length of the shirt and connect them. This is only my first shirt but it seems to work pretty well.

[mgnl7]

Heey,

I got my t-shirt almost done but,im stuck with the arms.

I dont know wich way the rings need to face on you arm and its really hard to knit the arm.

Im stuck for over a month and almost given up hope.

[colinm333]

watch suit 2 and it explains it

[sjmendoza]

i tried to made a glove out of chainmail small ring but i can't the fingers are too big even with really small rings, what can i do?

[TheAzrenn]

Nice, I watched your videos and they were sweet. ON my first peice of chain maille I learn after I was half way done I had made the pattern up and down like you said and also I started making it from the bottom up it turned out alright but the pattern looked really spread out and trashy, But it only took me around around 40 hours to do.

[spikeykramer]

awsome videos, i watched all of them, i think, and i thought they were informative and cool, keep it up, and the cube was cool too, hours of entertainment, well, thanks again for the lesson, if i can, ill try to get the supplies to make something

[Joru666]

A nice explanation. I have already made my chainmail, used a regular wire. Now I took a challange of making it using spring wire, it took time to get used, but well, no match to regular steel

[175myles]

can you make a video of everything you have made? like lay them all out on concrete and video tape them (also pick them up and stow them to the camera) =) thanx

[krackan666]

acualy i found the ilisstation quite helfull next can you do a vid on how to make gloves

[SgtScraps]

How long does it take to make an average t-shirt size suit? Also how many have you made and do you make the armor for faires or is it just for fun. Great set of movies too you should make more.

[kurnous34]

average t-shirt size if you bust you butt will take about 70-80 hours of work. I've made a couple suits and shirts, i made then for a medieval combat reenactment grp i used to be involved in.

[TexasBen185]

Quick question about the arms... When you put the four sheets together to forn the top, do you lay the shoulder sheets with the weave in the same direction as the front and back or at a 90 degree angle? If you lay it in the same direction, the arms would stretch and be too open then, right? Does the weave running in diff. directions affect the way you connect the pieces?

[kurnous34]

yes you lay the arms the same direction as the chest and back, and it does cause the arms to "stretch out" Why the armor was made this way im not sure because in my opinion it makes the armor less effective.

[drahcirdier]

The historical suit of maille, (not chainmaille, just maille) were not made in fasion. The ring direction changed at the shoulder, to prevent the sleeves spreading out. This way, both the body and the arms were pretected. (by the way, the suits were called 'Hauberks,' not 'halberds. a halberd is a 9 foot long stick with a massive axe head on the end)

[ZenTheForce]

wow ty alot for this video! =D im just starting to make chainmail and had no clue how to pice it together into a shirt. this vid was realy helpfull! r u gona make any more of these "how to" videos for other things u can make out of chainmail?

[ilovespongebob123]

I am trying to start making Chainmail armor. Ho much would the wire cost? and some more vidio on how to make extended patterns for your shirt. I would love any advise on this art. lol thanx for the time =D

[kurnous34]

read chainmail part one comments

[666angelcorpse666]

this is very helpfull! thank you! already making second shirt.... ^^

[celecirion]

How big rings u use ?

My wire is 1,6 millimeters and the inner diametere of the ring is 7 mm .

and it takes about 180 hours to make mine.

[kurnous34]

watch chainmail part 1

[tedrickton]

Hi, thanks heaps for this, but it's not in great detail, could you explain this better to me? especially with the arms. cheers

[kurnous34]

I honestly wish I could, but there really is no good way to explain how to do this. The best way is to show someone. And this is by no means the only way to make a suit, this is just the method that works best for me.

[tedrickton]

yeh thats ok, hey have u ever made other kinds of armour, i have made a sheet of chainmail and i made a medieval helmet at school, they are both finished but i don't know how to join the chainmail to the helmet, can u help me out? thanx

[kurnous34]

yes ive made other armor. I have some knowledge of leather armoring as well as brigandine armor. As far as the helm goes send me a picture of it and a description of what you want it to look like and I'll see what I can do.

[tedrickton]

whats ur email address, so i can send u pics. mine is i have made the helmet and the chainmail already, its complete, i just need help on connecting the too, thats all, thanx

[SLIPKNOTRCKS]

Wonderful video, very informative. I do have a question pertaining to the full hauberk. How many rings would you estimate goes into making the full shirt?

[silver760]

Just a quick question,do you solder/weld the ends of the links shut,I know some people do and it doubles the cost of the shirt/suit.The medieval chaimail each link was forge welded to make it a complete ring,but there are very few people who can do that now,thanks,Stew (UK)

[kurnous34]

No I don't weld the ends of the links together, you can but, it would take forever. But yeah the medieval links were rivited together to add more strength to the suit.

[viatus]

hehe...yeah I agrey, as far as my resherch went I never found any forge welded chain male armor in the middle ages, it was all rivited but I do solder weld my pieces and temper them to a spring steel it makes for nice stuff

[Dip00ts]

I must say I love your videos, very detailed and I plan on making a suit myself.

What would be great (though, I could probably figure it out myself, but having a how-to video wouldn't hurt) is how to make a headpeace and gloves?

[kurnous34]

As far as gloves go, chainmail gloves were never used as far as my knowledge. They would be too clumsy and uncomfortable. And as far as a chainmail coif (headpiece) goes I won't be putting a video on how to make one. Its a long and somewhat complicated process that would be impossible to show on a camera. Thx for the comment

[Spyro22475]

They use chainmail gloves in modern times for cutting food. Chefs sometimes use them so they keep their fingers.

[Khurieh]

!!!! man this video its amazing!!!

how long time coast to do one like this ? i want buy one but i from brasil :( and here no one sell

[kurnous34]

Actually I have 2 suits for sale. One is plain and the other has some copper inlay. As far as how long I would estimnate about 50 hours. If you work your butt off and put about 4 hours of work in a day you can have a full sized siut in about 2 weeks give or take a few days.

[smekat]

Fantastic!!