Tower Shield/Quick Release Back shield

Making Weapons and Shields

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Tower Shield/Quick Release Back shield

Postby Triton » Sat Jun 02, 2012 9:46 pm

Here is my design for a tower shield/quick release back shield. Questions and criticisms greatly appreciated.

First I took a 2x4' 1/2 in plywood sheet and drilled a lot of one inch holes to drop weight(leaving the middle section hole-free for rigidity). Then I a bolted on the handles and 4 rings(for the rope to turn it into a back shield).
http://flickr.com/gp/79907238@N02/456uT2

Then I added the foam, 3 sheets of blue foam on the front, 4 on the side, and one camp pad on the back. I alternated the foam on the face and sides to give it extra stability. Because of a lack of good DAP I used Super77. No tape was used.
http://flickr.com/gp/79907238@N02/67gu3M
http://flickr.com/gp/79907238@N02/4jqau3
http://flickr.com/gp/79907238@N02/Gzso81
Then I DAPed on the cover and used the left over canvas to reinforce the joints.
http://flickr.com/gp/79907238@N02/4o6S47
And here's how the back strap works. I put a rope through the top two rings, x it over my chest, bring each end through a ring and then tie it. For the quick release I just have to pull on the knot and it slides right off.
http://flickr.com/gp/79907238@N02/b7448d
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Re: Tower Shield/Quick Release Back shield

Postby Sluj » Sat Jun 02, 2012 11:32 pm

* that is gonna be so heavy! Why not do a coreless? And the knot may not stay put while in combat.
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Re: Tower Shield/Quick Release Back shield

Postby Triton » Sat Jun 02, 2012 11:39 pm

The holes make a big difference; they cut probably 30% of the weight so its not that heavy. Plus having some weight is nice to keep it from getting pushed around, bashing, etc. I used it for a few hours today and other than slowing me down while I run, I didn't find that I was particularly fatigued or sore. I haven't got to test the knot in combat yet, but it is pretty secure. I can always tie a more secure knot if I have to, but then it won't be as quick a release.
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Re: Tower Shield/Quick Release Back shield

Postby Mughi » Mon Jun 04, 2012 2:11 pm

I'm not as experienced as most on this board, so take my advice for what you will. I've found that coreless shields are much lighter than any shield with a core, and I've found that coreless shields are more durable than shields with a compromised core. The first is pretty much self evident, but the second I found after experimenting with some 1/4" plywood. Where a coreless would've bent, that shield developed a crack and was never the same again.

I don't think you're benefitting at all from making it with that core, even despite your overall good craftsmanship. Either your core will do nothing but make the shield heavier, or it will develop a crack right along a line of those holes when it's being supported from two points (like the ground and your arm) then gets kicked or glaived. On a smaller shield I don't think I'd be concerned at all, but a tower shield like this I'm certain the aforementioned conditions will be met more than once in its life.
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Re: Tower Shield/Quick Release Back shield

Postby barley » Wed Jun 06, 2012 9:50 am

You better pray that you never get knocked over or turtled when wearing as a back sheild. Those metal handles & loops are gonna hurt. No matter how padded they are when you land on one (your body weight = ouch, not to mention if another person is on top of you too).

Go to HarborFreight and buy a 16 Ft. x 2" E-Track Tie Down Strap. Cut the metal pieces off and use that for straps. It does not break and is MUCH safer. And with 16' you get a ton sheilds out of the material.

For a core, next time use 1/4" 5-ply premiumbirch plywood unlayment . It is wicked strong and very light. It is sometimes called techply. Luann is not the same.
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Re: Tower Shield/Quick Release Back shield

Postby Triton » Wed Jun 06, 2012 11:43 am

The handles are leather so they are pliable and don't hurt at all. I was a little concerned with the metal loops, but they normally don't stand up on their own(in the pics its just the tape) and when I hit them with anything they just push into the foam so it doesn't hurt. However, its definitely something to keep in mind; I just couldn't think of another design to use for the back strap. I was originally planning on using the tech ply, but somewhere on the boards I read that while they are amazing for small to medium sized shields, they get a little flexy for larger ones. The next shield I make will definitely be smaller though so I'll give it a try. Thanks for the pointers!
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Re: Tower Shield/Quick Release Back shield

Postby Remdawg Killionaire » Sat Jun 09, 2012 11:11 am

um, you could probably just do a leather sling, or use the straps like Barley so graciously provided for you. There's historical precedence for using a sling. Seems like as cool an idea a quick release shield is, you're going way out of your way to make something that will rarely occur nonetheless be useful.
Don't get me wrong; I think your innovation and dedication to making something that on paper could be one of the cooler ideas in weapon-tech is down-right admirable, I just think you might want to focus on simplifying rather than complicating things. Refining the tech rather than adding on more layers.
My backpack shield is a round foam blank I got for on the cheap at CW via Fitz. It's your normal all foam blank. I took a ratty old climbing backpack I had lying around and cut off all the straps. I then utilized these straps as a way to make my back-pack shield. It fits snug, it's easy to get in and out of and it's changed my game significantly.
Some people use straps and a double ring belt loop style where they have essentially an "X" that crosses their shoulders to kidneys, then often add on another strap that acts like a regular belt.
Hope this helps, and bravo for going out of your way to try something new and exciting; there's no better way to get really involved with this sport.
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Re: Tower Shield/Quick Release Back shield

Postby Triton » Wed Jun 13, 2012 5:32 pm

The back pack straps sound like a really good idea since that's what they are built for, but how did you attach them?
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Re: Tower Shield/Quick Release Back shield

Postby Remdawg Killionaire » Sat Jun 16, 2012 8:39 pm

I used contact cement ala dap when I threaded them thru to the shield blanks face.
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