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Scutum Press
HIbernicus here!
Here're a few pics and some URL's for more pics of the scutum press we've been using.
This particular one is about 10 years old, the style is 25+ years old.
Very versatile! You can press Republican scutums, 1st C AD Imperial scutums, the slightly smaller 2nd and 3rd C AD Imperial scutums, Auxilia, AND you can vary the depth.. deeper curves and shallower curves.
We have three of them and they live outside.
The frame etc is primarily 2x4's all screwed together.
The threaded rod is 3/4".. we've found that a thicker rod is better than thin... thin can bend!
Basically you crank down the hex nuts, a few turns on each rod in sequence until you attain the desired curvature.... we allow the pressed scutum to stay in the frame for 24 hours.
Additional pics:
http://www.rlqm.com/02endviewdimensions.jpg
http://www.rlqm.com/03templatedimensions.jpg
http://www.rlqm.com/04templateinframe.jpg
http://www.rlqm.com/06clampdetail.jpg
Octavianus
Here is my press, a "japanese" model.
With the first scutum blank.
Magnus/Matt
Just a question, but how do you go about making the republican blank? Just cut the wood to shape and clamp the 2 pieces in, same as the imperial one? I have my own press like Matt Amt's "advanced one", might be cool to try a different shield one day.
Matthew Amt
For any shape, I find it better to use rectangular wood, and cut to shape after it is curved in the press. I used 3 layers of 1/8" wood for my Republican scutum, but we only use 2 layers for our Imperial ones.
Octavianus
Two layers of rectangular 1/6" wet wood.
Lots of carpenter´s glue.
C-clamps using the holes in the semi-circles.
24 hours.
And I also think it´s easier to cut the shape after it´s curved.
Hibernicus
All the various shield presses work, but the one we (Leg IX) use is functional for nearly any curved shield, any number of thin layers, 1/8" to 1/4", luan, cdx plywood, marine grade plywood... no wetting, no scoring required.
You can even press a metal sheet cover at the same time.
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