Elbow update

I hadn't intended on tearing apart my elbows, but after Baron Wars I needed to replace both straps... and when I looked at the leather "articulation" on both, I saw the leather was starting to fail. so I popped out all the rivets and redid it. And while I had it in pieces, I dyed the leather black. Put everything back together last night, and it looks good.

But it doesn't feel good.

I was worried about the buckles, so I replaced them with newer, slightly larger ones. When I put then on in my basement they felt clunky, like there was a lot of stuff bunching up in the inside bend of my elbow. That might also just be the new elbow pads I bought (for the first time in maybe 8 years). I suspect it's the pads. Tonight I'm going to go with my old pads, I think, see how it feels. But these new pads will work great with my new naruchi, when they're built.

I also cut a length of rattan for a second sword. I'll get that finished Friday, I think. All that's left is painting my shield (which my lovely lady has volunteered to do) and scraping the rust off my helmet (probably a bigger job than I think). Oh, and I also fixed the thumb on my new gaunts. I pounded the crap out of the rivet, so I don't think it's going anywhere.

I'm happy to report that last night's repairs involved drills, boxcutters, razor blades, screwdrivers and hammers... and I managed to get everything done without hurting myself in any way! Now that I've written that, I'm sure I'll tear off a hunk of my arm while I'm buffing my helmet.