Refurbishing Masks

[Tran455]

So I had a little time on my hand and decided to recreate an entire dead sabre mask.

The mask itself is fine, but the bib was shot to pieces - fraying, missing fabric, and so on. So in order to fix that, I had to remove the entire bib from the mask. Basically, it was just drilling out the rivets until I freed the bib from the glue and the wire mesh.

To fix the mask, I used an old working lame to create a new cover over the original bib. I tested it to make sure it conducted and then attached it to the old bib. Then, I just scrubbed the wire mesh to get the rust off and to get any dirt out. Once I finished, I just put new rivets in using the original rivet holes and the mask is working now.

Did anybody see anything wrong with my method? I also punch test the mask (not literally punch it, but I used a mask tester - har har)

[SJCFU#2]

Just to ask the obvious - did you check resistance?

You may also want to PM Fencerbill or YeOldeArmorer - they've the most experienced people I can think of when it comes to mask refurbishment.

[Mergs]

You may also want to PM Fencerbill or YeOldeArmorer - they've the most experienced people I can think of when it comes to mask refurbishment.

I'm working on it, too.

[fencerbill]

Assume you are speaking to a chef from a fine restaurant. You tell him "I took a chicken, put it in a pan, cooked it and served it, do you see anything wrong with my method?"

There is so much that is important in the details, each one of which one learns the hard way from an effort that didn't turn out as well as you had intended.

For one thing, I use hot-melt glue when reassemblying, as well as rivets. After removing all the previous hot melt glue remnants. I use an Aleene's craft glue gun with interchangeable nose pieces, I have bought 3 so far. I use the tube nose piece because with it I can put the glue under a layer. They cost about $20 at a Jo-Anns fabric/craft shop. If you sign up for the flyers, they have a 40% off coupon, getting it down to $12. They are worth it.

I started on my own Sabre mask because I thought it was a waste to stop using it, just because the Lame fabric was so bad. My old mask was recovered four times. My better mask will be going to its 7th Veterans World Championships, now with its fourth Lame cloth covering.

Good luck. Be careful and stay safe.