20240703
For shields I create, here are things
a new owner needs to know.
- For blanks, prepared for artwork by the new owner:
- The back of the shield is
painted and sealed with an acrylic matte clear coat. No additional
treatment is necessary for the surface.
- The face of the shield has been
prepared for painting with gesso and a white base coat of paint. It has
not been sealed. If you are not going to paint it, then spray it with at
least a couple of coats of clear acrylic sealer.
- The shield edges have been
coated with a 50/50 paint and glue mixture to harden the surface and make
them more durable.
- For shields with artwork by me:
- The back and face of the shield
is painted and sealed with an acrylic matte clear coat. No additional
treatment is necessary for the surface.
- The shield edges have been
coated with a 50/50 paint and glue mixture to harden the surface and make
them more durable.
- Do's and don'ts:
- Do not leave your wooden shield
in puddles, lakes, rivers, or any sort of deluge of water. It is water
resistant, not waterproof.
- My shields have not been tested
for use as floatation devices.
- Try not to put under heavy
loads, especially if it is curved in a press, by stacking heavy stuff on
top of it.
- Best to pack it on top of
things when packing the wagon for events.
- When drilling for handles or
other hardware, place a wood block opposite of the drill as you drill the
hole. This will help to prevent and tearing or pulling of the canvas as
the drill passes through the shield into the block.
- Inspection:
- During normal use, the shield
should maintain a rigid edge. Periodically, the shield should be
inspected. Look for soft spots, dents and visible cracks. These usually
start on the perimeter of the shield where the most hits are received.
- If damage is found, it can
sometime be repaired, depending on the extent of the damage.
- Continued use of a shield that
has any noted softness or cracks in it will only result in spreading the
damage to the point of complete shield failure.
- Repairs:
- In most cases, if you find a
deep score or tear in the canvas and/or wood you can repair the damage
with a good waterproof wood glue (like Titebond III).
- If you need to replace a patch
of canvas, you can just cut a piece the size of the patch and glue it in
place.
- The canvas used on the shield
is drop cloth fabric available in most places selling painting
supplies.
- Once the glue dries, you can
sand the spot smooth and paint it if necessary.
- If you find a soft spot or crack
in the edge, you can sometimes correct this by removing the canvas in the
immediate area and gluing in a piece of wood then covering the 'fix' with
glue and canvas.
- If you run into this scenario,
reach out to me and I can provide some pics of this type of fix being
applied.
Enjoy your new shield! If taken care
of and maintained, a wood shield can last several years. That being said, how
much you use it, how much punishment it receives, and a bit of luck all
contribute to its life span. But, if you take care of it, it will take care of
you.
Have fun out there!
Eoin
