I am part of a viking re-enactment group in australia and I am attempting to create riveted and welded mail appropriate to the period 1000AD.
So far I have completed my first gauntlet of a pair(which is all riveted) from 1.6mm mig filler wire. I have a question people may be able to help me with.

1. What sort or punches are available for 1/16" or 1.5mm round holes? ( I am using round rivets as this is the most common for the period I believe.)

I know that I am using very heavy wire for the period but will be using these gauntlets and hopefully a byrnie and would like the maximum protection I can get.

At the moment I am using a drill press to drill the holes and I would like to start punching them instead if I can.

Any toughts on forge welding rings (and other techniques) would also be appriciated as I will be trying that in the next week or two.

At the moment I am building a portable forge and have a modern anvil but in the future I would like to create a set of tools that work and are period for displays and conferences.

Thanks.

P.S. I think I may be insane trying this but the first gautlet works so well and I hope to rid myself of the evils of mail moth as much as possible.

P.P.S OOps just realised I may be outside of the forum's time period. if so could some one point me to an apropriate forum please.

It's a little out of our scope. Have you tried ARADOR?

www.arador.com

I just took a look at their site, as I don't normally go. They do not allow nicknames, handles or other persona type usernames, so you will have to use your real name if you choose to join.

A place of note, to begin, is to actually read their research notes so that you can best formulate your question and get a reasonable response.
http://www.arador.com/articles/beginner.html

Hope this helps,

Jenn

[edited because I'm feeling a little dyslexic this morning]