How do you care for a piece?
A gentle oil coat once a year or after use will keep things looking nice and clean. If rust does occur a quick once over with a scotch-brite pad or 400 grit sandpaper will remover the rust, once the rust is gone you can oil it to prevent future occurrences. We suggest 3-in-1 oil (available almost everywhere) but any oil will do a fine job, we do recommend avoiding WD40 as it does not prevent rust.
How much does a full suit weight?
A full suit for the average man weights about 60lbs.
How does a custom order work?
The best thing to do is to send us a photos of what you are wanting. We can use those pictures to do some research and will then work with you on specifics. Often the photos we are sent are not historically accurate, in this case we will find historical examples (if possible) and explain the difference so you can make informed decisions about your project. Once we have a project figured out we will give you a quote and after a deposit we place you in line to be worked on. Our normal turn around time is 6-8 weeks for most jobs.
How much does a full suit cost?
There are many types of armour through the centuries and this can greatly affect the pricing, but a good average would be around $5000. Most pl
How long does it take to make a full suit?
In the renaissance period depending on the type of suit and how elaborate it was the process could take anywhere from a few months to a few years. Through modern advancements (which would have been mechanically driven at the period) we are able to accelerate the process but the majority of the work is still done by hand with hammers and anvils. Because of this dedication to the art our projects do take several weeks to complete and for a full suit this could mean months.
Do you make fantasy pieces?
We'll be happy to discuss your fantasy pieces but often in fantasy there are things that don't work in reality or would
be better suited to another medium. After looking at your project we will explain any of these issues and if another
creator would be more appropriate we will direct you to them. If we can make it work it will be just like any other custom ordered project.
I've seen you at the Texas Renaissance Festival, do you work other fairs as well?
Unfortunately the armour business doesn't pay very well so we cannot afford to do any other fairs. We do TRF as a vacation from our day jobs and as a way to enjoy sharing with and educating the community.
Do you teach classes?
Dez has been known to teach armouring classes in the past as a explanation of the process but he does not teach hands on classes. If your school or group has interest in setting up a class you can email us at dez@azurearmoury.com and we will talk with you about your desires and our abilities to meet your request. We do run demonstrations at the Texas Renaissance Festival on weekends during October and November each year at the Azure Armoury Museum Of Arms & Armour Booth 506.
Where do you get your designs?
Each piece is developed over hours of study and planning by examining existing museum pieces. Most of the time we have to rely on photographs but occasionally we are able to access original pieces and develop a pattern from there.
Do you sell your patterns?
No, we do not sell our patterns for 2 reasons... First, the pattern we develop and use is something unique to us and with it we can build something special but if we were to release it to the world everyone would make it and it wouldn't be special any longer. Secondly, if we did sell the pattern most people wouldn't be able to assemble it correctly. Through years of practice we can take these patterns and make them fit to the wearer but with so many variables it would be too difficult to use one of our patterns without our direct guidance.
What is your favorite piece to make?
The one we haven't made yet... Dez enjoys the puzzle of creating something new and working on the things we've never attempted before. Of the pieces we make gauntlets are the most fun... They are as complex or simple as we care to make them and they are a lot of fun to play with once constructed.
What is the hardest piece to make?
Greaves have a difficult and subtle shape, that makes them one of the hardest pieces to make correctly.
What is our armour made of?
Our armour is made of steel, more specifically mild steel. We have found that this specific material is the closest in similarity to the steel used in the period.
Can you still move in a suit of armour?
Often in media it looks as if you cannot move in armour, but this is certainly not the case. We have made and have worn many different styles of armour over many years and you can definitely move and function in a suit. There are some limitations (Stairs are miserable) but for the most part anything you can do without a suit on you can do with a suit on. This video shows a demonstration of this in a race between a serviceman, fireman, and an armoured knight.
If you have a question that was unanswered here please contact Dez@azurearmoury.com and we will see that you get an answer as quickly as we are able.
