GreyCat Workshop

While I work at getting the new photostream showing on this site stop by the Flickr stream or Facebook page and see the latest things I have been building for people a lot like you.

I am also currently having issues with some of the product shipping calculations. For the non-shield items I will find the cheapest USPS flat rate box they will fit in and only collect that amount from the PayPal transaction. When an order is placed Paypal places a hold until I verify and accept the transaction.

A lot has happened in the last year and even more in the last few months. In addition to our custom SCA shield offerings we will soon be adding ABS demi-gauntlets, 2 sizes of mild steel mitten gauntlet kits, several sizes of mild steel Norse Valsgarde 6 and Crusader Topfhelm kits along with finished mild steel crusader style knees and elbows. The kits may also be available assembled and I am looking to be able to offer stainless versions in the future. Also being added to the site will be a bunch of new tooled leather goods including leather wrapped versions of the ABS demi-gauntlets and wet formed pouches. As always custom work is welcomed in addition to the pre-defined offerings that are on the site.

In preparation for the upcoming Crown Tournament here in Northshield I've been busy helping a few locals prepare and look their best. Both of the helmets pictured were a little worse for wear. Fully functional just not aesthetically pleasing. With a few days off (or with backup gear) in their training schedules I was able to dramatically improve the look of both.

I started with time in the sandblasting cabinet with the aggressive media to remove the previous finishes and the surface rust that had developed. From there I went two different routes. For Lord James I used a crimped wire cup on the angle grinder and buffed up the helm to try and get it shiny, and then decided to just go with the Ultimate Chrome powder offset with a flat black grill and helmet interior. For Sir Kaydian I then went over the helm again with a glass bead media in the blaster for a satin finish and used the wire cup to shine up the eyebrows and band around the helm. This was then covered with a Brass powder that is transparent and allowed the different textures to show through. Here I also used a flat black on the face grill to reduce glare and help it disappear. The whole helm was then coated with a Matte Clear to keep the shine down as he didn't want it to be flashy.

I can use this process on most any bits of metal armor. If you have something you would like cleaned and powdered, contact me and I will see what I can do.

Our co-creation with Alt.Kilt from last year has been featured on an article about steampunk armor. Go check it out and all of the other cool creations that they are featuring.

The SCA Gallery has been updated with the new shields and plaques that I have been working on recently. In addition, shield edging by the foot has been added to the Catalog in both black and white.

GreyCat Armory is now incorporated into the GreyCat Workshop site to share the same shopping cart, checkout system and photo galleries. Along with that you will notice that there is a new Catalog link on the left sidebar that contains the new Armory products. To start with there are custom aluminum shields as seen in the gallery and smaller populace badge plaques. Just Northshield and Jararvellir for now but more will be going up by request and when I get the art worked out for my processes.

Contact me if you would like one that I don't have listed yet and I will get to work on it. Also available are custom plaques of personal devices, great for marking your tent, presence or on the board at crown tourney! They are made using the same processes as the shields so they will have no problem standing up to all sorts of weather and abuse.

I recently finished a custom nightstand that I created a few years ago before I had the powder coating setup. It is sized to fit the odd space remaining in the corner and is the same height as the top of the mattress for easy access to the clock. The design is for dual glass shelves which are not shown in this picture.

I've just finished the work on the wine rack that I started over the summer. This piece will be available at Savoir Faire Cards and Gifts on the Capitol Square in Madison Wisconsin, either as is, or custom built to order. It holds 36 bottles of wine and approximately 15 pieces of stemware. I have designs for other racks and various tables that I will feature here when I get them assembled and finished. Please contact me if you are interested in commissioning a piece.

In the past month I've done some more work with my friends at Alt.Kilt. I made another set of the stainless steel panels with the Alt.Kilt compass rose logo powdercoated on them for one of their armored kilts. I also crafted another tooled leather accent pleat. These designs were first debuted at New York Fashion Week in September 2010, for which I also created the leather apron for one of their steampunk kilts. It is always a pleasure to work with them and help where I can to make their ideas a reality.

For the last week I've been working on making a set of six 9"x13" tooled and painted leather vest emblems for a local lifestyle group. They are finally done and photos have been added to the Leather gallery. These are made out of 3-4oz tooling leather which has been carved and tooled before they were painted and sealed.