Advice on restoration of armor

[Henrik S]

Hi!

First of all I would like to say that I know that there are professional armor restorers, but I will try this by myself.

1. All the lacing in the dou, kabuto and mempo is ruined and needs to be replaced. The lacing on sode  and kusazuri is a bit better and might be salvageable. Would you replace all the lacing to get a more homogeneous look?

2. The width of the lacing is about 7,5 mm when it hangs lose on the kabuto on the dou a bit smaller but about the same, if pulled closer to 6 mm. What width of lacing would you use?

3. All the silk on the sangu is very fragile and almost gone on one of the kote. Is it ok to change the fabric to a silk fabric that holds together?

4. Someone have used European clear lacquer on some of the parts so that will have to be removed, any good advice on what to use?

 

i know that this isn’t a project for the faint hearted but I want to give it a go and if I don’t the armor might be lost or beyond saving.

[Luc T]

Hi Henrik, inform yourself very carefully before you start.   Relacing is not as easy as it looks, working with urushi neither.    Use real an genuine materials,  if you do this good, you will learn a lot.

[uwe]

Hi Henrik,

 

leave as much of the original odoshi-ge as possible. For the replacements 8 and 7mm might work….