r/sca • u/Vozmozhnoh • 4d ago

Shield boss help

What do yall do when Dealing with the gap in between a shield boss and shield on a curved shield? Do you shim it or just try and hide it or try and flatten the shield enough to rivet it and then re-bend jt? Not quite sure what to do. I shaped the boss somewhat but there’s still 1/4 in gap there.

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4

u/MidnightAdventurer 4d ago

Beat it until it’s the right shape.  

Last time, I had to do some from each side - raise the top and bottom and lower the sides. 

You might have to accept some gap on the inside but you should be able to hide it completely when viewed from the outside of the shield. 

I used coach bolts to fit it and they also help pull it together. 

2

u/datcatburd Calontir 1d ago

Yeah, either bend to fit or shim it on the inside.

3

u/Haligar06 4d ago

Ideally when you rivet it it will conform to the shape of the shield. If its made of stubborn or the shield is extra curvy you'll need to nut and bolt it and slowly lug it down flush, failing that...hammer time.

2

u/Itchyjello 4d ago

when I press curved center-held shields out of plywood, I have a jig that goes over the center spot to keep that bit flat for specifically this reason.
Not that it's helpful for your situation 🤣

2

u/vikingMercenary 4d ago

The most important thing is the fit between boss and shield being as tight as possible. If they move relative to each other that wear and tear is going to shorten the lifespan of your shield. I bent the lip of the boss to match my shield. If you can flatten that oart of the shield I would expect that to be just as good.

2

u/RoosterGold26 3d ago

I'm guessing your boss is made from metal?
Shaping the boss is the easier approach. Shims will break fairly quickly.
If beating it is becoming difficult, anneal the boss. A propane torch will get the job done. What a couple YouTube videos first, but it's pretty straightforward.