What's the Best Way to Attach a Shield Boss?
If you want a unique shield, you can buy an unfinished shield basis and customize it to your own design. If you want your shield to have a shield boss, it's important that you know how to properly attach the shield boss.
Always make sure you're wearing the right safety equipment!
What Do You Need?
-pen or pencil
-drill
-jigsaw
-rivets or nails
-sandpaper
-hammer (if using nails)
How to Attach the Shield Boss
Step 1:
Find and mark the center on the back of the shield. Draw the inner diameter of the shield boss around this centerpoint. Don't draw it too big, otherwise you won't be able to attach the shield boss to the wood later.
Step 2:
Drill a hole through the shield within the circle you've drawn. Make sure the hole is big enough so that the blade of the jigsaw can fit through it.
Step 3:
Place the jigsaw blade in the drilled hole. Use that as a starting point to cut out the marked circle. Again, don't go too wide, because you need enough wood to screw or nail the shield boss down. Sand the edges of the hole, so no splinters can form.
Step 4:
Place the shield boss over the hole, on the outside of the shield. Mark where the pre-drilled holes of the shield boss are located. Remove the shield boss and drill holes through the shield at the marked spots.
Step 5:
Place the shield boss back on the shield and make sure the holes of the shield boss and the shield are lined up. Slide the rivets through the holes and secure them on the back by flattening the tails.
If you prefer to use nails instead of rivets, skip drilling the holes in the shield. You can simply place the shield boss over the hole and nail it down through the pre-drilled holes of the shield boss.
