OK… So today my 22mm x 70mm x 1mm bit’s of metal turned up… This has taken a while, as I originally wanted them before the weekend, but it was forgotten about a few times. About 1000 in total, though I suspect that I shall only need 500 to 600 of them…

What are they for? My new armour of course. I have a bit of work to do first though… each piece needs:

8 holes drilled into it.
The top and bottom rounded.
The corners rounded so there no sharp bits.
To be shaped…each one will have a ridge running down the centre of it.
To be buffed to remove and burrs and tool marks giving them a nice smooth look.
Oil Blackened.

I have constructed a jig for holding 20 of them at a time whilst drilling. This should decrease the drilling time. However shaping, rounding and buffing will all need to be done individually for each piece. If I estimate about 5 minutes spent on each one, and have a decent set up so that it can be done right, then it’s still going to take about 50 Hours of solid work just to get them through those stages. Plus the oil blackening.

Ahhh well.. Time to duck home and grab the box so that I can see how the drilling rig goes.