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Dan Howard




Location: Maitland, NSW, Australia
Joined: 08 Dec 2004

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PostPosted: Thu 17 Aug, 2017 2:56 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

You don't need sand or anything else to clean mail. It is self abrasive. Bran was more likely used as a polishing agent not cleaning agent. It contains natural oils and it is a byproduct of the agriculture industry. Bran was used for all sorts of things to stop it from going to waste.
Author: Bronze Age Military Equipment, Pen and Sword Books
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Richard Worthington





Joined: 07 Jun 2017
Reading list: 8 books

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PostPosted: Thu 17 Aug, 2017 3:43 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Historically, bran shows up in reference to polishing glass items, such as beads. In the early needle-making industry, after polishing, needles were washed and then tumbled in bran. That possibly has to do with the oil in bran that was mentioned earlier. Bran probably soaks up excess moisture.
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William P




Location: Sydney, Australia
Joined: 11 Jul 2010

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PostPosted: Thu 17 Aug, 2017 11:34 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Dan Howard wrote:
You don't need sand or anything else to clean mail. It is self abrasive. Bran was more likely used as a polishing agent not cleaning agent. It contains natural oils and it is a byproduct of the agriculture industry. Bran was used for all sorts of things to stop it from going to waste.
thats not very helpful if someone doesnt use his maile except for bigger events only a few times a year
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Dan Howard




Location: Maitland, NSW, Australia
Joined: 08 Dec 2004

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PostPosted: Fri 18 Aug, 2017 1:25 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

William P wrote:
Dan Howard wrote:
You don't need sand or anything else to clean mail. It is self abrasive. Bran was more likely used as a polishing agent not cleaning agent. It contains natural oils and it is a byproduct of the agriculture industry. Bran was used for all sorts of things to stop it from going to waste.
thats not very helpful if someone doesnt use his maile except for bigger events only a few times a year


You stick it in a barrel and tumble it just like they did in the past. My point is that you don't need to add sand or vinegar or anything else. If you don't want to do it manually, perhaps a rock tumbler or small cement mixer would do the job. When it is clean you can collect the iron oxide to use as a paint pigment (or to make thermite).

Author: Bronze Age Military Equipment, Pen and Sword Books
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Peter Spätling
Industry Professional



Location: Germany
Joined: 07 Nov 2015

Posts: 119

PostPosted: Fri 18 Aug, 2017 8:14 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Dan Howard wrote:
William P wrote:
Dan Howard wrote:
You don't need sand or anything else to clean mail. It is self abrasive. Bran was more likely used as a polishing agent not cleaning agent. It contains natural oils and it is a byproduct of the agriculture industry. Bran was used for all sorts of things to stop it from going to waste.
thats not very helpful if someone doesnt use his maile except for bigger events only a few times a year


You stick it in a barrel and tumble it just like they did in the past. My point is that you don't need to add sand or vinegar or anything else. If you don't want to do it manually, perhaps a rock tumbler or small cement mixer would do the job. When it is clean you can collect the iron oxide to use as a paint pigment (or to make thermite).


I already tried the trick with the cement mixer. Had to add sand to get a satisfying result.
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Iagoba Ferreira





Joined: 15 Sep 2008

Posts: 192

PostPosted: Sat 19 Aug, 2017 2:34 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I know that there is a Navarrese late XIVth century royal receipt of the money paid to an armourer to clean armours.

Sand and another substance is mentioned, but I don't remeber if oil or vinegar. No salt or lettucce for sure Razz

...but it's not in the book I thought Sad
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Dan Howard




Location: Maitland, NSW, Australia
Joined: 08 Dec 2004

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PostPosted: Sat 19 Aug, 2017 3:41 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

We know that sand was used to clean plate. There is little to suggest that it was ever used to clean mail.
Author: Bronze Age Military Equipment, Pen and Sword Books
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