Flail

Mach89

Registered
Registered
Joined
Jan 12, 2017
Messages
70
This was a project I made last year, before I had my home shop set up and before I was a member here. It was basically a "let's see if I can make one" kind of project. I had a lot of fun making it and learned a lot in the process. Anyways, here's my ball and chain flail.

20161130_210054.jpg 20161201_042703.jpg 20161202_014827_001.jpg 20161202_213129.jpg 20161203_015018.jpg 20161204_010935.jpg 20161215_185015.jpg 20161215_234815.jpg IMG_20161219_124207.jpg
 
Ouch! That's looks positively brutal.

Except for the machining....that looks great. :encourage:

What's the material and final weight?
How did you hold and index it?

Thanks,
-brino
 
It has some serious damage potential. I'm not sure what the final weight is, but it's made of some scrap steel I found in the drops bin. It has a 3" ball with 1" spikes that are Very sharp, for a total of 5" diameter. The handle is oak with steel endcaps, drilled and tapped for a 3/8 rod that runs through the handle. The whole thing is pretty heavy.

As for indexing, well, I'm sure there's an easier way of doing it, but what I did worked. So here goes. After rounding off the first half of the ball, I drilled and tapped it for 3/4-10 and made a rod to go in it for chucking to. Then I did the same process with the other side of the ball, but used 1/2-13 instead. Again, making a rod to fit.
I mounted it in an indexer on the mill and drilled the holes perpendicular to the axis created by the two threaded holes; one of these holes was also threaded to become the next indexing axis. After drilling the next set of holes (tapping 2 of them) I indexed it at 45 degrees one way, the 45 the other.

I know that sounds confusing. You shoulda seen me trying to figure it out in autocad. It ended up being easier to do than it is to explain, but I still would do it different if I did it again.
 
Great work! It should be a real hit at the next historical reenactment outing.

I was thinking if someone breaks in my house and I can't get to my pistol, this could put an end to the problem with 1 hit or I could just throw it at them.
 
Handle is way too short (or chain too long). "Ball of pain" should not reach where your fingers are... I know - films portray it other way but they use rubber spikes
In regard of ancient weapons i will trust this guy:
He's pretty funny too
 
Last edited:
Handle is way too short (or chain too long). "Ball of pain" should not reach where your fingers are.

Considering that fact that I am not a medieval weapons expert, and this wasn't intended to be an exact replica of anything, I'm not too concerned about the handle length or chain length. I don't plan on going into battle with it. It was a machining project. That's all.
 
grzdomagala

That video is a real hoot! Thanks. And I agree with you that the chain is too long or the handle is too short for any real battle.
And Mach89, I don't think that thing is safe for anything. Vicious beast it is! :eek: ;) but very cool design.
 
Looks cool. Partial to a nice hickory axe or sledge handle myself. Much less chance of hitting your self, or unintentionally killing your attacker. Mike
 
Back
Top