03-25-2011, 01:47 AM
Well now that I'm forging everything from swords to armour, I've moved on to the last thing I haven't ever tried: raising a helmet- and I've been keeping track of the progression and figured it might be of interest to folks who've never seen it done
It's not really terribly complicated, it's just a long process. Basically one uses a raising hammer, which is elongated ending in a horizontal rounded face (like the cross peen of a smithing hammer), which pushes the metal forward- as opposed to spreading it in every direction as a round-headed hammer does- and a 'T' stake, a T-shaped piece of steel over which one hammers the piece in concentric circles from the inside to the edge, repeatedly. Imagine folding a piece of aluminum foil over a tennis ball- that's essentially raising although instead of folding, the hot metal is actually compressed and one retains a smooth shape. The way the edges become very undulating illustrates the compression well. The shaping must be done gradually so as to be able to compress and not fold, so the raising is done in many, many rounds of hammering out to the edge- images will help more to illustrate so here they are:
[attachment=426]eBowl002.JPG[/attachment]
A bit of sinking (dishing) forms the crown and the starting point for the raising- this is after a couple of rounds actually so you can see how gradual the shaping has to be.
[attachment=427]eBowl007.JPG[/attachment]
This is after 4 rounds or so, although not going all the way to the edge of the neckguard which has to remain less compressed to flare out properly
[attachment=428]eBowl029.JPG[/attachment]
Further along you can see where the shaping is being done- at the high 'ridge' toward the left, in this intermediate raising round shot. That ridge will be flattened and compressed as the work continues.
[attachment=429]eBowl044.JPG[/attachment]
Here you can see how the edges are being compressed further and further in, but of course the back has to be left less-so for the neckguard shape to be proper.
[attachment=430]eBowl084.JPG[/attachment]
Looking more like a recognizable Roman helmet now.
It's not really terribly complicated, it's just a long process. Basically one uses a raising hammer, which is elongated ending in a horizontal rounded face (like the cross peen of a smithing hammer), which pushes the metal forward- as opposed to spreading it in every direction as a round-headed hammer does- and a 'T' stake, a T-shaped piece of steel over which one hammers the piece in concentric circles from the inside to the edge, repeatedly. Imagine folding a piece of aluminum foil over a tennis ball- that's essentially raising although instead of folding, the hot metal is actually compressed and one retains a smooth shape. The way the edges become very undulating illustrates the compression well. The shaping must be done gradually so as to be able to compress and not fold, so the raising is done in many, many rounds of hammering out to the edge- images will help more to illustrate so here they are:
[attachment=426]eBowl002.JPG[/attachment]
A bit of sinking (dishing) forms the crown and the starting point for the raising- this is after a couple of rounds actually so you can see how gradual the shaping has to be.
[attachment=427]eBowl007.JPG[/attachment]
This is after 4 rounds or so, although not going all the way to the edge of the neckguard which has to remain less compressed to flare out properly
[attachment=428]eBowl029.JPG[/attachment]
Further along you can see where the shaping is being done- at the high 'ridge' toward the left, in this intermediate raising round shot. That ridge will be flattened and compressed as the work continues.
[attachment=429]eBowl044.JPG[/attachment]
Here you can see how the edges are being compressed further and further in, but of course the back has to be left less-so for the neckguard shape to be proper.
[attachment=430]eBowl084.JPG[/attachment]
Looking more like a recognizable Roman helmet now.