Raising a one-piece helmet

[Tim Mathews]

Hello,

Been looking at some corinthian helmets. Just wondering, out of what guage brass or bronze would you use to raise one from. Would it be a thicker piece becasue the more you raise and stretch the metal the thiner in gets?

Any help please
Tim

[martijn.wijnhoven]

Tim,

If you raise a helmet the metal will become thicker. If you would dish your sheet metal then it would become thinner.

cheers,

Martijn

[Tim Mathews]

Hello,
what's the difference? If I hold it one way up it's a dish, the other way the dish has been raised from the surface. Isn't it the same thing, beating metal to stretch it into a shape?
I've just seen some helmets advertised as being 1.6mm steel raised, Ive been thinking that wouldn't this 1.6mm steel stretched be quite thin?

Thanks for your help

[martijn.wijnhoven]

Raising involves compressing the metal sheet (you can see this as “folding’ it into a smaller shape). Dishing involves bending the sheet outwards (thus obtaining a larger overall surface and hence the metal becomes thinner).

A good book to start reading when interested in the making of armour is:
Techniques of Medieval Armour Reproduction written by Brian Price (most people familiar with the subject call this book simply: TOMAR).

Cheers,

Martijn

[Matthew Amt]

Here's a fabulous tutorial from Anvilfire that will tell you a lot:

http://www.anvilfire.com/21centbs/armor ... _index.htm

It shows the making of a Norman helmet, but the methods are the same. Basically, as Martijn says, dishing is pounding on the inside of the piece to stretch the metal, while raising is hammering on the outside to compress the metal to shape.

A friend and I both had Corinthian helmets made by Joe Piela of Lonely Mountain Forge. Both were made from 18 gauge metal (c. 1mm), and ended up weighing between 4 and 5 pounds. Since originals seem to run between 2 and 4 pounds, I wouldn't go any thicker than 18 gauge!

Mind you, in ancient times the craftsman would not necessarily have started with sheet metal of a uniform thickness. He might have worked from a thicker plate or billet, allowing him to leave the metal thicker at the front than at the back, etc.

Valete,

Matthew

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

I've been looking for information on this line for years, but never get an answer like that! Laudes to you Martijn!

[Wes]

There is a book Called "The Art of Blacksmithing" by Alex Bealer. He covers some actual armoring tips, one thing I remember is a pattern for a 1 piece helmet. I keep trying to get my copy back from my brother. If we ever remember, I can scan a picture and try to post it.

[M. CVRIVS ALEXANDER]

Here's a fabulous tutorial from Anvilfire that will tell you a lot:

http://www.anvilfire.com/21centbs/armor ... _index.htm

Does anyone know how I can get in touch with Eric Thing, the author of the tutorial? I would like to ask him about the construction of his gas forge.

Many thanks,

[scythius]

Here's a fabulous tutorial from Anvilfire that will tell you a lot:

http://www.anvilfire.com/21centbs/armor ... _index.htm

Does anyone know how I can get in touch with Eric Thing, the author of the tutorial? I would like to ask him about the construction of his gas forge.

Many thanks,

PM me - Eric is an old and dear friend. His work is incredible and I say that from the viewpoint of someone who has more than a few world-class armourers in the category of 'old, dear friends'...

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

I had planned on using this very tutorial as a basis for my first helmet attempt......if I ever get a workshop......

[M. CVRIVS ALEXANDER]

PM sent.