Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
One-Piece Raised Roman Helmet Project
#46
Quote:This tutorial seems to describe a process of raising shapes out of cold metal. Matt in the very first post mentions heated metal. Are both the approaches valid? Can you raise a helmet bowl without a forge?

I tried a little bit of cold forging and it's MUCH MUCH MUCH harder; to be honest, I just don't see it being particularly practical when hot forging is so much easier- especially given the amount of time and work already necessary to do it hot.

As for spinning, I haven't heard of any suggestion that iron helmets were ever spun- but then iron doesn't preserve terribly well so the somewhat subtle (compared to hammermarks) indications of spinning probably wouldn't be visible. Given that copper alloys can be softened and worked cold, whereas iron cannot be, I'm doubtful spinning would be likely though. It was probably already tough to do with copper alloys...
See FABRICA ROMANORVM Recreations in the Marketplace for custom helmets, armour, swords and more!
Reply
#47
Quote:I tried a little bit of cold forging and it's MUCH MUCH MUCH harder; to be honest, I just don't see it being particularly practical when hot forging is so much easier

For a given amount of "easier". One needs a forge Smile
Reply
#48
It would take a lot longer but you could heat a small amount at a time with a propane torch and work it one small section at a time. Probably not suitable for a helmet unless you were really determined but I would imagine shield bosses and the like could be made this way.

Crispvs
Who is called \'\'Paul\'\' by no-one other than his wife, parents and brothers.  :!: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_exclaim.gif" alt=":!:" title="Exclamation" />:!:

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.romanarmy.net">www.romanarmy.net
Reply
#49
Yeah- my very first trial run with raising was with just 1mm steel and an acetylene torch (plumber's torch- just acetylene, no oxygen), which is rather hotter than propane and was still extremely slow; it allowed heating a tiny area, probably 1" square or so, which proved quite impractical for anything as involved as a helmet. Even with a real forge to heat well, it took probably 35 hours for me to raise the bowl to the state it is now...
See FABRICA ROMANORVM Recreations in the Marketplace for custom helmets, armour, swords and more!
Reply
#50
Matt,

Be as it may, your helmet is awesome. The best to date IMHO. I am sure that other helmets will be just as excellent.

Of course time is irrelevant if the skill is missing. However, the skill plus the time makes for a masterpiece.

Any artistic piece requires time and extreme patience. I should know because I have been oil paiting the same landscape for 6 months (on and off).
"You have to laugh at life or else what are you going to laugh at?" (Joseph Rosen)


Paolo
Reply


Possibly Related Threads…
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  One-Piece Raised Weisenau (Robinson Gallic C) Creon01 3 1,109 02-27-2014, 04:13 AM
Last Post: Creon01
  Raising a one-piece helmet Tim Mathews 10 4,692 07-19-2008, 02:00 PM
Last Post: M. CVRIVS ALEXANDER

Forum Jump: