The Armour Archive

Greetings!

Well.. I have been building the last flattop helm kit that I bought from Halberds.

I was going to use the chemical gun blue on it for a finish. I decided to try a heat blue process.

I must say... it got results that were a little different than I was expecting. However... I like how it came out... I like it a lot!

I put a coat of spray penetrating oil on it to start and I will add a good coat of machine oil to it.

Edit to add:

I set the oven for 500 degrees and let it set for about an hour. Also let the helm warm in the oven as it came up to temp.

Came out spiff, the color has a brown golden hew.

I like what you did to the face plate.
Has an organic look to it.

Jolly well done.

Hal

Sweet! You wearing that at Talonvale? Maybe I can (if work goes well) get a chance to smack it there

Looks nice...
Not to derail: The last metal item I blued, I heated it up with my torch and applied transmission fluid to it when it was hot... nice shade of blue...

That mottling is where the metal goes from that lovely coppery/bronze into purple. Your oven might not have been quite accurate. That coloration usually comes around 485 degrees. Awesome color though.

Mayhaps I will get to hit it at Pennsic, my friend!

Thanks Guys!

Johann - Not a derail IMO. It may be that I also had done some "other things" to the helm prior to getting this result. As far as I know, the oven is in good working order ... it is 3-4 years old. Now it is possible it has heat variations... most ovens do.

And if y'all want to hit this helm.. y'all will have to Sir Bran of Pentamere. This is gonna be his.

I am thinking of making another of the 4-panel "Carlos" helms... and doing high polish on the bands and bluing the panels, shovel-face and back slats.

Gilebert wrote:And if y'all want to hit this helm.. y'all will have to Sir Bran of Pentamere. This is gonna be his.

Would that make reporting tougher So I might be able to hit it at SoT