A few members PMed me as how to go about finishing this helm.
Also some PMed bids.
Bids accepted in this thread only.
As a gentleman, I can not end the auction to a privet bid.
So... if I was finishing this helm... it would go something like this:
Ensure your head will pass through the opening.
If not, reposition the slat band rivet points (2 places) at the back of the beard.
A rubber mallet works good while it is still bolted together.
I like to support the top of the helm on the edge of the bench.
Then rubber mallet the back slats hanging off.
Next I would punch and drill the eyebrow rivet holes.
Decide on where you want the top teeth, weld in place or drill for rivets… or omit.
Or design your own.
When the helm fits, mark each piece on the inside, dissemble everything.
The nose and mustache are welded to the face.
Using the right angle grinder with new flap disk, blend the nose to face welding inside and out.
Grind all the rough edges and deburr the plasma slag inside the beard vents.
Toss all the pieced in the acid bath (1 gal. muriatic acid and 4gal water)
Let soak an hour or so.
Remove one piece at a time and rinse in clean water.
A magnet on a cord or tongs, work to fish them out.
Wipe down the piece quickly, with paper towels, as it will flash rust.
Now you have a pile of gray metal pieces.
Are you not glad we marked them on the inside?
Now use
this flap wheel, on the bench mounted motor buffer to sand everything bright.
I would blue the panels and apply 3-in-1 oil.
Then polish the head band and spangen bands.
Now bolt this helm top assembly together with the threads on the inside.
If you have shaped and finished the top round cone piece it would be OK to rivet the spangen top portion together.
Then I would russet finish the beard, face, mustache, back slats and eyebrows.
Apply 3-in-1 oil after finishing.
This is my favorite russet patina.
I would scrubby pad and oil the face... especially the cheek bones.
This will highlight the face from the mustache.
Some highlight scrubby pad treatment on the hair would be nice.
Give a sort of rustic weathered appearance.
Now assemble the face and beard with screws sticking inside.
This position of the screws will facilitate the rivets.
Some holes will have to be matched up with the electric drill.
I use a tapered punch to help align the rivet holes.
I like the welders vice grip clamps to assist me in this.
If everything fits and no sharp edges… rivet the face on.
Rivet the eyebrows on.
Clamp fit the beard and rivet.
Massage shape with rubber mallet.
Then rivet the back slats around the brow band.
Rivet the back band attachment points (2 places) to the beard last of all.
Insure you can get your head inside before finalizing these rivets.
Now paint it inside to retard rust and corrosion.
A good brush on enamel is nice.
Now touch up with your scrubby and oil.
This is your final factory munitions finish.
Easy maintenance user friendly.
So that is how I would of done it.
The auction winner can do it however he pleases.
He also owes me a pic of the finished work.
Hal
'cause this is effing cool.
