Oil blackening a combat kettle

schreiber · Post by **schreiber** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 10:15 pm

A good friend of mine and I started a combat kettle for him over Memorial day weekend and finished it up today.

Here's the finished product, before getting into the oil blackening.

schreiber · Post by **schreiber** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 10:16 pm

Here I am in back. The ladle has a hole in the bottom for slow-dripping the oil onto the hat. Weed burner with piezo-electric start gets things hot enough and quickly.

schreiber · Post by **schreiber** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 10:18 pm

Some of the more awesome action shos.

schreiber · Post by **schreiber** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 10:25 pm

Here's the finished product.
The problem with oil blackening is getting a super-viscous coating all over the piece. Sometimes it turns to lampblack.
This was run over a blank buff to get the viscous stuff as much all over as possible.

I've had a lot more luck in the past with totally immersing pieces - I think that it helps to get it just to the point of helping a torch combust the oil, without being hot enough to combust oil that hits it.

That's all for tonight!

D. Sebastian · Post by **D. Sebastian** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 10:29 pm

Must see hat on head.

PLEEEEASE!

(looks very nice)

Halberds · Post by **Halberds** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 1:59 am

Hey! your hats on fire!

Looks like you guys got it nice and black.
Nothing like a good ol' flamethrower I always say.

Off topic question.
Does the helm sit so far back on the head as to not need a back of neck cage?

Hal

schreiber · Post by **schreiber** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 7:36 am

Here are photos on the owner.
Yes, as you can see it sits back far enough, and we made the brim long enough in the back, that it's just a kettle and a bargrill.

It's always interesting working with him in the shop. He's a professional jeweler. You can imagine the hilarity. My favorite phrase is "Hey, we're not building a f****** watch here!"

I'm not happy with the bargrill, but it was surplus from when I replaced the grill on my Windrose hat. So it wasn't really meant for this helm.

D. Sebastian · Post by **D. Sebastian** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 8:53 am

That's cool.

Nicely done.

Ruaidhri Silverhand · Sat Jul 04, 2009 11:53 am

I have a question about blackening here. I have helped a friend blacken some small pieces like buckles and belt rings. We heated them in the forge(not even to colour) and then chucked them onto a harrow disk that had some salad oil on it and rolled them around in it. Would something like that work to blacken a helmet for combat?

white mountain armoury · Sat Jul 04, 2009 1:59 pm

I heat mine in a kiln and dip it in waste oil, it makes a nice even finnish.
I dont think rolling something around in oil will make for an even finnish.
I glass bead mine before as well to provide an "even" surface

RoaK · Post by **RoaK** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 4:51 pm

I love the brim desighn... Hell I like the whole hat...

The bar grill isn't too bad... the biggest problem I can see is the really long vertical bars not having any horizontal support in the lower face region.. They are going to get bent out of shape a bit as you fight.

Gryffinclaw · Post by **Gryffinclaw** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 11:22 am

Nice job. I like to see good rivit-work.

regards

Oil blackening a combat kettle

Oil blackening a combat kettle

Re: Oil blackening a combat kettle