The Armour Archive

So I got some thin brass and I figured I'd make some decorations. Any tips? I've never done this or really seen it done before but I can guess. I was gonna make a sandbag and all.
What do you think?

Asphaltum is the traditional backing, but other things are available. Northwest pitchworks makes some stuff that is cleaner, and smells better. Others have made their own, you should be able to find recipes online. I recommend any book by Tim McCreight.

anneal often. somwhere i have a book, i have no clue where it is, but it is really good. if i stumble onto where i put it, it is yours.

I just finished doing this. You can use pitch, which is cut with RAW linseed oil and plaster of Paris (dry) The amount varies depending on your room temp, more in winter, less in summer). Anneal your metal often and use .015â€Â

I would definately like to see the tools and work you have done recently. I always learn from your posts, and appreciate your time in doing this.

Best Regards,
Theodric

Hope to see you at Estella.

Here is the helmet I am working on. The bowl is raised from .050â€Â

Heheh, ya know, I was gonna take some real thin brass and try and poke some designs into it. This is truly art. Thanks for posting the pictures.

WOW that helm is fantastic

Sir Gaston
is that boot lacing I see holding those (lames or scale) on?

No, Japanese silk cord.
At some point I will make a sugerloaf to go over this cap. I'm also planning on decorating the rest of the armour with this type of metal work.

The reason I asked is, I just laced a pair of pants up the sides for my wife and the lace looks just the same even at the fray. By the way, that helm is to kill for. I hope I can learn to do repousse' even if its just small things.

Is the helmet bowl one or two piece?

Wow.

Wow..... **Pushes chin back up to mouth**

I am flabbergasted... That is so freaking cool...

Makes me want to through all my hammers down in the creek.

Thanks for the pics.

Hal

Yeah, It's cool! And he did most of it without "direct supervision". AND it's his first raised helm, kinda warmed my heart ta see it.


GEE! yer tho awethome Thir Gathton! *blink,blink*


Is it done yet?

Is yours, Ugo?

Awwww Shutup! shuttin'up!

ooh, what's that over there! uhh, uh, I, think I hear my mommy callin'...I gotta go! Bye!

*I'm very confused...*

But, I adore that helmet, Sir Gaston! PLEASE do post stuff like this more often on your own, rather than having to be pushed into it by a thread that suits its introduction!

Cheers, and have a happy year, folks!

-Gregory-

That is beauitiful! Please post more stuff! You are a great inspiration and I always look forward to seeing your work.

Chris

That is a sweet helmet! do post more stuff!

Sir.

First off. WOW!! Would that look great on sword scabbards or what?

Now. Do you make a platten, or pattern, in the pitch? Or do you have your design off to the side, and chase the copper by eye, over the pitch. Forgive an ignorent ol' blacksmith, but I've not done it, and would like to start a beginner project. I suppose like everything else, I'll buy some books, take some courses, and make some crap in the beginning. But I gotta do this. Awesome.

Oengus.

I draw the design on the metal, or sometimes do it by eye. I have used a photo copy of the design lightly spray glued to the metal and traced with a X-Acto knife to transfer the design.

The pitch ratio is:
6 parts pitch (Chaser's, Burgundy or Swedish)
8 parts Plaster or brick dust
1 part linseed oil or talow (More or less depending on "room temp.")

Thank you Sir Gaston.

Alcyoneus wrote:Asphaltum is the traditional backing, but other things are available.

That must be a different type of asphaltum from what I used to use in printmaking - as post-etching grease replacement on lithographic stones, and as an ingredient in hard ground for intaglio acid resist. That "liquid" stuff had a consistency like thin molasses.

I just mention it as a caution to people who're shopping around for asphaltum for repousse.

That's because this is pitch, for repousse. Not asphaltum.
I think Alcyoneus posted the wrong term for pitch. Asphaltum has pitch in it, but it is my understanding it's normally used as an etching resist.

Gregory J. Liebau wrote:*I'm very confused...*
-Gregory-

Go watch 'Beauty and the Beast' a few times.
...Cause no one's got great big boots like Gaston!


T <= runs for cover.

Gaston, would you move in next door so I can just bother the hell out of you?

DAVID01 wrote:Gaston, would you move in next door so I can just bother the hell out of you?

Find someone to buy my company and I will!

You made Gene Simmons' armor?

Hell he did those cool sunglasses for Dracula. I've looked everywhere for a knock off.... NONE FOUND

Halberds wrote:...Makes me want to through all my hammers down in the creek...

I feel the same as Hal.

Pad

Halberds wrote:Wow..... **Pushes chin back up to mouth**

I am flabbergasted... That is so freaking cool...

Makes me want to through all my hammers down in the creek.

Thanks for the pics.

Hal

Hal:

It should make you want to say, "So that's how he did that? I think I could do that, too!"

Cheers,

Will

Sir Gaston wrote:

DAVID01 wrote:Gaston, would you move in next door so I can just bother the hell out of you?

Find someone to buy my company and I will!

Let me win the lotery and I'll just buy it, move it here and give it back for the tutoring

It should make you want to say, "So that's how he did that? I think I could do that, too!"

The other way would be sooo much easier.

-Gregory-

Gregory J. Liebau wrote:

It should make you want to say, "So that's how he did that? I think I could do that, too!"

The other way would be sooo much easier.

-Gregory-

Ahh, It's not that hard, I got a repousse by numbers book at Artmart.
Don't give up. Remember after a couple dozen ashtrays you might get a helmet. Just don't put 2 grooves in it.

Thanks guys.
I'll post some shots of the finnished helmet when it's plated and heat treated.

I thought those rivets looked like Phillips screws or something.

Look froward to more pics and no.... I ain't gonna give up... You give me something to strive for.

Hal

Ps: Beside no one likes a quitter.....