repousse'?

DELETEMYACCOUNT · Post by **DELETEMYACCOUNT** » Sun Jan 01, 2006 1:45 am

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?

Alcyoneus · Post by **Alcyoneus** » Sun Jan 01, 2006 3:53 am

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.

Agnarr · Post by **Agnarr** » Sun Jan 01, 2006 4:22 am

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.

Chris Gilman · Post by **Chris Gilman** » Sun Jan 01, 2006 10:34 am

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 .015Ã¢â‚¬Â

SyrTheo · Post by **SyrTheo** » Sun Jan 01, 2006 1:14 pm

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.

Chris Gilman · Post by **Chris Gilman** » Sun Jan 01, 2006 10:02 pm

Here is the helmet I am working on. The bowl is raised from .050Ã¢â‚¬Â

DELETEMYACCOUNT · Post by **DELETEMYACCOUNT** » Sun Jan 01, 2006 10:06 pm

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.

knitebee · Post by **knitebee** » Sun Jan 01, 2006 10:07 pm

WOW that helm is fantastic

DAVID01 · Post by **DAVID01** » Sun Jan 01, 2006 11:52 pm

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

Chris Gilman · Post by **Chris Gilman** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 12:27 am

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.

DAVID01 · Post by **DAVID01** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 12:42 am

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.

Alcyoneus · Post by **Alcyoneus** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 1:32 am

Is the helmet bowl one or two piece?

Wow.

Halberds · Post by **Halberds** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 1:38 am

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

Ugo · Post by **Ugo** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 1:45 am

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?

Alcyoneus · Post by **Alcyoneus** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 3:36 am

Is yours, Ugo? ;-)

Ugo · Post by **Ugo** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 3:51 am

Awwww Shutup! shuttin'up!

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

Gerhard von Liebau · Post by **Gerhard von Liebau** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 4:02 am

*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-

Sasuke · Post by **Sasuke** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 9:44 am

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

Chris

Archie Zietman · Post by **Archie Zietman** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 9:57 am

That is a sweet helmet!

do post more stuff!

Robert P. Norwalt · Post by **Robert P. Norwalt** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 1:10 pm

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.

Chris Gilman · Post by **Chris Gilman** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 3:54 pm

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.")

Robert P. Norwalt · Post by **Robert P. Norwalt** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 4:18 pm

Thank you Sir Gaston.
:!:

Hew · Post by **Hew** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 8:10 pm

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.

Chris Gilman · Post by **Chris Gilman** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 9:06 pm

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.

Thaddeus · Post by **Thaddeus** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 9:24 pm

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.

DAVID01 · Post by **DAVID01** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 9:28 pm

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

Chris Gilman · Post by **Chris Gilman** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 9:37 pm

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!
:wink:

DELETEMYACCOUNT · Post by **DELETEMYACCOUNT** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 12:35 am

You made Gene Simmons' armor? :shock:

DAVID01 · Post by **DAVID01** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 1:15 am

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

Padrig · Post by **Padrig** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 1:55 am

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

I feel the same as Hal.

Pad

William Lee · Post by **William Lee** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 5:50 am

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

DAVID01 · Post by **DAVID01** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 8:06 am

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

Gerhard von Liebau · Post by **Gerhard von Liebau** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 11:41 pm

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. :wink:

-Gregory-

Chris Gilman · Post by **Chris Gilman** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 12:02 am

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.

Halberds · Post by **Halberds** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 12:08 am

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.....