Wednesday, May 11, 2005
No compromise on helmets….
I want a Coppergate style Spangenhelm. And I am cheap, and broke.
I priced out steel Tuesday at Lowe's. I believe I can use the 18x24" sheet and get most of a helm, and it costs just $17.00. OK, so that might be a little more expensive than buying it as one huge 4x8' sheet, but at least it is available locally, and is of a manageable size. I am fairly certain I can cut it out with a jig saw, and drill the holes with the hand drill. I just need to find a source for the metal rivets. The steel is 16g, which is passable. I am going to do brass inset plates (over the top of the steel ones) so that should add enough thickness to the steel insets after it is thinned out. I have ordered my rivets from R. J. Leahy Company http://www.rjleahy.com/ (they were shipped Tuesday). I have bid on a Whitney punch (there were several very reasonably priced) on eBay. I will be cutting out and beginning dishing on Sunday.....
I priced out steel Tuesday at Lowe's. I believe I can use the 18x24" sheet and get most of a helm, and it costs just $17.00. OK, so that might be a little more expensive than buying it as one huge 4x8' sheet, but at least it is available locally, and is of a manageable size. I am fairly certain I can cut it out with a jig saw, and drill the holes with the hand drill. I just need to find a source for the metal rivets. The steel is 16g, which is passable. I am going to do brass inset plates (over the top of the steel ones) so that should add enough thickness to the steel insets after it is thinned out. I have ordered my rivets from R. J. Leahy Company http://www.rjleahy.com/ (they were shipped Tuesday). I have bid on a Whitney punch (there were several very reasonably priced) on eBay. I will be cutting out and beginning dishing on Sunday.....
