I have a nice new olmutz style nasal helm. Problem is all armour seems to be supplied nice and shiny these days. Looking for use of the helm for the 12th century i would say mirror finish steel is a no no. Short of taking some scotchbrite to it, which i have already done does anyone know how i can darken the steel down?

assuming it is not stainless, some lemon juice will do the job.

Tod

Thanks Tod, didnt realise it would be that simple! :o) dont think it is stainless steel, find out with a magnet. i'll give it a try.

Depending on the gauge of helm and how much time you have invested in your padding you could heat blue it on the oven.

It is not that hard to do:

BUT....

Getting the helm to 'blue' evenly will be the difficulty because not all the parts will heat evenly. I suggest that you place your heaviest iron skillet on the bottom shelf of the oven, this will help stabilize the temperature of the oven when you open the door to put the helm in.

Tempering oxide colors: approximate C temp
390F Faint Straw 200C
445F Light Straw 230C
465F Dark Straw 240C
480F Brown 250C
500F Brown/Purple 260C
520F Purple 270C
540F Dark Purple 280C
575F Blue 300C
800F Dark gray 430C

Metal glowing color: with approximate C temps
1000F Very slight red, mostly gray 540C
1100F Slight red 600C
1200F Dull red 650C
1300F Medium red 700C
1400F Red 760C
1500F Bright red 815C
1600F Orange red 870C
1700F Orange 930C
1800F Orange yellow 980C
1900F Dark yellow 1050C
2000F Bright yellow 1100C

You could also use various gun bluing or browning products.

I also tried to heat blue a basket hilt that I did not know was stainless, I got a nice violet color by out of frustration hitting with a propane torch after the hilt was about about 550 degrees

Hope this helps

Why would a high polish not be right for the 12th century? But if a satin finish is what you want, I'd grab the Scotchbrite pad first off. It's just too quick and easy!

Matthew

I also agree that high polish might be Right. Polished metal takes longer to rust, is easier to maintain and we Soldiers like our kit to look nice and professional

I can not find it, but I saw a painting done in the 15th century that depicted a kneeling man in Armour. Clearly painted in was the reflection of the people around him.

vinegar will do it as well. I use Perma Blue for a deep black finish, but that might not be what you're looking for.

Thanks guys, to matthew, highly polished armour in the 12th century would cost a fortune to produce and the common soldier for instance would never have had polished armour!. And to Daniel, that as you said was 15th century not 12th, a few hundred years makes a difference.

Sorry meant to say David not Daniel.

I would consider Brownell's Oxpho-Blue for this... not a "kick ass shiney Blue" - far more muted, holds up VERY well on firearms. If you use it - warm the carbon steel just a bit. Apply with fine steel wool.