Adam Savage Learns Ancient Helmet Hammering Techniques!

[@tested]

The MET's Arms and Armor Department: www.metmuseum.org/about-the-met/collection-areas/arms-and-armor

[@markthomas6045]

Adam's face when he learns the helmet is nearly 2500 years old! Priceless!

[@christopherdurham1999]

"I never thought I would see such a wonderful large bucket of pitch." "This is our SMALL bucket of pitch."

[@MLeoDaalder]

And then they don't show their large bucket of pitch with the work of the predecessor still attached! :(

[@StonedtotheBones13]

​@@MLeoDaalderhonestly you're right. Back to the met!

[@hobbitdude1330]

Adam's face at 0:47 is great as he realizes just HOW old the helmet before him is

[@ingelri2]

One of the things I had to accept when making armour reproductions was that I was never going to get a piece absolutely perfect, and even the masters of armouring made mistakes. For many artists, that's a hard pill to swallow. Then you start studying original pieces up close and realize how many imperfections there really are.

[@evilbrat5376]

Have never done armor but do two & three point perspective drawing. When doing them I find that many times I miss the center point and have gone past point of no return you might say and can't go back except to maybe crumple and start over. Self butt kicking time but go on knowing mistake is there but realizing all artists can not create the "Perfect Piece" no matter how hard they try. Now know that those mistakes were ment to be.

[@glennmorganfan9411]

Reminds me of the one person in my college Clay Sculpture class. She was a perfectionist and she said an old boyfriend was the one who gave her a big piece of advice. He told her "OK, You have Perfect and you have Done......You will NEVER get the two to meet so you have to choose one".

[@RowanHawkins]

​@@glennmorganfan9411This is a common issue with software developers as well.

[@harrykouwen1426]

The main skill is to make perfect imperfections; the balance in the shape.

[@karonuva]

A lot of the time the tiny imperfections is exactly what makes something special, in any art form.

[@StormKidification]

I hope this series never ends

[@terrylong8894]

This is clearly Adam Savage Disney World.

[@jasonscott8844]

Hopefully it starts a journey down "Adam makes his own full plate armour lane"

[@danielland3767]

Adam is one of the few people that gets you excited in history like it use to be as a kid

[@terrylong8894]

@@danielland3767 If there’s a way to make watching paint dry interesting, Adam would find it.

[@StormKidification]

​@@terrylong8894 "Today we're watching uranium paint"

[@altiramoongara9968]

Very cool. Some things don't change. Pitch bowls are used in jewelry making for this sort of thing to this day. The bit about rivet holes not being spaced perfectly sounds so familiar. Even when using multi-hole punches, somehow I can never get the holes for stitching a leather piece exactly even. I agree with Adam, knowing that professionals had issues with similar things makes me feel better about my own work.

[@anonuser9367]

Having watched a lot of this series, I wondered who was enjoying it the most. At first I thought it was Adam with his frequent expressions of delight upon each new discovery. Then I thought it was us viewers delighting ourselves in Adams reactions. Then I realised its neither- it's these true craftsmen that are making direct connections with so many others- in ways that the result of their hard work placed in a display case never could. Top content all round.

[@wordsinahandle]

All 3. The craftsmen adam and us

[@86fifty]

I love these short pieces to camera from the Met, focusing on just one thing and its process, and I love seeing Adam tell the stories of HIS endeavors as a maker of prop replicas, and the official professional peeps being totally in tune with what he's saying! These always leave a smile on my face :)

[@PostalTwinkie]

1:09 is pure, uncontrollable, Adam excitement! My son does this EXACT same thing with his hands when he can't control his excitement! It is so damn cute at any age it seems! Biggest Tell in the World when playing cards with him.

[@shadbanta14]

im loving the historical arms and armor videos because ive been looking for this exact type of content

[@abbofun9022]

This Met series is truly your best ever.

[@bunhelsingslegacy3549]

I've really been enjoying this series, my armourmaster made a pitch bowl, we took over his shop after he passed. And now I finally have a name for all the tools we use for repoussé work: chasing tools! A lot of ours are modified drill bits. We do all cold work though. HE did a lot of backroom looking at extand armour pieces and the stories he'd tell about what things looked like on the inside made us feel better about our misplaced hammer marks. And I miss him with every single one of these, he would have loved watching them.

[@rodsprague369]

I ran into the same being able to understand something about a previous maker phenomenon when I looked at an ancient North American arrowhead. It was symmetrical, but had a subtle spiral to its shape. I told the person who handed it to me "This person had a dominant hand." I can make completely flat versions of similar styles of arrowhead because I am so dyslexic, I am completely ambidextrous and can switch hands before it gets a subtle spiral.

[@a_ham]

I love the picture of the Emperor Maximilian with his armorers in the background. It feels right at home in the armor conservation department at the MET!

[@RoelfvanderMerwe]

This series is absolutely incredible. Please don't stop!

[@thegodofhellfire]

These MET armor vids keep getting better and better!

[@PontusWelin]

I love that idea at the end there. We’re all just walking in the footsteps of those that went before us. I am going to try to change my own mindset more towards that in my work as a programmer. So when I see old code that looks strange or even bad, I’m gonna remember this. So lovely.

[@paullambert4445]

I did chasing, repousse, and planishing in college. Nice to see a pitch pot again. Thanks Adam.

[@-UseSoap_]

This series has been wonderful, thus far. I hope there is more to come!

[@Walsfeo]

This is a great series. Thanks for sharing!

[@damianlz]

Absolutely thank you for covering etruscan/ancient helmets!

[@ducomaritiem7160]

Years ago I made a copy of the Brocas frogmouth jousting helmet for a customer. I got about 50 pictures of the original sent to me by the Royal Armouries. I pinned them all to the wall of my workshop and realized that it would be a living hell to replicate that helmet. First there was no real symmetry, in whatever direction. Crossing lines on the top were not 90 degrees but more then 85 degrees or so. Even the number of rivets on each side was different ( well perhaps I make this up right now) and all had a different shape and distance to eachother... It took me 3 months to complete the job... It looked great though.

[@ggtt2547]

I could watch hundrends of hours of Adam and his friends over at the Met chatting about armor and it's history!!

[@chadherbert18]

Cool! I build 4 brass shield bosses over the winter and had to do a lot of work hammering (plaining?) out the little nicks from the anvil. I tried a wooden arch, to avoid the nicks, but it was difficult to work with and really didn’t work well. I think the pitch will have the right consistency… 🤔

[@glennmorganfan9411]

I never knew they used pitch as a work tool. I have so much to learn.

[@Avrohomperl]

I wonder what the distribution of academic vs maker the folks in these videos are. Clearly both are there. Very much enjoying the series, thanks for sharing!

[@RC3117]

As an avid Tabletop RPG game master, learning about how helmets are made using pitch is AMAZING. Adam, I would love to spend hours of my life watching you dive deep into this kind of topic.

[@pigsandapples]

Wonderful. Thank you for showing us. I wish today's world was more aligned with this way of thinking.

[@cenciende9401]

Uh, it still is absolutely accepting of jank (imperfection) as a result of handcrafting, it will never be unappreciated.

[@GnomaPhobic]

That feeling of connection to the ancient maker reminds me of when you read a line of poetry, or a sentence in an old novel that resonates with you in unexpected ways. Both means by which human creation and expression can reach across history.

[@Aethelgeat]

I worked on an excavation of a Native American campsite from about the time of European contact. In my square was a scatter pattern of 20-30 bi-facial thinning flakes - the narrow ridge between two flake scars that has been pressure-flaked off to thin the tool. These are only about 5-7mm long and 1-2mm across. Having tried it myself a number of times and occasionally succeeded, I had respect for the toolmaker who made them. Given the scatter pattern, it was very likely that the toolmaker had been squatting at or very close to the same spot outside the square where I was squatting.

[@beautifulsmall]

Love to see the the museum and the experts, Sean , showing these techniques. I first imagined the pitch was cast but it starts flat ? Beautiful work on the cheeks. Only by making can you know how it is done. So true. Made 5x30mm Copper rivets for an oak pirates chest. Several failed methods but finally a technique that my son could video in one shot . , hit the brass, thats what happens. its a pirates chest. I should try iron.

[@TonusStoneshield]

I look forward to the inevitable, "Adam Savage Makes a Pitch Pot in order to better cosplay."

[@Goon-124]

"OH. What a clever RUSE" The sheer delight made my day.

[@MikaelLevoniemi]

Interesting. You said pitch is pine resin when pine resin from countries it's used in actually translates to tar and english speakers are often shocked to hear some countries use tar as seasoning and they usually have to be corrected that tar is pine resin and it's better don't mix it up with petroleum pitch.

[@nathkrupa3463]

Awesome video Adam sir

[@olivialeyba9296]

I’m having metal forming flashbacks when I was a jewelry student. All. The. Annealing.

[@Meevious]

What a cliffhanger, not finding out what was wrong with the old cheekpieces. ❌😲

[@notfeedynotlazy]

What face would Adam make upon learning that Montefortino three-bossed cheekpieces were very likely miniature models of three-bossed cuirasses? Yes, Etruscan warriors likely wore armor made up of miniature models of armor pieces! Notice the word "likely", that is just ONE of the theories about those. But that's not the point. The point is that one of those pieces *MIGHT* be an Etruscan armorer thinking "how cool would it be if this armor was made of miniature models of armor?" Which is the most Adam Savage thing that you could conceive. (Longer explanation: Earliest Etruscan cuirasses were a simple square or round piece over the heart. A later style existed with three such round bosses, two over either breast, one over the stomach. Yep, just like the cheekpieces. Those cuirasses had two small lobes on the sides to which the cuirass straps were riveted. _Exactly_ like the ones you see in the cheekpiece at 4:17. Thing is, the earliest known example found of that kind of cuirass is of a later period than the earliest known example found of that kind of cheekpiece. By that time, they were already making the cheekpieces as simple triangles, without the lobes. Traditionally it was said that the cuirases imitated the cheekpieces: however, Peter Connolly (one of the best Greek and Roman historians of the XX century and one of the very first reconstructional archaeologists) argued that made no sense and the most likely case was, the cuirases came first (with side lobes that have a function), _then_ the cheekpieces in their shape (including the side lobes which have no function on the cheekpieces), _then_ the cheekpieces _without_ the side lobes. Giving that we have not found that many Etruscan pieces of armor, it wouldn't be weird to have found earlier cheeppieces but not early cuirasses. There are armors of that period that we only have pictorial examples of them but no arquelogical pieces have ever be found. According to him, every early cheekpiece would actually *BE* a pictorial representation of an early cuirass.) Of course, that is just _one_ of the historical theories (no matter how likely or cool it might be) until we actually find one of the older cuirasses. But that's not the point. The point is, as mentioned, the very possibility of an Etruscan armorer thinking "how cool would it be if this armor was made of miniature models of armor?" being _the_ most Adam Savage thing that you could conceive.

[@roasty80]

perfect timing.just finished hammering my helmet

[@ketsuekikumori9145]

The helmet being separate from the cheek pieces felt like a Looney Tunes visual joke.

[@FraxinusExelsior]

Amazing content!

[@ersikillian]

Sandbags and shotbags I'm familiar with when shaping and stretching metal. But pitch? That's a new one on me. So, my next question - where does one buy pitch?

[@brianfeeney9493]

Excellent 🎉 information Thank you

[@AlitaGunm99]

We know that lathes existed well before the time that helmet was made. It seems pretty obvious that a master form would be made on a lathe, and used to press or hammer in the roundel pattern, especially if the armorer had hundreds of identical helmets to make. Not having seen an original up close, I don't know if there are any tooling marks that would indicate or counterindicate this.

[@noahtaylor7632]

I didn’t know I needed a pitch bowl so badly

[@ducomaritiem7160]

Go for the red pitch, for it's softer then the black stuff.

[@LeVraiPoio]

Is there an advantage to the bowl being a bowl instead of a cylinder ? I got the feeling it may roll when hammering.

[@Patryn71]

I would imagine that it's easier to move around and see the different angles because of the rounded base. With something that small you aren't taking giant hammer swings, you're going to be gently and lightly tapping it, so the movement wouldn't be much of an issue.

[@mungolikescandy3270]

you use a sand bag or donut underneath and you can move the bowl around to get the easiest angle to work from (handy when you are working on something with a curved surface)

[@ckm-mkc]

Probably because it was heated on a forge fire, then used on an appropriately shaped tree stump.

[@Oldtanktapper]

It’s seated on a base while in use, either a sandbag or round ring of leather or rope etc, so it can be tilted and rotated to whatever angle you need while working.

[@HMFan2010]

I thought at first is was something like the method Bertholdi used with “Liberty Enlightening the World”-repoussé into a reverse mold-but it appears that one uses the pitch pot as a “soft” anvil of sorts. Ya learn something new every day...

[@inspectorsteve2287]

If pitch is a liquid how do they still have pitch with original hammer marks from way back when? I know pitch moves very very slowly but you would think over that long it would level out after not being used.

[@cholulahotsauce6166]

I mean, the pitch drop experiment is on like... Drop number 4? So yeah it might level eventually but not yet.

[@inspectorsteve2287]

@@cholulahotsauce6166 oh I know it goes slow. that's 94 years old I think. Look at the distance that pitch travelled. You would think a bowl of pitch with some marks that are less than a ½inch deep probably didn't level out. I guess if it was constantly used from the time the pitch was put in the bowl to today. But if it sat around for over 100 years it should be flat. Maybe I'm wrong. I guess that depends on the temp of the area it was kept as well.

[@BigBadBarker]

This serious is insane.

[@tambarlas5248]

One thing I wished was discussed here was how they heated the pitch in the bowl. Over a Bunsen burner?

[@ckm-mkc]

Probably a forge - it looks shaped for that and that was the available heat source.

[@AnnaAnna-uc2ff]

Thank you..

[@sgtmarty9682]

One of the most entertaining "making" channels I've seen recently--with armor in mind--is this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZPZq6eAqqZ2rsk The way he mixes the armor-making skill with his humorous video-editing skill is engaging.

[@NewMessage]

Man.. I don't even have a pot to pitch in!

[@padoco73]

So, pitch is just a really intense version of ooblek?

[@KSCPMark6742]

There's always a step missing in these reenactments. Where did the sheet metal come from? They didn't have roller, the metal must have been hammered flat with an immense amount of work. They'd have to work around work hardening the metal. i have never seen anyone faithfully reproduce the whole process.

[@LH782]

They should melt that pitch now so that in 100 years when the next armorer needs it they can actually use it without feeling bad about destroying their predecessors' imprint.

[@heaslyben]

Looking both backwards and forwards in time -- and it's always Ukulele Time ❤

[@ssgtmole8610]

Hurrah for more MOMA armor! 🥰😎

[@McSquirrelly42]

I'm just gunna assume Adam lives in the met armory now and the only thing I have to say about that is, does he want a roommate?

[@matdrat]

Wonder who Marvin the Martian's armorer is.

[@bumboy5348]

When bro took the helmet off the rack 🤯

[@171QA]

Cool.

[@JYD2020]

Anyone else wanna see the bigger pitch pot

[@miyawkat8018]

holy shit in the thumbnail i thought adam is with post malone 😂

[@franklubbock8400]

Man that stuff is pitch black!

[@kaboom-zf2bl]

i wonder if they would ar have recreated the making tools they would need to make a complete set of armour ... if they could use those for repairs or dressing up the actual artifacts ... ok they have an old pitch pot with an embossed relief they wont touch .. so make a replica that they CAN use ... and then recreate the original from use and reuse ...

[@jamesbarisitz4794]

I hope Adam paid his share of the rent on this mega visit.

[@TheSchmuck01]

Is it just me or does this video have a high-pitched buzz?

[@DHealey]

Interesting title ;)

[@csouverein]

I was waiting for Adam to show off his hammering skills🤔😕

[@natrelacoustix]

No matter how ancient the technique, I think you should cut down on hammering your helmet 😮

[@dr.celsius886]

Adam should see if they would let him intern there for a month or so

[@finnmcool2]

Every good workshop needs a pot to pitch in.

[@maartenvanderzwan8281]

The thing that always bugged me about classic museums is that they show " old junk" I would much more enjoy the narrative of how something was used like a scene of a bakery or a duel in a way as it was. With on the side the originals. If most of us think about for in stance a castle we imagine a "ugly" stone building. As they are now. Not the painted fiberent colors the where. Same with most armor. It gives such a wrong idee of history.

[@cenciende9401]

Correction: BCE

[@Irishfighter2010]

Love the channel, but where are the ancient hammering techniques? I just see a guy talking about helmets.

[@roryoutdoors5431]

Hey batta batta batta SWING and a miss! Ooooooh wait THAT kind of pitch! :p The leftovers from making turpentine, and the reason we have MacIntosh coats!

[@timgelder4263]

Seemed like a very incomplete description of the process to me.

[@Overfl00d]

Adam, you're loooking ghastly pale. Time to chipper up and dole about in the sun and achieve yourself a tan, matey!

[@SirRockXIII]

No Way you upload this as I'm handmaking a Mandalorian Helmet with the frame of my old PC and a ball peen hammer. Lol.

[@ducomaritiem7160]

For helmets good stakes are the trick. Pc case metal is great for hammering, it's specially made for mechanical forming. Ball stakes are a good start, but also V and reverse V stakes ( clamp a dulled axe in a vice) are the way. You also need offset stakes.

[@wiwingmargahayu6831]

youtube channel david west

[@Scorpion-so5gb]

Hello Adam 👋

[@brianfeeney9493]

I’ve heard of a BREAST PLATE , but never heard of a BREAST HELMET ?!?

[@Queue22]

Thought the guy in the thumbnail was Post Malone

[@twoshirts1842]

I thought that was Post Malone in the thumbnail

[@stoatystoat174]

🤭

[@emergingloki]

Helmet Hammering techniques? Is this one tagged kid friendly? 😂

[@galveenus8499]

Kinky

[@QuarkXQuasar]

If you're not 100% paying attention, "bucket of pitch" certainly hits the ear in a funny way.

[@StarBoundFables]

That was awesome