Introduction: Discount Viking Helmet
So, you're on a raid of Scotland's feudal communities, your longboat cruising through the northern seas, the warriors cheering as the coastline comes into view through the fog when you realize (gasp!) that you've forgotten your helmet. now what?
Fortunately, here are instructions for a stylish chapeau that at least kind of looks the part.
You'll need:
-bicycle fender
-a leather (or comparable material) belt
-duct tape
-bifurcated paper rivets
-a tuque (beanie for you non-canadians)
-wire/thread or something thin and tieable.
-large button
-cardboard
-cable tie
for tools-(I used a leatherman, but specifically.
- metal shears
-scissors
-file
-knife (basically any kind)
-measuring tape (optional)
Step 1: How Big Is Your Head?
cut the buckle and the perforated part off the belt. if you use a braided belt, it looks cool, but I wasn't interested in tying up the loose ends. anyways, you now have a strip of leather of indeterminate length.
Put on the tuque and fold the brim up, like with regular use. now, pop a strip of cardboard into the brim that goes all the way around your head. cut off excess. now, if you're impulsive, like me, wrap the belt around the outside of the brim and try to mark where it overlaps. try not to draw on your face. I made that mistake so you won't have to. If you're more cautious (sensible), measure with a tape measure.
Cut the belt so it goes all around your head with 1 inch overlapping. Then, put two holes into the overlapping leather, and bind it with the cable tie.
now, take the bike fender and flatten it a little. I used a metal bowl and perseverance. Measure your head from front tuque brim to back brim, and then cut the fender to this length.
Warning: Sharp Things Are Sharp! the metal can be jagged. file it down smooth and wrap the sharp end with duct tape
Step 2: Aesthetics Yes, Protection No
On the back of the belt, mark regular holes in the centre of it. Mine are all about 2 1/2 inches apart. stab though the belt with a knife. Turn the tuque inside out and connect the brim on opposite sides with the paper rivets, then fill in the rest. This prevents it from bunching. Turn the brim back over and slide the cardboard back in. This protects your head from the rivets and also makes the brim more prominent. The cable tie should go in front.
Step 3: Recycling Bicycling Viking
Bend the fender some more so it does not spring back, and put the wire through the button, through mounting screw hole and tie it to the zip tie. Use tape to keep wire from being scratchy or hanging in your face-y. tuck the back of the fender behind the brim and then you're ready to raid something.
27 Comments
8 years ago on Introduction
Hahaha I absolutely love it!! , good job, may be it could fool the Scots from a distance, who knows?
14 years ago on Introduction
bike fender+viking helmet=biking viking=P
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
or a vike on a bike
14 years ago on Introduction
Steel did exist but yeah it was expensive and hard to make.Most axes had a steel edge welded to an iron head.
15 years ago on Introduction
I just finished following this instructable as best I could (Who has a spare bike fender laying around?) and it turned out great. Instead of paper brads, I punched holes and threaded leather cord through, then decorated with brass thumbtacks. Instead of the fender, I used the rest of the belt (it was a 40 incher) to go over the top, and had enough extra to extend over my nose. A little trimming, and BAM! noseguard. Great 'ible! Totally saved my halloween costume!
15 years ago on Introduction
I didn't have a bicycle fender. I used a rivets and small wooden squares covered with copper tape. It looks good, but not as good as yours.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
dude you should post a picture because I don't quite understand what you mean. But also it's pretty cool that someone else made one.
15 years ago on Introduction
Awesome!
*kicks little kid off bike and steals fender*
ULAILIA!!!!
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
LOL! Redwall! I cant think of the last time I heard somone say that... Good times...
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
Redwall stole it! Look it up.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
What, do you mean the saint? Or "Absolom, Absolom!"?
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
now that is hardcore viking.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
haha!
15 years ago on Introduction
look at home maid sparklers they are cool and cheap and easy!!!!
15 years ago on Introduction
Historical Accuracy Corner: Vikings didn't wear horns on their helmets. Also their helmets weren't made of steel. Or wool-based winter hats.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
what were they made out of
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
Bronze, Iron, the skulls of one's enemies, something like. I'm not entirely sure, 'cause I wasn't there, but I think steel was invented too recently.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
They had steel, the gladius of the Roman Legonairies were steel.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
Most of the iron used in northern Europe at the time was extracted from bogs, which was, apparently, a particularly crappy task. The resulting iron was insanely expensive and usually reserved for weapon blades. (Hah! Nuts to all the naysayers who told me there was nothing to be gained, by sitting around watching History Channel all the time...)
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
Very good point, I was just pointing out they had steel. That's why they favored axes too, less metal needed + they look bad ass.