Leather Firehelmet

[rawhide1]

I've been wanting to make a leather helmet for awhile now. And with our 125th Kansas State Firefighters Association conference this year. I thought what the heck. This helmet is just a wall hanger as its not NFPA approved. It will be auctioned off at the conf. with all monies going to a scholarship fund. I had fun building it and learned a lot. Hopefully the next one will go faster and smoother.

Thanks for looking, Mike

[Tree Reaper]

That looks like a lot of work!

Good look'n lid, nice job.

[clintsdivco]

That is very nice. I can't even imagine trying to figure out how to do one of those.

[Northmount]

Very nice job. Quite challenging. Do you have a pattern and willing to share it? Or do up a tutorial? I'm sure there are a number of people here that would be up to the challenge. I had a look around and there are a few YouTube videos out there. Will have to watch a couple closely to see what I can pick up.

Tom

[shooter55]

This looks great. Sure it took a lot of time and planning. Very nice.

[Imapeopleperson]

One Word...NICE.

[c2369zulu]

Very cool project and great job! I would also be interested in the pattern or a tutorial if you are willing to share. Thanks for posting.............Rory

[rawhide1]

I want thank everyone for the kind words.

I did take some pics along the way when I remembered to which wasn't as often as I should have. As far as patterns I'm not sure how much good they would do. As I will need to adjust them for the next one. Some were way off. I just adjusted them on the fly this time. All the pics need to be resized. When I get time I'll do that and post them. I would be more than happy to share anything I know which isn't much. If I get some time I'll try and do a tut. as I'm not the fastest on the computer.

Thanks again, Mike

[Alvetjarn]

Very nice looking! What did you use for a frame in it ?

Hmm, isn't it NFPA approved ?+ Strange

[rawhide1]

Thanks

I covered a off the shelf hardhat with the brim cut off. Although I think it would of held its shape fine without the hardhat shell. The brim is 12oz and 6oz veg tan with a piece of baling wire between the two. The wire helps the brim hold its shape.

Mike

[skullandbonessocal74]

Awesome job!

[Zooker]

That is cool! Nicely done.

[H factor]

Wow... wouldn't even know where to start! Nice job!

[OdinUK]

Fantastic work. I'd love to learn to make one of those.

[rawhide1]

I want to thank y'all for all the kind words.

Mike

[76Truck]

Awesome work brother. I only dream of doing that. Wish you were closer so I could learn how to master this. Looks awesome.

[rawhide1]

Thanks brother for the compliment. If I can do anything or answer any questions just give me a holler. This has went over pretty dang good with everyone that has saw it. I've been asked to possibly make some as retirement gifts. I plan on making fifteen mini helmets. One for each guy on my shift for Christmas. I have to many projects I want to do.

Mike

[footrat]

That's pretty awesome. There are a couple people out there that make leather helmets. One is a reproduction old-school lid that really only looks right with a high-eagle and a 1930's open-top pumper. There's another that makes a non-NFPA leather shell that mates with a Cairns 1010 impact cap.

[rawhide1]

Thanks

I wanted to go with the high eagle but couldn't locate any. I've also seen a lion and rooster that were pretty cool. You wouldn't happen to have a link or contact info. for those folks would ya. I've been thinking of hand carving one and making a mold so I could cast some. But buying one would be better! Does putting the shell on the cairns impact cap make it NFPA compliant.

Thanks again, Mike

[Blazin]

awesome!

[footrat]

Thanks

I wanted to go with the high eagle but couldn't locate any. I've also seen a lion and rooster that were pretty cool. You wouldn't happen to have a link or contact info. for those folks would ya. I've been thinking of hand carving one and making a mold so I could cast some. But buying one would be better! Does putting the shell on the cairns impact cap make it NFPA compliant.

Thanks again, Mike

fdhelmets.com makes a leather parade helmet. As does D'alesio Group. And Handtubs, who also are one of the biggest dealers for Phenix leather helmets.

Royce Shields used to have a website up for their offering, which was the one that accepted a 1010 shell. The website is down now, so I don't know if they're still doing them. They also sold a lot of leather shields and belts, which seemed to be their primary business. I talked in person with the guy about his helmets at the South Carolina Firefighters Convention last year, and I wish I'd had the money to buy one at the time. They were phenomenal. The filigree was depressed into the leather, instead of raised like a Cairns, but otherwise looked and felt like a New Yorker on the outside. I didn't put one on, but I'd imagine they rode well. As far as NFPA approval, it takes a LOT. While he believed (as do I, looking at the helmet) that his lids would pass, it takes the destruction of so many of them to pass NFPA testing that a small business would be crippled by the approval process. I can say this- his lids were traditionally made leather outside with a carbon fiber shell inside to support it, and the 1010 impact cap and suspension. I can't see why that wouldn't pass. I'd trust it without NFPA written inside.

[rawhide1]

Blazin

Thanks glad ya liked it!

Footrat

Thanks for the info. I kind of figured the process would include the destruction of a few helmets. I also wouldn't want the liability of a LODD. With all that said it wouldn't bother me a bit to wear a helmet I made. But the department wants everything NFPA approved. If something were to happen and I had a non NFPA approved lid on I'm not sure my family would be able to collect the insurance even if the lid had no bearing on the incident. So I stay with my Conway for now.

Thanks again, Mike

[footrat]

If your department REQUIRES everything be NFPA, do they also require you keep the goggles mounted to the helmet? Do they replace your helmets every 6 years or less? Do they inspect every piece of PPE for any damage that would preclude an NFPA rating? If not, they've got no leg on which to stand.

I wear a Houston, but it doesn't have goggles. Same helmet, no NFPA. I'm buying a New Yorker next time.

[capsterdog]

WOW.....FANTASTIC...IT SHOULD BRING A NICE PRETTY PENNY AT THE AUCTION