M38 Fallschirmjägerhelm conservation project

[Ferdinand W.]

Hello,

3 weeks ago, I received a nice, relic German M38 FJ-helmet shell from a farmhouse
in Wiltz, Luxembourg Ardennes.

It looked as it looked, rusty and with some white splashes of paint. And unfortunately, it has a crack too.

I hesitated and couldn't decide between cleaning or not touching it any further at all.

Yesterday I decided to use an oxalic acid bath ........

Here are the pictures, would be interested in knowing your opinion !?

In addition, a very important question:

How should I proceed to do "good", to preserve it well !??

Should I oil it slightly ?
Should I use furniture wax ?
Leave it as it is now, dry !!

Thanks for any additional hint(s), I really appreciate your advice !!

Kindest regards & stay safe !!

Ferd

[Ferdinand W.]

M38 Fallschirmjägerhelm conservation project

1 picture showing the helmet after 60 minutes in the oxalic acid bath.........

The acid bath was 5%, I used 500gr of oxalic acid for 10 liters of water.

Checked the condition every 15 minutes.

[Ferdinand W.]

M38 Fallschirmjägerhelm conservation project

And here is the helmet after 2 hours in the bath.

The white paint splashes didn't come off by the bath but became soft so that I could remove them with a a pointed bamboo stick, from my kitchen......

I couldn't improve the inside. Only rust and no residual paint left.


Ferd

CafeSchumann45@gmail.com

[Nicolas P.]

Apply ren wax, it will help bring out the green color, won't be sticky like oily products and will protect the shell from rusting any further.

Good luck with it.

Nick

[Ferdinand W.]

M38 Fallschirmjägerhelm conservation project

Hello Nicolas,


thanks for your advice, sounds amazing !!

I don't know what ren wax is, I think it is almost unknown here in Luxembourg.

But I surely can find it and order it online somewhere.


Thanks again,



Ferd

[Ferdinand W.]

M38 Fallschirmjägerhelm conservation project

I found it and I also have it at home........

Will try to use it correctly...........

[HAF]

wax is good idea here becose its can rust again even at your home .good luck

[Ferdinand W.]

M38 Fallschirmjägerhelm conservation project

Thanks HAF for your advice !!


Will do that important job today and post pictures of the result then !!


Have a Nice Sunday !!


Ferd

[Ferdinand W.]

M38 Fallschirmjägerhelm conservation project

Hello and good day !!

Today I applied, following some good advice, the Renaissance Wax to my
FJ-helmet.

Here is the result.....:

Thanks guys for your "hint(s)"


Ferd

[Normandy]

Very nice, it looks like a different helmet.

[Ferdinand W.]

M38 Fallschirmjägerhelm conservation project

Thank you very much for your positive comments !!


Ferd