Back from the dead helmet...

[PZIV]

I'm going to need a lot of help on this one. Here are some pictures of a helmet I recieved. It's badly rusted and broken as well. Take a look.

http://img144.imageshack.us/my.php?i...ture001xz0.jpg

http://img455.imageshack.us/my.php?i...ture002qa1.jpg

http://img358.imageshack.us/my.php?i...ture003yq6.jpg

I was thinking spray or soke the helmet first in WD-40, then let it sit for a while. Then I would take a hammer and gently knock off the rust and wipe away with a brush. That is to get the rust off, but I don't know how to fix the cracks if even possible. I'm 16, so it's going to be hard to do all this, so if you live in Texas near me and want to help PM me. If not, just give me ideas here as to how to do this?

[Peter Wiking]

Try electrolysis: http://www.chip.com/buick/techtips/rustremoval.html

Peter

[Joe]

I would just spray that thing down with WD40 & Leave it alone.

[PZIV]

Why leave it alone?

Thanks for your posts guys.

[Joe]

To keep it in it's orginal condition. Try to Preserve it. Not Restore.

[PZIV]

Why not? I don't even know if this helmet saw action. It was ground dug along with approx 120 other ones. You really think I should just leave it the condition it is in? I think knock the rust off at least?

[Shawn Hall]

It is your helmet, do with it as you wish. That one may be a hard one to restore. How much did you pay? I will show you one I picked up from a forum member for $35.00, a DD Luft M35 ground dug.

[PZIV]

I recieved this one for free from a friend.

[MauserKar98k]

I recieved this one for free from a friend.

You have a good friend! Yeah, this one might be hard to restore. I am not an expert, but since it still has some original paint on it, I would just coat it with WD40 and leave it be. You want to prevent the lid from deteriorating even further, but you don't want to damage it further during the restoration.

Let us know what you decide to do and how it turns out!

MauserKar98k

[wh014d4394]

It is your helmet, do with it as you wish. That one may be a hard one to restore. How much did you pay? I will show you one I picked up from a forum member for $35.00, a DD Luft M35 ground dug.

this one can be restored no problem but sadly yours is to for gone evan for doctor love so make him an offer

[Eric Gaumann]

I'd vote clean it aggressively.
If you can get it near to Shawn's you'd have a nice display piece.
It's not worth much so why not?

[PZIV]

I'd vote clean it aggressively.
If you can get it near to Shawn's you'd have a nice display piece.
It's not worth much so why not?

That's what I was thinking.

[steve h]

to be honest , i think that shell is beyond restoring.soaking in wd40 is a good idea, you`ll be amazed at how much it `drinks`. as for belting it with a hammer, i think you`ll just knock holes in it. that crack is too big to do anything with. i`d just give it a good soapy wash in hot water with a scrubbing brush, dry in the oven, soak in wd40, and then display it as is. it`ll still be a conversation piece even in that condition. good luck, steve.

[Jean-Loup]

Hi

I would leave the helmet exactly how it is. It is an untouched relic, and will never be in good condition in again. If you start spraying it with WD and taking of the rust, it will neither be an untouched relic any more, nor will it be a helmet in good condition. I will just be a helmet somebody tried to clean.
Relic helmet are a class of their own, and you shouldnt view them as just trash that you can do what you want with because it is in bad condition and cheap.

Below are a few of my relics. All come from the same mass grave in southern France, they are realy "back from the dead", and I left them exactly as I found them, and as they were when they were still buried amongst the bodies.
What would these things be worth if I started spraying them, cleaning them, repainting them, etc. Nothing at all any more.

JL

[Adrian Stevenson]

I would agree with JL. Leave it alone and enjoy it for what it is: History.

Cheers, Ade.