Perennial cleaning question on Semi Relic helmet

[Jeff V]

As a conservator
1. I don't support washing any helmet in water. I was merely talking about drastic measures some museums and people take to stop rust.
2. I do not support sand blasting or sanding peroid.
3. I don't support oil is not a good idea. Oiled objects gathers moisture, grim, and dust let alone drips of oil for a long time.

I have to disagree Paul. How much dust gathers in the inside of a helmet? I don't know of anyone who displays his lids upside down. Yes, oil will run down for a while but that is a small price to pay for slowing down that ugly orange rust. It is these ideas about oil gathering moisture and other nonsense which have caused many a fine firearm to have rust on it, because the surface blueing was meant to have oil on it, and in a dry state it rusted. Anyway, you guys can keep the oil off your steel and watch it rust, I will be keeping my iron oiled as I have always done.
best wishes,
jeff
best wishes,
jeff

[Michael Fay]

Hi Michael, i want you to read one of my threads on cleaning a semi relic helmet, about the same condition as yours. Scroll down a bit in the thread

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=383716

Your helmet does look pretty good .
Dont know much about Oxalic acid, but it seemed to work with your helmet.

[15parabattalion]

For preserving I use a spray bee's wax based furniture polish. Not only does this clean rust it actually darkens it nicely and dries over a period of hours or a day. But creates a protective barrier against the air so prevents rust from continuing. Not that I believe rust continues if a helmet is stored inside a dry warm environment!

I know of people who use WD40 - I see no problem with this as long as any excess is dried off with a cloth but I do not know if it will harmy any decals long term!

I also use a thicker furniture wax for heavily pitted helmets. Again this dries in hours and builds a nice barrier without damaging the look of the helmet.

So far none of my helemts have degraded in any way and my USA ones look 100% better than the flat dry colour they were before as the wax brightens up the paint! One of my Fallschirmjager helmets is holed and pitted in places and it too shows no form of degredation!

[-Peters-]

Your helmet does look pretty good .
Dont know much about Oxalic acid, but it seemed to work with your helmet.

Not exactly sure what the acid is about, but it is used to remove rust and unlike most acids, it doesn't damage anything else but the rust, even dried out leather can get back to life. I find it pretty amazing for working with relics as it removes rust easily and prevent further rusting at the same time

[Milan Gard]

For preserving I use a spray bee's wax based furniture polish. Not only does this clean rust it actually darkens it nicely and dries over a period of hours or a day. But creates a protective barrier against the air so prevents rust from continuing. Not that I believe rust continues if a helmet is stored inside a dry warm environment!

............

Hello

is this spray OK?

http://www.thefurnitureconnoisseur.c...ct_detail&p=77

[15parabattalion]

Hello

is this spray OK?

http://www.thefurnitureconnoisseur.c...ct_detail&p=77

That looks fine to me! Try it on a small inside part of helmet first to make sure there is no adverse effects!! You may want to leave it a few days just incase as you dont want the paint to bubble up and fall off...

p.p.s it even says can be used on metal so I would say it is ideal product!!!

[Jean-Loup]

"Hello Jean-Loup,
then dry it out in an oven or via a hot sunny day?
Have you ever found water damage from cleaning this way?
thanks,
Michael "

Sorry, I didnt see your question untill now.
Basicaly, this particular relic is very solid, and if you rinse it with water, it will take away the few pieces of loose rust and dirt. You can use a toothbrush as well, it may help reveal a bit more paint under dust, etc. It will dry in a few minutes in the sun.
I dont see how the water could cause any damage. I would only be carefull with the water if there was still leather in the helmet.
Washing the helmet in water once will not cause any rust problems. This helmet has obviously been wet many times before in its life.


"Wow, some strange ideas to my eyes. Wash a rusted helmet with water and a toothbrush? "

I dont see what is strange with washing a helmet with water and a toothbrush. It is a more or less standard treatment when you dig items up to get the mud off them.
On the other hand I find using oil very strange, as it spoils the look of the helmet, and makes it "dirty" to touch. The oil can dirty cloth or paper items you may have next to the helmet.

I never use any type of oils, WD, etc, on any of my relics, and have no rust problems whatsoever. I live less then 1km from the sea...

JL