How can I preserve this Helmet?

[Mike123]

Hi all any ideas how I can preserve this Helmet I have just acquired please 

[Spaceman]

I guess it depends on what you mean by 'preserve'. Most of the rust you see was formed when the helmet was in a damp or wet environment but, now that it is kept in a dry condition (I assume), any further rusting will be extremely slow and probably nothing to worry about for a typical collector although a Museum might take a different view! Where the subject gets much more complicated is if you wanted to 'restore' the helmet.

[Mike123]

That’s great I was worried it would degrade further thanks for the advice 

[Chasemuseum]

Its not suitable as an object for restoration. It is a "relic". A pristine example of exactly the same helmet is easily acquired, but this does cost money.

 

As stated, keeping it dry and in a low/constant humidity environment will virtually halt ongoing corrosion. Wide variations in temperature over short time periods will expose the metal to condensed moisture and restart the corrosion cycle. Penetrating oils and grease offer protection against this but if it can be kept indoors in fairly stable conditions this is unnecessary.

Oils and grease will totally change the appearance. Frankly it looks better as a "recovered relic" than as a "preserved relic", so I would leave it alone.    

[Mike123]

Thanks for the advice 

[Flavio]

as already said by other users before me, it also depends from a subjective point of view, first of all no sandpaper or electolysis, it would irremediably ruin the stahlelm. My son and I found helmets in the field, some in excellent condition, while others unfortunately had significant damage due to rust. usually after a good wash with water we take a nice bath in osalic acid to see if there are traces of color because the oxalic acid slowly removes the surface rust, then once the acid has finished working it is washed well, let it dry and to have a nice matt effect we then give a coat of microcrystalline wax diluted with a little white spirit

As soon as I can I'll post some before and after photos of some of our Stahlelm and Adrian helmets

Edited 18 May , 2024 by Flavio