ModernChivalry.org
Main => The Armoury => Topic started by: Sir Ulrich on 2010-09-23, 22:30:48
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So I went to NY Renaissance Faire and it was raining. Considering my kettle helm sat in my closet the majority of the time I assumed it was stainless as it did not rust. Boy was I wrong. It's got light rust stains on it thanks to the rain. Anyone know how to clean it off? Keep in mind I can't soak it in anything as the liner is riveted to the helmet itself. Should I just paint it like they historically did to armor to get rid of rust?
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hmm yours is a cas iberia/ get dressed for battle right? i am not sure if there is a covering over the metal or not. allot of times i rub down my armour with 3in1 oil with a ruff cloth. if that doesn't work i use a scotch brite (green) pad and then oil it. if that doesn't work try some 800 grit sand paper and work your way down the scale till it comes off. (lower the number = rougher the paper) i had a helmet that had some rust so i used a scotch brite pad just to find out that the metal had like a covering. not like a painted on lacker but something else odd.
hmmm looking at my get dressed for battle sallet i don't think it does, so go for the ruff cloth and then the green scotch brite pad.
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I got it at strongblade here http://www.strongblade.com/prod/sbh-kettlehelm.html
I am thinking once I clean it I should lacquer or paint it. This is actually giving me second thoughts on my purchase on that mail. Maybe being 410 bucks poorer is worth the lack of maintenance and rust.
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i think it maybe jsut straight steel.
DO LOT Lacquer IT! ask Sir Edward about that hehehe it showed every scratch.
but don't get stainless cause you fear rust. with all beauty comes maintenance.
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Yeah it has some scratches on it.... Dunno if that's lacquer or just the mirror polish finish getting scuffed.
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I use this for the light to moderate rust along with a green scrub pad.
http://www.acehardware.com/largeImage/index.jsp?LargeImageURL=http%3A//ACE.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pACE2-1200051dt.jpg
I use a drill motor and wire wheel for the serious rust. ;)
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What Sir Brian said; I use a green scotchbrite pad and Flitz (Windlass sells it) - I have a GDFB helm that has shown some rust spots since I got it. I use it for my swords as well, works just fine.
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Wow, I must be the odd man out here. I actually let most of my stuff get really rusty and nasty before cleaning it. I have not cleaned my Morion in about a month and it has got rained on twice, though not very hard and it is only showing a small amount of discoloration and some spotty surface rust. My method is what one of the living history units uses on their armor and weapons to give them a period feel and to reduve maintenance. Let it rust for a while, until the rust has that nice dark patina then clean it with gun oil (do not use wd 30, it no longer has actual oil in it, only a synthentic and does not kill rust) or similiar oil. Use a wire brush or steel wool with the oil to clean the worst with, then use a rag to reaply some oil and store or wear with the oil on. This will create a layer of "dead" rust in between the air and the steel underneath that will help to protect your helmet, sword, armor, etc. I did this with my Kettle Helm and although I have not yet gotten that nice dark patina, it is not shiney raw steel anymore either. Alternatively, you can clean all the rust off and cover it in peanut oil (a thin layer) and then bake it on. Baking can be done by cooking it in a stove or closed grill, although this heat may change the metal's properties, I'm not sure, or by placing it out on a driveway or sidewalk on a couple of very hot summer days when no rain is expected. This will create a layer between the steel and the air much like paint. The peanut oil has a dark brownish color when used this way. I have not personally done this, but I know someone in the Kingdom of Lucerne who did this with his gorget and burgonet and it looks really good. I hope this is helpful to you or someone else here.
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Well, due to inherent laziness, I'm following Matt's example- that is, not cleaning my armor. No, there're some minor rust spots that I've let live for now...figure once the season's over, then I'll clean it up. I won't be baking anything as that would require removal of the leather bits (which equates to extra work lol) but I'll keep the other stuff in mind; thanks for sharing.
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Yeah, I'm one of the worst when it comes to rust. I hardly ever clean or seal my armor, which is why I'm trying to get stainless whenever I can, and that's also a side benefit of having aluminum mail. :)
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Yea...I just couldn't justify getting an aluminum riveted hauberk. I imagine that, as my knees start to go, I'll change my mind on that one.
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ah see i love mild steel. i don't mind the cleaning it takes
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One problem with aluminum mail to keep in mind is that it comes apart. I haven't had problems with my hauberk, since I made it out of a fairly heavy gauge (it's 14g electric-fence wire, so it's fairly stiff for aluminum), and I edged it all the way around with steel links. Aluminum is a supremely bad idea for chausses, since just the act of walking will tear the knees apart. You need steel here. A riveted aluminum hauberk can develop issues over time if it's not strong enough, but it can be perfectly serviceable if it is.
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I wouldn't want aluminium mail armor, I heard bad stories about it coming apart and crap. Galvanized butted mail is way too heavy for me, as i've worn it before in a shop that sold it. Don't care much for the grey finish too...
Icefalcones mail is what appeals to me most, only issue is it doesn't have the "solid rings" that I wish it had. My only issue with cleaning the rust off of it would be the blackened finish would come off... Unless there's a way to stop that from happening or re-blackening it. Don't care much for "shiny new" armour look... I actually like things to look to some degree "worn". I'll just let my helmet get more "worn" looking and then do the peanut oil thing next summer heh.
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ah see i love mild steel. i don't mind the cleaning it takes
Ditto for me as well, besides cleaning your armor is a good way to inspect it for any potential problems with straps, loose rivets, etc. ;)
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Yea...straps are a problem. One never thinks of armor failure in the areas of the straps and tie downs but they do happen. I had one go on me right AT the damn faire...when I met you guys I wasn't wearing my MT greaves...probably just as well, I need to figure out a way to make it so that it doesn't dig into the top of my foot at the joint. Those badboys are heavy.
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Yeah, it's getting to be time for me to start picking up some riveting. I blew a rivet in a pauldron... it's the first real strapping failure I've had (and it wasn't the leather that broke).
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Yea, for me, the strap popped right off...would've left it like that too but the greave's way too heavy to be bangin up against my leg w/every step. Really like those ones too.
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straps are an easy fix. can u show me a picture of the issue at the bottom? and of the strap? i can prob tell you how to fix it. or if needs be i can fix it in the MDRF parking lot if i bring some supplies
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I sure can man...I'll take some pics over the weekend; I took some already but can't find'm. Allan was supposed to send me another strap since I lost the one that was on there, but he might've forgot.
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I got an awesome new way to clean light surface rust for Christmas that I used last weekend. A fiberglass pen. It's $6.99 at Radio Shack, and you can buy replacement tips.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3998315&CAWELAID=459232631
It's designed for cleaning small circuits and such, but it works fantastically on armor. And it doesn't leave any markings that sandpaper would. Plus, it's nimble enough to work around rivits and some of the harder-to-reach spots.
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How cool! I may have to pick one up and try it.
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interesting
oh, got your new armour stand up yet?
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Excellent! I'll have to try that! :)
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Perfect, now I know what to get to clean the rust off my helm.
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interesting
oh, got your new armour stand up yet?
Display case? No. Stand? Yes. I made 5 stands when I only had 3 sets of armor because I knew they'd get used. :D
I'm waiting on the gambeson from IceFalcon (I ordered a size too small and sent it back for exchange), received the rivited mail pliers, arming points and tabs from Historic Enterprises, and eyelets, awl and eyelet setter from Brettuns Village. The stand looks a bit "bare" with just the armor, so I was waiting til I have the gambeson w/mail attached and on the stand too before posting pics. I may swap out the single breastplate for a 14th C breast and back w/faulds from Allan at MercTailor, this breastplate looks "lopsided" to me.
I'll see if I can get some pics uploaded later today of how it sits right now, and I'll post them in my 14th C kit thread.
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Could I interest you in making an upright utility sword rack? I'm willing to pay, of course. I could try and make one, but I fear I'd just lose my swordhand in the process. I'm joking, but not really. lol
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Could I interest you in making an upright utility sword rack? I'm willing to pay, of course. I could try and make one, but I fear I'd just lose my swordhand in the process. I'm joking, but not really. lol
Let me see how this next one turns out for me, and when I post some pics, if you're still interested, we'll give it a go. I'm no professional by any means, just DIY obsessed with most things.
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Sounds great to me...you ever see Kill Bill? Pai Mei's sword rack is exactly what I have in mind...you know, for the utility swords and polearms. The really pretties will go up on the wall at some point.