Hamata and galvinization

[arklore70]

I have given it some thought.

I have been storing my mail in a old canvas sleeping bag cover, with linen wrapped around the doubler to prevent the leather from spotting/staining the mail.

Would a leather oiled bag have any ill long term effects on the mail? It definitely seems like the field expedient method of storage while on campaign.

The only reason I ask about the leather is that I was told that the acids/chemicals used in making a all leather sheath will over time cause black spots to appear on blades.

Thoughts?

V/r
Mike

[Dan Howard]

Linseed oil, like all animal and plant fats/oils will eventually go rancid. WD40 or mineral oil are better over the long term. Personally I would leave the galvanising intact and use a weak acid to darken it.

[Tiberius Claudius Vindex]

I still say go with the olive oil, its period correct and doesn't have a modern smell like WD-40 does. I'd also say let it rust a bit if you are portraying a soldier on campaign, he wouldn't have the time for mickey mouse measures like polishing his armor. If you look at any soldiers on campaign their uniforms are filthy and none of their metal is polished, they simply don't have the time for it.

To keep control of the rust so it isn't too overwhelming, just wear it under a coat during the winter when there are no reenactments and walk around with it. Not only is it good for your health, but it will get some of the rust cleaned off by the rings rubbing together.

[arklore70]

Well folks,

I soaked my hamata in 2 gallons of white vinegar in a 3 gallon bucket for about 10 hours outside on the porch. Prior to doing that I had the leather lining rubbed down with mink oil and then a lanolin based leather protector.

Upon immediately removing it form the vinegar, I submersed it in 5 gallons of tepid water and rinsed and repeated a few times to get all of the vinegar out of the leather and off the metal.

Following that, I towel dried the entire hamata and paid close attention to the leather lining.

Now here is where I made a hard decision. I went ahead and coated the entire shirt with WD-40. I did this to make sure it would not rust off, and sacrifice period methods to protect my investment, until I had it complete dried out.

I then placed the hamata chest side down and used various widgets such as spray paint can tops, etc, to elevate and "inflate the mail" paying special attention to the doubler. I also applied a fresh coat of the lanolin based leather protector. I used a Korean heat lamp and my ceiling fan to help finalize the drying process.

End result: on heck of a good looking hamata. In time I will give it a good coat of either linseed oil or maybe even olive oil.

[arklore70]

Not sure if this helps anyone out, but since conducting my experiments on 29 April the linseed oil treated sample has yet to have a rancid smell. The olive oil sample has a bit of a rancid funky like smell to it.

I have had my samples in the closet ever since concluding my experiments in a dry tempature controlled home.


Now, I am not a chemist, but has anyone taken a sample or a few random samples of the real Roman mail found and done any type of anaylsis on it? I would think that with a modern laboratory, that we might be able to deduce if real Roman mail was ever tinned and ever perhaps what type of rust preventive measures our brothers from the past might haved used.

That said, my hamata, which I treated with WD-40 is doing very well.

I wore my hamtata for the better part of two days straight in South Carolina, over the American Memorial Day Holiday in near 80% humidity with near 100 degree tempatures and completely soaked though my tunic, subarmalis, and on to my hamata.

I treated it with WD-40 and only that and placed it back in its canvas wrap in my trunk. I have taken it out twice since then to inspect it and still, no signs of rust at all.

While I am curious as anything to see how our Roman brothers protected their mail, I think I am going to stick with WD-40 for its ease of application and for the fact that I really can't gamble to ruin my one and only hamata.

Cheers!!

V/r
Mike

[Primvs Pavlvs]

Personally I do not believe that linseed oil will go rancid. I have used it for years to restore vintage rifle stocks, and other woodwork.

[TITVS SABATINVS AQVILIVS]

I think so too. If linseed oil went rancid, centuries of oil painting art would be stinking...

[M. Demetrius]

Can't argue with either of you on that, but there's a difference between boiled and raw linseed oil.