09-08-2014, 04:32 AM
Hi Edna, if I may, I like to throw my two cents in, since I believe in saving rather than discarding old things.
As Matt stated, it is rather difficult to be specific with restoration, but I will give you several general things you can do. There are several good products that will convert rust without metal removal. One I have use is Evap-O-Rust which I purchased at Harbor Freight. Follow the directions and submerse the entire helmet in the solution and it will come out free of rust (if fairly heavily rusted). If lighter rust, you can use Never Dull and a lot of elbow grease and it will clean up well. You can also use 0000 steel wool with or without a light oil and it will polish out with some work. If you have a buffer, you can use a fine wheel and knock the rust off without removing much metal.
Lastly, when I manufactured my helmet, I had it completely silver soldered. It is really fairly easy after watching the shop do it. Just get some liquid silver solder and a propane torch. Heat the metal, brush on some silver solder and then heat to set. This will fill in all of those small pits and will help preserve the metal for the future.
If you are a purist and only want an oiled helmet, the last suggestion may not fit your needs, but was used during some periods.
Hope this helps.
As Matt stated, it is rather difficult to be specific with restoration, but I will give you several general things you can do. There are several good products that will convert rust without metal removal. One I have use is Evap-O-Rust which I purchased at Harbor Freight. Follow the directions and submerse the entire helmet in the solution and it will come out free of rust (if fairly heavily rusted). If lighter rust, you can use Never Dull and a lot of elbow grease and it will clean up well. You can also use 0000 steel wool with or without a light oil and it will polish out with some work. If you have a buffer, you can use a fine wheel and knock the rust off without removing much metal.
Lastly, when I manufactured my helmet, I had it completely silver soldered. It is really fairly easy after watching the shop do it. Just get some liquid silver solder and a propane torch. Heat the metal, brush on some silver solder and then heat to set. This will fill in all of those small pits and will help preserve the metal for the future.
If you are a purist and only want an oiled helmet, the last suggestion may not fit your needs, but was used during some periods.
Hope this helps.
Manius Acilius Italicus
