Hamata

[Robert]

Salve Edge, is WD-40 a motor oil? Does this bond to the treated steel in any way like blueing a barrel? Would blowdrying using a heater speed this proces? There is no brushing or drying after your last coat.

[Gaius_Calvus]

Hi Robert,

WD-40 is a commercial metal cleaner and lubricant. It removes rust from metal and leaves a protective coating on the metal to inhibit rust. We use it in the US Army to clean our weapons after firing and field training.

You can see it here: http://www.wd40.com/

It does not blue the steel like weapon "bluing." It does not bond with it or discolor the metal in any way.

I suppose you could dry the mail after the water bath with a blow-dryer, although air drying is probably better. Heat + moisture usually = rust, though, so I would not do that, personally.

The last (light) coat of WD-40 or other lubricant is not removed -- just leaves a layer of lubricant/rust-inhibitor on the metal to prevent future corrosion.

Hope this helps.

Edge

[Gaivs Antonivs Satvrninvs]

Gaius Calvus,
A very thorough and simple explanation.Great. Perhaps the mods would consider this worthy of the "how-to" section.

[Franklin]

For what it's worth, I'd pick Rem Oil (Remington Gun Oil, found in the sporting goods section) over WD40 any day.

Also, as an alternative to jumping around in your hamata, I really liked a trick I gleaned from Tarbicus' tinning primer. Just throw the shirt in a cloth sack and toss it around for a while.

Either way, the links rubbing against each other is a great abrasive.

[Robert]

Hi Edge! Thanks for the link. Seeing the can jogged my memory and caused me to dive for the garage. YES, they do sell WD-40 in The Netherlands, and YES, I actually had a can already tucked away with the motor oils. :oops: I knew it had something to do with cars :lol: This should take care of my non-period shiny appearance before the weather warms up. A laude for your ever helpfull attitude :wink:

[Gaius_Calvus]

Anytime, Robert.

I only wish I knew more so I could be more helpful to other folks. :oops:

I'm new at Roman re-enactment, but I have cleaned a lot of weapons in my time!

Regards,

Edge

[Robert]

Yeah, well, maybe, but it's often the little things put together which cause enlightenment to the ignorant.
I'm very new to this re-enactment activity as well, having more or less drifted in as a means of promoting the themepark and doing the research on the kind of kit we would need to accurately portray an auxillia detachment along the frontier end first century. I'm not even with any group

[Matthew Amt]

From what I remember, the number of buttons on the flaps can vary. Two are shown on each flap on at least one gravestone, but the bottom pair don't seem to do anything, they're just there. The hooks connect to the upper pair. But I believe some illustrations show only one stud per flap, for the hook to connect to.

Problem is, we don't know if any of these go through only the flaps or all the way through the shirt as well! Or if the lower pair of studs are used as tie-downs, or just for looks. Some of the guys in Legio XX just have one pair of studs, and they seem to work fine with the hooks. Much will depend on the shape of the flaps and the shape of the wearer! It can also make a difference if your hooks fit very tightly behind their studs, or more loosely.

So basically, either way, as long as it works for you!

Great tutorial, Edge! We can always learn from those who go first and make all the mistakes, eh? One note about soaking the mail in vinegar--it shouldn't be toxic, but apparently it does give off hydrogen gas! So best let it soak outdoors.

Valete,

Matthew

[Franklin]

We can always learn from those who go first and make all the mistakes, eh? One note about soaking the mail in vinegar...apparently it does give off hydrogen gas!

So no open flames! The Hindenburg passengers would agree. Surely they qualify as "those who went first" where hydrogen is concerned. :lol:

[Chuck Russell]

yes, the zink that goes in the air can literally kill you. so stay far far away... send that annoying brother in law to go check it hahah jkjk

[SOCL]

Given the fact it gives off the dangerous fumes, would it be stupid or okay to let it soak in the bathroom (door closed) with the fan turned on? Reason I ask: it's literally freezing outside and I don't have a porch, much less trust anyone in my neighborhood (or the next three) to not snatch my new hamata. I also though the garage, but no ventilation there as the door's closed as I planned soaking it overnight and working on it first thing in the morning... Any thoughts about the bathroom fan?

Laudes to Edge for the how-to!

[Gaius_Calvus]

Gee, Saul -- I would not do it in the house, period. I understand about your situation, but I would definitely do this outside. Do you have a buddy's house with a porch?

Perhaps you could do it in the yard, and then sit there cleaning any firearms you have. :lol:

Edge

[Pekka]

At this point, I would like to introduce another after-degalvanizing method(if you can get lots of cheap oil, doesn't matter what kind):
Take your shirt from the degalvanizing liguid (vinegar or hydroclorid acid diluted with water) and dump it into hot oil. It should be obvious to everybody to BE VERY CAREFUL when working with hot oil (and do it outside if you can, I'm not responsible if you burn your house down).
This is to protect the riveted area in the rings; to take the water out there as soon as possible to stop the rusting.
After that you can clean the oil out of your shirt with sawdust and reoil it with WD-40.

Pekka

[SOCL]

Gee, Saul -- I would not do it in the house, period. I understand about your situation, but I would definitely do this outside. Do you have a buddy's house with a porch?

Perhaps you could do it in the yard, and then sit there cleaning any firearms you have. :lol:

Edge

Yeah, the smell of the vinegar in the bottles alone was enough to get me forced outside. I'll definitely do it outside. :lol:

[Peroni]

Matt wrote:

From what I remember, the number of buttons on the flaps can vary. Two are shown on each flap on at least one gravestone, but the bottom pair don't seem to do anything, they're just there. The hooks connect to the upper pair. But I believe some illustrations show only one stud per flap, for the hook to connect to.

I adapted the lower two studs on my hamata to be backed with a tie-ring enabling the doubling to be secured to the main body of the shirt with a leather thong.



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