Removing rust from helmets

I wonder how many good helmets have been destroyed in attempts to remove rust from them. I personally saw to that three helmets turned black in a chemical reaction before I knew how to approach this the right way. Now I shiver in horror when I see ground dug relic lids thrown in a electrolysis bath or brushed with "rust remover" or metal brushes, making the helmet worthless and ugly. My friend Andris thaught me how to get the rust off and still have a nice patinated helmet and at the same time preserve paint and decals hidden under the red stuff.

This is a very simple process and is best done in a well ventilated area, or the kitchen if the missus is away. You`ll need a few things :

• Plastic tray,bucket etc.

• Safety goggles and gloves

• A stiff brush , a hemp dish brush or nail brush for example

• Oxalic Acid , check with your local pharmacist or hardware store

• Kitchen towel

• Rusty object

• Put the pieces into the tub or bucket and cover it with cold water. Then I use a tablespoon of Oxalic Acid pr 10 liter water and stir it good.

• Now you ll see the water getting a yellow hue to it, so just leave it for 20-30 minutes. Keep any children and/or pets away, you dont want them drink this or inhale the fumes.

• When time is up move the piece from the acid to running water where you brush it and you`ll see rust just running of. You might want to give it another 20 minutes in the acid, it depends how rusted it is and how much you want to work with it. When satisfied with it, place the pieces in a bucket of fresh water for a few hours and then give it a light brushing under running water before lightly padding them with a towl and letting them air dry.

• So a lot of rust came of this one, but as feared some of the green paint came off in the process.I was happy though because under the rust and the top layer of paint was remains of a decal which I never would have seen if it hadn`t been for the oxalic acid.

• Beware that if the item stays too long in the acid it might turn yellow!