US Army M1 Helmet Liner Restoration Part 2

[@JMurrayInc1944]

Great video! Keep 'em coming. The community needs well-done tutorials. 😊

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

I can think of no higher compliment than to have your approval. Thank you very much!

[@ryanward8039]

A couple of days ago, I was getting totes of my old stuff out of my dad's garage and I found my old M1 helmet that my boss let me take out of the shop's junk pile 23 years ago when I was in high school.. I can't believe he was just going to send it off to scrap. I just looked at it today after I dug it out and it turns out that it's a McCord M1 with a production number of 95 meaning early to mid 1942, and the liner is about in the same condition of the one you just repaired. The suspension system is obliterated with just a few tattered pieces remaining and some under the clips. The A-frame clips have a greenish rust meaning they are brass and so I will try to salvage what ones I can and reuse those. The leather liner chin strap was gone but the clips for it remained, badly corroded, but they were still there. I have those soaking in vinegar to remove the rust on them. The locking studs are still in perfect shape and will clean up well with a light brushing. I am going to try to use as many of the old original parts and pieces as I can. I am a kind of a purist like that. lol

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Great find and I hope you can put it back into shape. I have tried in the past to save the original hardware but found it too difficult to maintain the A frames and remove the rivets within a reasonable amount of time. With time and patience it can be done and I applaud your purist tendencies! Just know that tons of original hardware is available if you find yourself with no option but to damage hardware to remove it.

[@plemieux73]

I have three helmet ww2 original. I have in 30helmats I got very nice sweet bands

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Thanks for watching! @@plemieux73

[@la-caca3]

thanks for the video, before watching it i thought restoring a liner was way more difficult, good tutorial

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

I am very glad it was helpful! Taking the "magic" out of these kinds of projects is the reason I do these videos. Thanks for your comment!

[@cubgsan]

Good day to you. I am a senior rider on HONDA from Japan. Enjoying touring ,camping and video uploading. This is so nice video Awesome!! Thank you so much for sharing! Full supported ! Have a nice day my friend!!

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Thanks for watching! 見てくれてありがとう！

[@rolfsteiner8525]

Great tutorial very well done excellent textbook demonstration

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Thanks Rolf! Great name. There was a guy who worked in Africa that had the same name.

[@jorgec.a3123]

Watched the two episodes on this and thoroughly enjoyed it! Thank you for such great videos! Greetings from Spain!

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Thank you, I hope it was helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@yeher5479]

100% what i was looking for since I recently bought a m1 westinghouse liner, thanks for the help!

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Perfect! That is exactly why I did it.

[@larryburwell8550]

well thats a good job that you did for sure. be nice if there was some of the original or repro phosphate paint around that would give the original finish with not shine with the ruff finish. thanks Larry

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Thanks for the kind words! I agree, I wish someone would make the old paint too.

[@tommybrowne8759]

wonderful work sir, if I may add one thing, old helmet paint does contain lead just a heads up.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Thanks for that reminder! That is a fact worth considering, for sure.

[@andrewtate5568]

enjoyed both parts. please keep it up. can you show us how it fits to the outer shell

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Thanks, Andrew. Of course we can look at how it works with the steel shell. I should have thought of that. :)

[@sig7798]

Fantastic video. Took the mystery out of how to fix liners. You have inspired me to try and fix a few of mine. However, I Have one question where can the rivet punch be purchased? Im ready to place an order with J. Murray but without that tool Im dead in the water. I did not see it on his website. Thank you.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

I am glad the video inspired you to repair your liners. That is why I did the videos. You can get the punch here ( www.ebay.com/itm/314129043665 ) I sincerely recommend using ebay because they guarantee your purchase. If you buy stuff directly from these guys they may take your money and never ship the item. They have over $100 of mine and never sent me my purchases. If you buy other stuff from them, use ebay. Their bad reputation is well known in this community.

[@sig7798]

Thank you for responding. I did order from ebay as you recommended. I will let you know how i do regards, Mike@@FreeAmericaChannel

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

@@sig7798I'm looking forward to hearing about your success!

[@sig7798]

Step one removal of rivets is complete. Followed your process and the rivets came out like butter. No marks on liner. Very happy with the outcome. Placed my order for liner parts and the rivet punch should be in any day. Regards, Mike@@FreeAmericaChannel

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

@@sig7798 Right on! The whole point of this video was to take the "magic" out of restoring a liner. I can't wait to hear how it goes with installing the webbing.

[@georgebenta3435]

Is there a reason why you did not sand all the old paint of? I'm also wondering if paint strippers can harm the liner material? I'm also curious if the material for the helmet liner and the ww2 bayonet scabbards are the same?

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

I did not strip all of the paint off because I was only attempting to establish an even surface to repaint. I have heard that you can use paint strippers but I am not sure how the chemicals will interact with the resin-impregnated canvas liner material. The material for the scabbards manufactured by Beckwith Manufacturing Company (BM Co) and their subsidiary, Victory Plastics, is very similar to the material in the high pressure M1 helmet liners. I don't know if it is identical, but Beckwith had a patent for shoe stiffeners (their pre-war business line) that listed the chemical composition of the plastic resin that they used to create the resin-impregnated canvas bodies of the scabbards. Both the helmet liners and the scabbards used a high pressure press to form the bodies.

[@georgebenta3435]

@@FreeAmericaChannel I asked about the sanding and paint stripping because I have an MSA liner that I am hoping to restore. But it seems to be more brittle compared to my Firestone and Westing House liners, a small crack developed on a riveted area. The inside of the liner is smoother and a bit shinier compared to the others. It has never been restored before and it has been in my family since 1947.

[@MistaFadora]

How did you attach the leather chinstrap?

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

The leather chinstrap snaps onto the small studs inside the liner. If you look at 23:15 in the lower right-hand corner you will see the stud with the chinstrap attached.

[@MistaFadora]

@@FreeAmericaChannel Ah thanks very much! I'm trying to get original leather chinstraps for my liner and would like to know how to properly connect them. Thanks again!

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

@@MistaFadora Very happy to help! Thanks for asking. When one person asks then a lot more have the same question.

[@FHS_Boys_XC]

Do you know what to do if a Liner is warped?

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

It is hard to fix a warped liner. If it is a high pressure liner you can work on it, but low pressure or fiber liners are basically goners. No matter what you do you will create other issues. I have heated a high pressure Firestone liner in the oven to 300 degrees and then put it into a steel helmet shell to regain its shape. That can have a bad effect on the paint and you should use some kind of release agent inside the shell, I used regular Pam cooking oil spray. Once the heated liner is in the shell, place it open side down and put enough weight on it to help reshape the liner. I had to do it twice on one liner for it to work but it messed up the paint and had to be degreased and repainted. If your liner has unit markings and stuff it could ruin them. I hope someone else has a better solution and can also leave a comment.

[@FHS_Boys_XC]

@@FreeAmericaChannel thanks, I picked up a Military Police helmet liner that is all white but it is super warped on one side. I paid $3 for it🤣

[@GOLDSLF]

I was given a helmet and I don’t see those clips on it or any holes to attach anything .. maybe it’s a fake ?

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

It depends. The steel shell to the M1 helmet goes over the helmet liner I used in this video. Is your helmet steel? I would be better able to help if I could see a picture of what you have.

[@dragonface6786]

How do you tie the tie string

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

I copied an original by using a standard square knot.

[@dragonface6786]

Thanks

[@dragonface6786]

I got a old M1 helmet and I've had a lot of trouble with the webbing this video was a life saver

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

@@dragonface6786 I'm glad it was helpful! That is why I do these.

[@robertmunoz7543]

No clear varnish on inside?🤔 Jman

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

The inside is still in pretty good shape so I don't think it needs it.

[@robertmunoz7543]

Forgot to compliment you on your even passes with rattle can,you wouldn't believe how many don't know how to spray paint other than the shaky hand method!🙄 Jman

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

LOL! Thanks. I learned the hard way, like I do with most stuff.

[@iamsteverogersakacapamerica041]

Can you do a restoration on an m1c helmet liner.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Yes, I can. I have an M1C that needs one "A" frame replaced.

[@YeherIsHere]

​@@FreeAmericaChannelwould love to watch!

[@mattp846]

His is a liner, made of fiber, is yours steel? It's the actual helmet shell. His liner should go inside your steel helmet.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

This is a fiber liner that goes inside the steel helmet shell.

[@robertmunoz7543]

If i had to guess which "tools" sold you the tool i would say man the line?🙄 Jman

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

I must not be the only person those guys have screwed over the years.