WW1 M16 Stahlhelm restoration

One of my latest purchases is this German ww1 M16 Stahlhelm. It wouldn't look very nice to add it to the collection all rusty, it neaded some cleaning first. So I made a video to show you how I clean a rusty helmet like this.
I'm not gonna claim this is the best or only method to clean relics but it's the way I've been doing it for some years and I've always had good results. The most important part is the heating once the rust has been removed, this is to get rid of the moisture trapped inside the metal. And then the heating when the paraffin has been applied, the longer the better.
If you have questions about the cleaning or preserving process just put them in the comments and if you enjoyed the video please like and/or subscribe for more ww1 and ww2 stuff.
Thanks for watching and see you next time!
ATTENTION! Always be careful with chemicals when cleaning relics. Also be careful with the hot paraffin, it's better to heat it slowly over low heat then trying to rush the process. If it spills in the fire it will ignite so again... use your head and be careful when doing this... Again this is my method of cleaning and preserving, not that it's that dangerous but if you try it for yourself it's on your own risk.

[@jesseberlew8554]

The assistant did most of the work

[@KG-Collection]

Like most assistants he mostly stands around looking confused...

[@ItsABucket]

That helmet is in incredible shape for a 103 year old helmet

[@KG-Collection]

Indeed a nice example for a relic, although I have some doubts this one spent a lot of time in the ground. Could be found shortly after the war and then left in a barn somewhere, who knows...

[@jesseberlew8554]

Its 2020 now so its 104 years old

[@dirks.1267]

Oxalsäure ist eine gut Idee. Ich nehmen immer zum konservieren Owatrol öl

[@EpicSmileyMan64]

Great video! Never thought i'd see a stahlhelm on the grill but i won't judge! XD

[@KG-Collection]

Thanks! When I have friends over they find it hilarious to :) But it works just fine and a bit safer then filling a pot with parafine and dropping the helmet in.

[@juleslauritsen245]

I think it's so cool someone going through the trouble of preserving history from the Great War I'm going to be doing the same thing with a size 70 shell oh boy

[@danielricardo8544]

For some reason when he pulled out the pan i thought he was gonna make supper

[@scrubhq9130]

HOW DOES THIS GUY ONLY HAVE 45 SUBS

[@kevinthorpe8435]

Preservation not restoration. I buy these damaged rusty shell's and restore them to the full colour they originally was, complete with liner and chin strap. You preserve, I restore. Looks good that shell. Definitely needs some metal primer and car body filler 😉 I've restored three of these. Using fibre glass, lot's of filler and colours. Try it !

[@davechurchill1546]

Excellent information...thanks

[@jesseberlew8554]

Nice helmet you earned a subscriber love this vid

[@KG-Collection]

Thanks for subscribing Jesse and great to hear you enjoyed the video!

[@Dog.soldier1950]

Fun fact. Often in the USA oxalic acid is labeled as wood bleach

[@generalludendorf372]

Good job Brother!!!

[@JACOPO.OFFICIEL]

AMAZING 👌🏼

[@KG-Collection]

Thanks!

[@JACOPO.OFFICIEL]

@@KG-Collection Thanks to you for sharing 👍In case I find a helmet now I know what to do, your tutorial is the easiest on KZbin! Well done and keep up the good work 😉

[@Sinky-06]

Grate vid nice and easy eny one can do it grate vid man💯💯💯

[@KG-Collection]

Thanks sinky2466, great you liked it!

[@Windows-ie6th]

I’m about to restore my helmet

[@jesseberlew8554]

Do a WWII Flashlight Restoration

[@KG-Collection]

If I find one i'll give it a go!

[@jesseberlew8554]

Okay

[@pijon7731]

Great video, you earned a subscriber :) Super vidéo, vous avez gagné un abonné :)

[@KG-Collection]

Thanks for subscribing kook, i'm glad you like it :)

[@pijon7731]

@@KG-Collection you're welcome 😉

[@christianvalade7962]

I have the exact helmet in similar condition, if I go through with this process, will it chip off any paint left on the helmet ?

[@KG-Collection]

Hi Christian, that's the great thing about the oxalic acid, it removes rust but does not effect the paint. So if you use the method I used in the video you should be able to preserve the paint. To be on the safe side start with soaking the helmet in the oxalic for 20 minutes and brush, just make sure not to overdo it. Hope this was helpfull and if you have anymore questions let me know.

[@christianvalade7962]

kgozztop thank you so much, I’ll tell you the results later 👍

[@haborka]

Coul you please tell the weight of this helm and it's size?

[@charlierumoldboi3939]

I have one that has the original paint on the outside, but inside is rusty and has thick old paint stuck to it on the inside. Where do I start with that one?

[@Moonlight.Deadite]

What about the small holes in the helmet?

[@ArnhemKnight88]

Restoration? No. Preservation? Yes.

[@koolaidria4801]

When I applied candle wax to my helmet it drys quickly and isn’t so clear but very white. How is your coat so clear?

[@KG-Collection]

Try to dry the excess wax of while the helmet is still really hot, that's how I do it. If there is still to much wax on the helmet when it cools down it solidifies and becomes white again. Hope this helps!

[@koolaidria4801]

Ok thank you!

[@albertvalencia2667]

Hi. I have an m40 helmet that I want to clean oxid with Oxalic Acid. It has a decal that I want to keep and I don't know if it will disappear with the acid. Thank you.

[@KG-Collection]

Hi Albert, oxalic acid will not remove the decal. Would recommend to clean the decal itself only with something soft like an old toothbrush or something like that.

[@albertvalencia2667]

@@KG-Collection Hello Kgo, I am calmer knowing this. I will clean the decal with a fine brush as indicated. How long does the helmet have to be submerged in acid? Thank you.

[@KG-Collection]

@@albertvalencia2667 I usually submerge it for 15 to 20 minutes, then do a bit of cleaning and if it needs more another 15 - 20 minutes and clean again. And repeat this until it's as clean as I want it. Don't leave it in for hours because you will get these yellow staines, very hard to remove again.

[@albertvalencia2667]

@@KG-Collection So I will then. Thank you very much for your advice.

[@KG-Collection]

@@albertvalencia2667 No problem and good luck, hope it turns out looking good!

[@againsthell1908]

Where do you get that acid

[@KG-Collection]

You can order it online, try amazon or ebay, you should be able to find some.

[@andrewsmith4626]

I have a helmet with the liner and all the paint but inside it has rust. Any way I can remove it??

[@KG-Collection]

You could carefully remove the liner and then clean the inside but honestly if it's not to bad I would leave it as is if the rust is not too bad. There's always the risk of damaging the liner when you remove it or the pins that keep it in place. Hard to say what is best without seeing it, but if it's al original and the rust is not getting worse I would leave it as is. You can always contact me on my facebook page and send me some pictures and I would be happy to give my opinion, but without seeing it, it's hard to say what would be best. Best regards, Kgo.

[@andrewsmith4626]

Kgo what I was thinking but the liner already isn’t in great condition. Thank you for the opinion!

[@jesseberlew8554]

Where do you get all these helmets???

[@KG-Collection]

I bought this one online, some i buy at militaria fairs if the price is right. And sometimes people who have some contact me because they know i'm always looking for them.

[@pauljorge5089]

Your best bet is EBay. There’s tons of big sellers that have lots of cool WW1/2 helmets and stuff you can get for a great price. That’s where I got my WW1 helmet.

[@Most_Sane_Californian]

Looks good enough didn’t need restoration it was in good condition

[@user-qp1pl2he7u]

да. супер

[@sigve7008]

do you know an cheaper and other stuff to use than oxalic acid

[@KG-Collection]

I have used household vinegar before. Mix with water, put the object in and check regularly if it's doing it's work. The rest of the process is exactly the same as with oxalic acid.

[@sigve7008]

@@KG-Collection does the acid smell as bad as vinegar

[@KG-Collection]

@@sigve7008 No oxalic acid doesn't have a very strong smell

[@sigve7008]

@@KG-Collection i got my m42 helmet some days ago and i wonder what amount of vinegar?

[@KG-Collection]

@@sigve7008 Never measured it exactly but I think about 250ml in 10 litres of water. Put the helmet in for 15 - 30 minutes and then scrub, if there's still rust, repeat until you have the result you are looking for. Don't forget to neutralize the acid when you're done with the vinegar treatment.

[@guennibub]

Sehr interessanter Clip. Einen M16 auf dem Grill hab ich auch noch nicht gesehen. Der Bruder meines Großvaters kämpfte in Verdun 1916. An M16 on the grill, very interesting. My grandpa's brother fought in Verdun in 1916 Very nice and greatings from Mainz/Germany. Günter My Helmet M17 restauration. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jH2QnoFrbtWqfNU

[@KG-Collection]

Hi Günter, thank you! Slow roasting a helmet on the grill, now you've seen it al :) Great work on the M17!

[@trapperdan2887]

I would use oxalic Acid

[@KG-Collection]

Hi Trapper Dan you can see at 0:43 that I do use oxalic acid

[@againsthell1908]

Dumb question is it safe to touch?

[@KG-Collection]

No such thing as dumb questions. You mean after it's completely finished? It is certainly safe to touch the helmet when the helmet is done.

[@againsthell1908]

@@KG-Collection like the liquid the helmet goes in should I be worried if I get some on me?

[@KG-Collection]

@@againsthell1908 I would recommend to use gloves to protect yourself altought I admit I don't use them myself all the time. Personnaly I've never had oxalic acid cause me burns or anything like that and it's not very agressive to the skin. But that is speaking for myself, you never know you might be allergic or something like that. So better safe than sorry, if you have gloves use them. But normally if you get a splash of it on your skin it won't burn you but do make sure to wash if you can.

[@againsthell1908]

@@KG-Collection okay thank you I should be working on a project this week

[@KG-Collection]

@@againsthell1908 Good luck, hope you have a good result!

[@stuka_bly4t102]

Ne careful at handling atopic acid without gloves

[@historyjunky1299]

That was a cleaning video. Not a restoration

[@criminalmusik2120]

Где тут реставрация? Тупо ржавый шлем законсервировал воском, в чем смысл? Хоть бы перед этим в щавелке подержал .

[@Mr.duckenmias]

Or you can just use cola

[@KG-Collection]

Cola is indeed a good alternative for the oxalic. In my experience it does takes a bit longer because it doesn't contain much acid and it's a bit more expensive. If you have to treat a helmet or other big objects you'll need at least a couple of liters.