Can anyone advise on rust please?

[Blondie]

Hi,

My son has a new hobby - restoring old German WWII helmets. He is using electrolysis to remove the rust but asked me to post the following question on the forum:

"After electrolysis, does the black rust that is left, damage the metal?"

His thinking is, once the rust has been removed, to fill the cracks/bullet holes etc with metal filler, sand, and then paint.

Any advice (useful, thank you Benny) would be very much appreciated.

Many thanks,
Merrian

 

[BennyD]

Personally, depending on their condition, I would just clear coat them with varnish. Restoring them completely removes their patina and markings and will probably reduce their value, both monetary and historic. FWIW, if they are completely rusted, and are treated with electrolysis or 'Cure Rust', the black coating left is effectively stabilised rust and shouldn't damage the metal.

 

[Phil H]

I'm not a metallurgist Merrian, but the whole point of any rust treatment is to arrest oxidation and stabilise the underlying metal rather than damage it. It might be more prudent to ask if restoration devalues the helmets, as collectors like originality; some of the eBay sold prices are quite surprising.

PH

 

[BennyD]

Having checked on-line, the black deposits can be gently removed with a wire brush.

 

[TridentTested]

Personally, depending on their condition, I would just clear coat them with varnish. Restoring them completely removes their patina and markings and will probably reduce their value, both monetary and historic.

+1

I think it would be a shame to destroy that important history. If he wants new helmets I'm sure there must be many companies on t'Interweb making replicas.

 

[highlander]

Personally, depending on their condition, I would just clear coat them with varnish. Restoring them completely removes their patina and markings and will probably reduce their value, both monetary and historic. FWIW, if they are completely rusted, and are treated with electrolysis or 'Cure Rust', the black coating left is effectively stabilised rust and shouldn't damage the metal.

+2
Visual experience should match "historical expectation".........not be a "clean" alternative. Jmo mind.

 

[Blondie]

Many thanks for your advice. I will pass it on.
The helmets that he has purchased are completely covered in rust. It's only after electrolysis that he is able to see what condition the helmet is in.
He has already sold 4.
Some of them had shrapnel damage or bullet holes and the buyers were given the option of 'as is' to retain originality or 'as new'. To date, all have gone for 'original but as new'. Go figure!