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Christopher VaughnStrever




Location: San Antonio, TX
Joined: 13 Jun 2008
Reading list: 1 book

Posts: 382

PostPosted: Sat 19 Mar, 2011 2:54 pm    Post subject: A humbling reminder         Reply with quote

Well its been over two months (Less then 3 months) since I last oiled and cleaned my suit of Armor from the greaves to the helm. I usually oil and clean it every month which usually takes me about an hour or so. Needless to say it took me well over 5 hours to clean, polish off the rust, and oil the whole suit. The suit looked in good condition as I have it on a stand in my room. Though upon closer inspection there was a lot of light rust all over. My wrists are so sore and my back is killing me as I type this post.

Please care about the Armor you have and clean it as needed or else you may fall into the situation I just went through and spend more then triple the amount of time normally needed to clean your Armor.

Happy collecting and fighting friends!

Experience and learning from such defines maturity, not a number of age
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Michael B.
Industry Professional



Location: Seattle, WA
Joined: 18 Oct 2007

Posts: 367

PostPosted: Sat 19 Mar, 2011 9:22 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Let me add that you don't want to go swimming in it either. Than you have to replace all leather and rivets too.
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Michael Bergstrom
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Christopher VaughnStrever




Location: San Antonio, TX
Joined: 13 Jun 2008
Reading list: 1 book

Posts: 382

PostPosted: Sat 19 Mar, 2011 9:26 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

You had to seriously replace all the rivets and leather??? I remember your thread, but I don't recall reading anything about doing that. Man I feel for you bro>< Ugh... Woes we learn about after we decided to buy armor.

I had never thought about all the maintenance it takes to keep up with the stuff, I sure would love to own a suit made of spring steel. But I don't have 30k just laying around lol

Experience and learning from such defines maturity, not a number of age
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James Arlen Gillaspie
Industry Professional



Location: upstate NY
Joined: 10 Nov 2005

Posts: 587

PostPosted: Sun 20 Mar, 2011 8:34 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Next time (or don't wait!) wipe it down with 'Fluid Film'. They have a website where you can find distributors (John Deere being one, last I knew). Best corrosion inhibitor I have found so far.
jamesarlen.com
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Gabriele A. Pini




Location: Olgiate Comasco, Como
Joined: 02 Sep 2008

Posts: 239

PostPosted: Sun 20 Mar, 2011 1:47 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Suddenly I'm much more affectionate to my maille... My is galvanized, but even if it was period, a good walk under the sun would remove all the rust (or at worst an hour in a cement mixer).

I just finished polishing an helm of the company (someone painted it with that ugly "forged iron grey" paint) and it was enough for me.
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Jeremy V. Krause




Location: Buffalo, NY.
Joined: 20 Oct 2003
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Reading list: 1 book

Spotlight topics: 1
Posts: 1,717

PostPosted: Sun 20 Mar, 2011 3:46 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Why does plate require more polishing than sword blades? I wasn't aware of this. If I don't handle my swords, knives, axes, whatever, they can go a good four to five months and maybe more without developing rust.

I'm not the most fastidious guy out there though and I do have a few tiny spots here and there.
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Jean Thibodeau




Location: Montreal,Quebec,Canada
Joined: 15 Mar 2004
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Spotlight topics: 5
Posts: 8,310

PostPosted: Sun 20 Mar, 2011 4:02 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Jeremy V. Krause wrote:
Why does plate require more polishing than sword blades? I wasn't aware of this. If I don't handle my swords, knives, axes, whatever, they can go a good four to five months and maybe more without developing rust.

I'm not the most fastidious guy out there though and I do have a few tiny spots here and there.


The micro climate in one's house and the place one lives in can make a difference in how often one should check for rust and do some preventative maintenance.

Amour can also collect dust and dust particles can attract moisture and be the start of rust specks.

I only have to check and clean my armour very occasionally but one time I got caught outside in a light fine drizzle I had to clean the beginnings of rust over large areas right away.

A little wipe with breakfree before going out helps keep rust from starting as long as one doesn't leave one's armour in a carry all bag over night after an event and find rust the next day when putting the armour away.

You can easily give up your freedom. You have to fight hard to get it back!
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JE Sarge
Industry Professional



PostPosted: Mon 21 Mar, 2011 6:02 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Where I live in the Southern US, I have had great luck with silicone gun & reel cloths. Some will advise against this because of chemicals involved, but quite honestly, I've been using gun & reel cloths for years without ill-effects. In fact, the only thing that I have noticed is that all of my swords, armor, and firearms stay in an excellent state of finish, requiring no maintenence even after being stored for extended periods of time without handling.

As a test, I wiped down a blade, did a cutting session with water-bottles, shook off the excess water, and stored the blade. Weeks later, there was still no rust or discenable effect to the finish. The silicone causes the water to bead up, then evaporate without causing corrosion.

The guard and pommel of my Albion Mercenary would develop mild corrosion from the slightest handling. This was a constant annoyance until I started wiping down with the gun & reel cloths.

I used to have a set of lorica segmenta that got alot of wear. It would rust if you looked at it wrong. Once cleaned and treated with the gun & reel cloth, I never had to Scotch-Brite it again. It inhibited the rust to a non-noticable level, even with continued wear and handling. Just wear, wipe down well, and forget about it.

Period authentic way to care for items? No. Does it keep rust and tarnish off? Yes. It works for me. However, your opinions and mileage may vary. Happy

J.E. Sarge
Crusader Monk Sword Scabbards and Customizations
www.crusadermonk.com

"But lack of documentation, especially for such early times, is not to be considered as evidence of non-existance." - Ewart Oakeshott
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Christian G. Cameron




Location: Toronto, Canada
Joined: 07 Dec 2009
Likes: 13 pages
Reading list: 4 books

Posts: 193

PostPosted: Mon 21 Mar, 2011 6:15 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Have to agree with Mr. Sarge. Myself, I use gun butter--a track of the Wolf Product that is not unlike 18th c. British Army oil.... but I have old cloths virtually saturated int he stuff, and every time I get a hard use, I wipe everything down.

Some silicon based stuff actually attracts water (WD40) if you aren't careful...but other stuff (for whatever reason, and I'm no chemist) seems to inhibit beautifully.

Last thing--I finish my armour polishing with a chain mail palm which burnishes. It also leaves what I believe to be a correct "field" finish. But most importantly, when used alongside a light oil, it really seems to stop the rust. My harness sits in my basement--not a finished basement. There's no corrosion, even at this time of year...

Do you folks oil the leather on your harnesses? I don't, and I'm beginning to wonder about that. I treat and oil all the other leather in my kit....

Christian G. Cameron

Qui plus fait, miex vault

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Scott Hrouda




Location: Minnesota, USA
Joined: 17 Nov 2006
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Reading list: 87 books

Posts: 643

PostPosted: Mon 21 Mar, 2011 7:07 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Christian G. Cameron wrote:
...Do you folks oil the leather on your harnesses? I don't, and I'm beginning to wonder about that. I treat and oil all the other leather in my kit....


I simply treat my leathers with mink oil. I have an old chamois saturated in the stuff and I apply it liberally. This has worked well for me over many years.

...and that, my liege, is how we know the Earth to be banana shaped. - Sir Bedevere
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Christian G. Cameron




Location: Toronto, Canada
Joined: 07 Dec 2009
Likes: 13 pages
Reading list: 4 books

Posts: 193

PostPosted: Mon 21 Mar, 2011 7:59 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Thanks, Scott. mink Oil is one of my favorites for 18th c. trekking gear. Don't know why I didn't make this connection before...
Christian G. Cameron

Qui plus fait, miex vault

www.hippeis.com
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