Cleaning rusty Indian chain mail suit .. advice sought
 

I have a potentially nice full coat of Indian riveted chain mail with most of its kapok padded liner intact . It is rusty but perfectly sound . I would like to both conserve it and enhance its appearance for display. Do any members have any tips ?

Hi
Lovely item well done on acquiring this item

Can you separate metal from the cloth liner
if so dry ice blasting is perfect for removal of rust without destroying platina

see below

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry-ice_blasting

regards
Ken

no it would not be practicable to remove the liner , sadly

You have a zirah baktar / zirah bagtar (mail and plate shirt. The lining is rare but most probably in bad condition. I know of only two reliable methods, chemical and electric rust removal. I have used the electro-rust removal method on a badly rusted riveted mail shirt with great results.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=electro

It is not badly rusted just overall light surface rust ... my aim is to stop further rust rather than to bring it back to shiny newness ...... any less drastic suggestions anyone ?

If it has red rust it has to be treated, red rust is active. The methods I mention will not bring it back to "shiny newness", that would take sandblasting or tumbling, acid etc...something a bit more aggressive.

Ken, have you used this method on mail armor yourself?

Hi Estcrh
No not used method on chain mail
I have used on a set of French breastplates, the red rust came off leaving the metal behind rust free but platina intact, You have great control with the dry ice as it uses shock freeze to loosen the rust as well as abrasives.
I was able to leave the leather straps on the breast plate and not damage them at all. The big benifit is no mess of sand or other abrasives as the carbon dioxide just sublimes away.

Quiet expensive but I had contacts😀

Ken

it is not red rust it has old brown rust .

If it is a patina then that is different than rust.

Thanks Ken, I learned something new!!!

basically it is dirty with an ingrained layer of old brown rust powder and dirt .When that is rubbed off the appearance is so much better ... but how to do this on such a scale and should I be using wax or oil , soft cloth or abrasives or what ?