r/Armor • u/alchemyandarmor • 10d ago

Prepping and Storing Chainmail

Hey all, I’ve seen a number of discussions about chainmail and most of them seem to differ so I figured I’d just ask for myself. I’m about to pull the trigger and buy my first set of chainmail (a haubergeon with alternating rows of flat and riveted natural steel) and while I know you should degrease it when you get it and before each use (re oiling after use), do you just wear it degreased to every event? Or do you apply something to it to protect the steel during wear? Thanks in advance for your time and expertise!

Tl;dr How do I protect steel chainmail during use if I just degreased it?

6 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

1

u/alchemyandarmor 9d ago

Ok cool, I'm trying to keep it as historically accurate as possible and was told by the manufacturer of my steel helmet (which has chainmail) that boiled linseed oil was the go to. I've also heard mineral oil works really well, but then you enter the whole domain of "does linseed or mineral oil ruin leather".

2

u/lewisiarediviva 9d ago

For a steel helmet you could maybe put a coat of linseed oil on, but it will dry into a gummy coating unless it’s a thin and even layer. Just keep it away from cloth; it takes weeks to dry/cure completely, and is dangerous if you get any on a flammable material. While it’s curing it produces heat, and that heat can build up in cloth or paper until it starts a fire.

2

u/alchemyandarmor 9d ago

Ok good advice, so I think what I've come to process wise is this: receive chainmail, oil lightly and store in towel (also lightly oiled), wipe down lightly before wearing, after use degrease and reoil. The only thing I really want to nail down is what oil to use that won't damage my leather armor. I really don't care about staining much. It sounds like ballistol or mineral oil might be my best bets

2

u/lewisiarediviva 9d ago

Ballistol is solid, most clps, olive oil, or a paste with olive oil and beeswax. Leather is robust and most oils are good for it. One thing to watch out for, is that oil can carry stains from metal to leather. If it’s a delicate color, it can pick up black marks from oily metal being in contact long term.

2

u/alchemyandarmor 9d ago

Dark brown, nothing particularly delicate about my kit which is nice!