The Armour Archive

I just read part of the editor's column in Man at Arms, the arm's collector's mag by the NRA. A lot of arms that were damaged by water in New Orleans were taken to the Springfield Arms museum for restoration/conservation.

They found that those weapons protected by oil had not fared as well as those protected by wax. Those protected by wax were in better shape, and those that had been waxed while the metal, or the wax, were warm, fared the best of all.

Thats good information. Did they say how warm? I'm using wax on my armour now but if there's a better way to put it on I'd like to know!

Not hot enough to burn you, or start smoking.

Thats an old militray/basic training trick to shining shoes as well.

The shoe polish, which has a consistency like wax, is heated up with a cigarette lighter until it is a thick liquid and is then applied and let dry. Then buff/shine as normal. Works much better than applying the shoe polish in its paste form.

Hehe i second that with the boots, works great, i figured it out for my self i am always looking for short cuts.


Can you wax over an oiled piece, i may try waxing, but i am lazy and dont want to remove the oil