UBB.threads Forums Uniform & Accessories Helmet Forum Helmet Restoration Help

I have a good condition Heer M-42 helmet. The inside liner,strap and paint is original. Someone has painted the outside post war. What could I use to remove the new paint job and restore it back the way it was when it was original.

Hi try Mr.Clean stove cleaner. Spray it on and remove it running water relatively quickly. This has worked for me in the past. cheers, Ryan

Chuck B.
I had the same problem several years ago. I found a German helmet at an antique shop in new Mexico. This was after the lady said she didn't have anything "nazi". I could tell the helmet was original simply because of the liner and chin strap. But it was painted black. I knew the Hitler Youth were issued helmets from other branches but were painted over with black paint.
So I grabed it and paid the lady the 70 bucks on the price tag then left.
The next day after I got home I called paint stores and asked about different paint solvents.
I was advised to call an auto body repair shop.
The first place I called the guy knew what I was talking about and said he had something that would do what I wanted.
I went and bought it and tried it which revealed a beautiful original Luftwaffe color blue helmet with about 70% decals.

Hi Chuck
once I bought a nice original M42 with a thick coat of post paint on the exterior.
After looking at this thing for years, I finally gave in and tipped a bottle of acetone over its head !!!
well, to my delight, it melted off all the crappy kids paint, whatever it was and left me with a very nice original painted 42.
The only thing was it had a dullness about it,almost like a wash over it, but it worked well and Im guessing it agreed with what ever was on it ??., No such luck on the next one, so the thing to do, would be to experiment a bit with different products.
I have found that original factory german paint, is actually very difficult to remove, and not many strippers or such will even touch it !!
Good luck,

Mark.

agree with the above. if it`s post war car paint or whatever, then any commercial paint stripping product should do the trick. i took a risk and bought via e-bay, an m40 helmet from germany for £18, it was sprayed on the outside bright pink with little gold stars!. when i stripped it off it was a beautiful luftwaffe, with two different camo schemes .a green and a white, with a painted around decal!.have a bucket of water at hand to remove the stripper quickly if need be would be my advice, and go slowly. good luck.

Thanks for the advice. I have used acetone and it wouldn't take the paint off. Maybe regular paint stripper will fo the job. Again thanks.