Metal LARP Costume Maintenance, Storage and Repairs

Metal armour needs constant upkeep and attention. Take it from us, if you do a little often and store your metal kit correctly, then you'll save yourself a lot of work trying to fix rust and oxidisation later.

The advice below is designed with plate armour and large surfaces in mind. If you're interested in the maintenance of chainmail – then check out our chainmail article.

Metal armour should be stored in a warm, dry environment. Even brand new and galvanised metal can sometimes develop oxidisation. Ensuring there is minimal moisture is vital and this can be achieved by spraying the metal armour over liberally with WD40 or Ballistol. Wrapping the armour in a wicking cloth, such as a technical fabric travel towel, also aids in reducing moisture.

Check your armour regularly whilst it stored so you can catch and rust or damage early.

After handling, wearing, or a long period of storage and display, all metal should be wiped down thoroughly with a clean cloth. Lightly oil the clean surface with a quality machine or mineral oil.

Store your armour in a dry place and check it every couple of months for signs of rust. If any is found, remove it by gently rubbing the affected spot with a mildly abrasive pad dipped in paste wax, oil, or water-displacing liquid.

Stubborn rust and stains can be shifted by careful buffing with an extremely high grit sandpaper; the higher the better (think 1000 grit paper). Tooling with the sanding and buffing heads of a dremel can be extremely effective. You should note that it isn’t always possible to achieve a flawless result and, while removing the rust, some of these techniques will change the colouration and shine on the metal.

WD40 seems to be the answer to every step of this advice. Storing, cleaning or repairing, you'll want to ensure that the entire surface of the exposed metal is coated in a water-resistant layer of oil, like WD40. An alternative option is metal wax. Read the instructions carefully before applying, but most processes involve using a clean cloth to rub the wax over all areas of the armour to remove contaminants, protect the metal from oxidisation and heighten shine.

If there is something that you can't seem to fix or you're usure what to do, get in touch. We can replace rivets, leather straps, patches of rust, file down sharp edges and line the inners of metal armour. We usually have lots of tools and experience to help.