Leather flying helmet
 | Leather flying helmet |  |
 Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:26 am |
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| Acorn |
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| Joined: 11 Oct 2007 |
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| Location: UK |
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I bought a leather flying helmet on Ebay but it is cracked and a little stiff.
Having spent half an hour rubbing linseed oil into it made little difference.
Has anybody any idea how I can get my helmet nice shiny and soft again so that I can display it with pride as I ride my moped about the village.
Acorn |
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| Re: Leather flying helmet | |
| Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 1:24 am |
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| webbo |
| professor |
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| Joined: 25 Sep 2006 |
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| Acorn wrote: |
I bought a leather flying helmet on Ebay but it is cracked and a little stiff.
Having spent half an hour rubbing linseed oil into it made little difference.
Has anybody any idea how I can get my helmet nice shiny and soft again so that I can display it with pride as I ride my moped about the village.
Acorn |
 Are hard helmets not the law here then 
bubbles x  |
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| Re: Leather flying helmet | |
| Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 2:17 am |
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| GorillaGal |
| professor |
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| Joined: 09 Aug 2006 |
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| Location: new york |
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| Acorn wrote: |
I bought a leather flying helmet on Ebay but it is cracked and a little stiff.
Having spent half an hour rubbing linseed oil into it made little difference.
Has anybody any idea how I can get my helmet nice shiny and soft again so that I can display it with pride as I ride my moped about the village.
Acorn |
get your girlfriend to rub it.  |
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| Re: Leather flying helmet | |
| Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 3:24 am |
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| kafenes |
| lecturer |
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| Joined: 25 Feb 2007 |
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| Location: Paphos |
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| GorillaGal wrote: |
| Acorn wrote: |
I bought a leather flying helmet on Ebay but it is cracked and a little stiff.
Having spent half an hour rubbing linseed oil into it made little difference.
Has anybody any idea how I can get my helmet nice shiny and soft again so that I can display it with pride as I ride my moped about the village.
Acorn |
get your girlfriend to rub it. |
GG, he wants it softer not harder.  |
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| Re: Leather flying helmet | |
| Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 5:36 am |
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| GorillaGal |
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| Joined: 09 Aug 2006 |
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| kafenes wrote: |
| GorillaGal wrote: |
| Acorn wrote: |
I bought a leather flying helmet on Ebay but it is cracked and a little stiff.
Having spent half an hour rubbing linseed oil into it made little difference.
Has anybody any idea how I can get my helmet nice shiny and soft again so that I can display it with pride as I ride my moped about the village.
Acorn |
get your girlfriend to rub it. |
GG, he wants it softer not harder. |
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| Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 6:36 am |
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| Bill |
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| Joined: 16 May 2006 |
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| Location: ~ Sunny South East Coast of Cyprus |
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Bloody hell ~~ at my age I'm constantly worried about my helmet getting softer ~~ luckily it hasn't happened yet but I guess it's an eventuality caused by advancing years .
My advice would be to slap a good dollop of saddle soap on your helmet and rub vigorously until it goes soft ~ you may have to wipe off the excess after~~getting someone else to help you with this task is recommended to prevent repetitive strain injury.
You can seek professional help for this stiffening problem but quite often good results can be obtained by doing your self ~~ and it's a dammed sight cheaper
Depending on the age of your helmet will determine how often you will have to carry out this procedure as the younger your helmet is the quicker it will become a problem again.
Leaving it in a warm and damp place overnight will have an adverse effect on your helmet as I have found from experience it soon becomes hard again and the problem returns requiring professional help or if funds are low another session of vigorous rubbing.
As for displaying it with pride around the village ~ well that's a good idea and may well provide a few solutions and assistance to the softening procedure but please be careful your helmet is in good condition and your pride can be seen otherwise you may have to resort to doing it your self ~ much to the amusement of your neighbours who will probably not want to shake your hand ever again
Bill |
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| Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 8:51 am |
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| Phill |
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I agree with Bill that a vigorous rubbing whilst maintaining a good wrist action is the only way to ensure the perfect result. Latex gloves are a good idea, providing you maintain a reasonable rhythm, otherwise they will split and you could end up with a burnt palm.
Saddle soap is perfect for tough old leather (so my grandfather told me) but be sure to use it sparingly or you could end up with a damaged surface, leaving you with a discoloured, rough and gritty finish, with a tight and uncomfortable fit..... |
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| Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 9:54 am |
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| twinkle |
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It will not protect your head if you fall off the moped. Having witnessed a terrible accident last year where the poor kid's head was the size of a watermelon after he fell of his bike....he wasn't wearing a helmet (and didn't survive).
Use your noodle and wear a proper helmet. Save the leather one for a display cabinet or the bedroom  |
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| Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:29 am |
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| Acorn |
| advanced member |
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I live in a small village and the local bobby does not mind me showing off my helmet while riding my moped but maybe I should get a harder one as suggested just in case I fall off.
Thank you everyone for the advice given, I have spent a very happy half hour in my garage rubbing my helmet with saddle soap. Dot says she does not want it in the bedroom.
By the way … what has my helmet got to do with tourism
Acorn Dave |
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| Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 5:02 pm |
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| Bill |
| lecturer |
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| Joined: 16 May 2006 |
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| Location: ~ Sunny South East Coast of Cyprus |
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| Acorn wrote: |
Dot says she does not want it in the bedroom.
By the way … what has my helmet got to do with tourism
Acorn Dave |
Poor Dot ~~ as much as you personally admire your helmet shes probably sick to death of looking at it over the years as she wakes each morning ~~ as no doubt you enthusiastically show it to her at every opportunity ~~
Try showing it to her in other locations and surprise her ~~ then you might awaken a dormant interest ~~ whipping it out at the beach or if you are really brave at a restaurant could have interesting results ~~ this could if your helmet is a good example impress others if Dot's still not interested.
I was surprised at this being in the tourist section too ~~ but really when you think about it I can see the point as the sight of you riding about the village showing off your helmet could soon become a local attraction.
I wouldn't bother with a hard hat personally if you are showing off your helmet as it's not as if it's a dangerous activity ~~~~~ if you fall off just get back on and continue riding ~ just be more careful and go a bit slower.
Bill |
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