Help and information needed on repair of original chinstraps

[John Josef]

Hello everyone.

I'm trying to find a thread related to the repair and upkeep of original chinstraps.

Normally I just lightly brush them off when complete but lately I've had a Stahlhelm come in that still has the chinstrap with it that has broken on both ends where it attaches to the hardware.

There were also two loose ones that came in out of a collection of WWI US items that were in with personal small items that were brought home. These are still complete but are cracking in a few spots and very dry and fragile. When it rains it pours from none to three in a month.

I'm sure there has to be an old tread here somewhere that addresses the care and maybe even the repair of broken leather chinstraps, but I just can't seem to find it.

Is it even possible to repair one that's on several pieces. I've seen just about everything tried over the years sewing, stapples up to adding a leather patch ect...

Any information or even just a link would be of great assistance and much appreciated.

Thanks in advance John Josef

 

[Rkinkade]

I have tried several methods over the years. I initially tried adhering the ends back together with various types of instant adhesive. I had access at work to a suppliers case of adhesives with about 25 various types meant for different applications. I was able to get an acceptable bond, but the adhesive always looked horrible even after attempts to sand and blend the repair. Some types of instant glue actually cause the leather to smoke during the few seconds the cure occurred. The method I ended using was to glue a thin strip of matching brown cloth to the back side of the repair using Aline’s craft glue. I overlap the edges with the cloth and then trim off the excess cloth after it dries. Hopefully someone else will suggest a better method.
Ron

 

[John Josef]

I have tried several methods over the years. I initially tried adhering the ends back together with various types of instant adhesive. I had access at work to a suppliers case of adhesives with about 25 various types meant for different applications. I was able to get an acceptable bond, but the adhesive always looked horrible even after attempts to sand and blend the repair. Some types of instant glue actually cause the leather to smoke during the few seconds the cure occurred. The method I ended using was to glue a thin strip of matching brown cloth to the back side of the repair using Aline’s craft glue. I overlap the edges with the cloth and then trim off the excess cloth after it dries. Hopefully someone else will suggest a better method.
Ron

Hi Ron,

Thanks for your reply I really appreciate it, if you have time, I'd really love to see a few pictures of the end result. Really interested in seeing how it turned out.

I actually have some leather glue that dries clear and retains its flexibility I've been hoping maybe someone has tried it already to see if it would work.

So far, I've been doing minimally invasive surgery, gently cleaned surface with special leather brushes and then cleaned part of it with leather soap to see the result. It's turned out pretty nice so far but want to see what others have done and what results were achieved before going all in.

MFG John Josef

 

[Rkinkade]

Hi John,

Let me look to see if I have any that I have repaired. I sell and trade off helmets from time to time and if I can find one, I will post a photo. I have the best success cleaning leather with a damp, not wet, wash cloth. That way the water does not penetrate the fragile leather. My experience with saddle soap is that a white powder will blush out after a year or so; remnants of the soap. Doesn’t really damage the leather, but a toothbrush is needed to remove. It will return again and again. In severe cases when I encounter oil or foreign paint stains, I use acetone on a dry white cloth cautiously to clean. There is always discoloration remaining, but it is improved. I repeat, in severe cases. Every piece of leather is different due to age, storage, temperature, and tanning process. They react differently to any cleaning method.
Ron