Wanna clean this lid

[3mk]

Is the oil/wax part neccesary? I always thought oxalic acid stabilizes the rust?
Thanks

[Glenn66]

The oxalic removes rust and can leave just bare metal behind which will naturally rust again. Heavy rust it has trouble doing much with. Somewhere in this forum is a photo of a gas mask container which had a swim in oxalic and was back to bare metal in places.

[Dean]

do you think a spray over of clear coat would seal it after a bath in the oxalic acid/
~Dean

[Glenn66]

I wouldn't recommend it, you'd have to layer on so much clear coat it would look laminated, plus you'd never be able to remove the lacquer when it goes yellow without damaging the helmet.