AZPhil Posted August 11, 2020 Share #1 Posted August 11, 2020 Hello All, I hope everybody is staying well! I got a B-4 LP off of Ebay. I have to give Kudo's to the sellers camera skills. It sure looked a lot yellower in the photo's. It's dirty and dusty, I cleaned a cobweb off of the Co2 cartridge holder. The cartridges are still in there and not punctured. So anybody here do a deep cleaning on there LP before? Any secrets/advice would be appreciated. Sellers pic Semper Fi Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZPhil Posted August 11, 2020 Author Share #2 Posted August 11, 2020 Sorry, I went out to take this pic and when I came back , my edit time had expired. Here it is. This is in the shade as it was 114 out. Semper Fi Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pararaftanr2 Posted August 11, 2020 Share #3 Posted August 11, 2020 Phil, A few options, if done carefully. Since they were made to be waterproof, you can screw on the CO2 cylinder caps and close the oral inflation valves, then dunk it in clear water. Soak it a bit to loosen any accumulated surface dirt from the last 75 years. A light brushing with a soft bristle brush will help also, especially on the web straps. Start on the reverse side first. If you see any color loss, stop what you are doing. Be careful with any ink stamps that you want preserved. You can also use a cleaner on any oil or grease cleans. I've used Armor All universal cleaner in a spray bottle before with success, but again, take it easy as you don't want to damage the surface finish, just remove the storage dirt. Before you even start though, be sure to check your vintage photos of vests in service. They got dirty from use and wear and color loss from being worn under a parachute harness, or aircraft seatbelts, and also could easily get stains from the environment they were in, be it gun oil, or other fluids found in the aircraft. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pararaftanr2 Posted August 11, 2020 Share #4 Posted August 11, 2020 To compare and contrast, examples of "clean" and "dirty" life vests in service use: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZPhil Posted August 11, 2020 Author Share #5 Posted August 11, 2020 Thanks Paul, It is mainly the surface dirt I want to clean up. I'll start with a water rinse and light scrub with a soft brush. I'll try not to remove the 75 years of history it has carried or the markings that have survived this long. It has some small AAF insignia stamps I don't want to damage. I was wondering if anybody else has ever heard of using shaving cream as a cleaner?? Rub it on , Scrub and then wipe and rinse. I used it to clean leather boots in Boot camp. Those pic's are excellent example of the usage. Thanks for the Guidance!! Semper Fi Phil . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pararaftanr2 Posted August 11, 2020 Share #6 Posted August 11, 2020 I've never tried it, but sounds interesting. As mentioned before, start on the back side first and see what develops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZPhil Posted August 11, 2020 Author Share #7 Posted August 11, 2020 Will Do!!! I have some free time this weekend. Semper Fi Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueBookGuy Posted August 11, 2020 Share #8 Posted August 11, 2020 hello, if amount of dirt /stains isn't really a big one (so it looks to me, judging by photos) couldn't it be better if you leave the item as it is currently? Maybe just me, but these things (if not in relic-shape of course) looks more appropriate when aged and with signs of their use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustin Posted August 11, 2020 Share #9 Posted August 11, 2020 I don't think you'll ever get it too clean, that grime really gets into the woven fibers. You got some good cleaning advice, also a rag with hot light soapy water will get some immediate dirt off. Fielders choice for you! Also as mentioned, they get dirty. Inside aircraft of that age was a dirty environment. A couple more examples, bomber aircrew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry_k Posted August 11, 2020 Share #10 Posted August 11, 2020 Yes, Phil why you want to clean this vest? They were dirty all the time... I would leave it at all... cheers, Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZPhil Posted August 11, 2020 Author Share #11 Posted August 11, 2020 Hello Gent's, Thank you for your thoughts and comments. My main concern is the surface dirt. It has cobwebs and it 's dirty to the touch. I'm not trying to make it shine. I plan on putting this on my Phil display and I don't want that grime to get onto those other items of clothing. I'll take the cleaning advice given and I will start with a light rinse and wash with hot soapy water and a soft brush/cloth. I'll start on the back and see how that turns out. Semper Fi Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZPhil Posted August 20, 2020 Author Share #12 Posted August 20, 2020 Ok, What I did was use a garden house on a patio chair. I did this on the back first to make sure it would work first to see the results Good or Bad. It was good and I went ahead with the entire cleaning.I used a gallon bucket with a couple drips of Dawn dishwashing fluid. Foamed it up and used a sponge to wash and rinse all the nooks and cranny's, For the straps I used what I was taught in USMC to use on web belts. Wet them down, smear some Barbasol shave cream on them and then use a soft bristle brush to clean. I also address the Oxide that was already on the sling slides and hardware. I used my wife's phone for these pic's. The sellers and then mine after clean. I very happy with the straps. They went from dingy dirty brown back to the yellow. Then after the clean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pararaftanr2 Posted August 20, 2020 Share #13 Posted August 20, 2020 Looks great Phil. Well done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmar836 Posted August 20, 2020 Share #14 Posted August 20, 2020 Does look really good! Congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZPhil Posted August 26, 2020 Author Share #15 Posted August 26, 2020 Thank you Gent's, I took the gentle approach for the cleaning and tried to avoid scrubbing any area's that had a ink stamps on it. I didn't want to fade any of the mfg. dates and inspection stamps. Now I can check the B-4 off the list and move on to a B-3. Semper Fi Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m4s88 Posted April 6, 2021 Share #16 Posted April 6, 2021 Interested how the B-3 did with the cleaning being it was more cloth than the B-4. What products did you use, if you have? Any pics of before and after? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZPhil Posted April 11, 2021 Author Share #17 Posted April 11, 2021 M4s88, When I said, "Now I can check the B-4 off the list and move on to a B-3." I meant that I now need to look for a B-3 to add to my collection, Not that I was going to clean my B-3. I still have not added a B-3 yet!!! Semper Fi Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now