Hello everyone! I just got a primus 1020 AB30 from 1937. Now my questions is how to clean this lamp? Water and soap, just water? Any tips on the matter?
I always dismantle as much as I can then give the metal parts a bath in a citric acid solution. For the enamel top I use 0000 steel wool and ordinary dish washing liquid. If you're really keen, then you can polish with Autosol. If anything is stuck, don't force it too much. Penetrating oil and patience is a must.
Welcome to CPL @Chris Hendriks As suggested by Nils, a hot citric acid bath but not too long. Check the parts after 10 minutes and clean with soapy water. If needed repeat until clean. A hand full of small steel nuts placed in the fount with the citric and shaken will help remove the crap inside the tank.
@Chris Hendriks Chris, you have a grand lantern! A nice Primus 1020 is just what the doctor ordered! All good advise but be careful when using 0000 fine steel wool and soap. It is perfect for cleaning the top, but make sure you dry it well. If water gets under any cracked enamel it can cause the remaining enamel to "lift" off when you light the lantern.
I always dry things with a hairdryer after cleaning. So far I havn't had any complaints from the mrs.
@Chris Hendriks There is a lot of information about working on a 1020 in the Fettling Forum. Go to the Fettling Forum then use the search engine, type in 1020
Indeed, with patience perhaps the most important ingredient for any project like this. But on those square-headed screws like on the pricker control, both are needed in combination. Buy a good quality penetrating oil or concoct your own with 50% brake fluid and 50% aceton, and submerse the complete knob with shaft and forget about it for a week. Or two. Even then these tiny bolts can break - don't ask why I know. Yours is still there, and this might indicate this lamp is not tampered with. A lovely model lamp to start a very nice hobby with, and welcome to this site! Regards, Mike
Well, you could follow the advice given elsewhere on these forums and attack it with sandpaper and/or use Max-Strength toilet cleaner - the one containing hydrochloric acid is best, apparently. Just don't even think about using Brasso on it though, otherwise you might get stress cracks a few decades down the line...