I got this Tilley on my last trip, just bought it for the globe. Whoops look what happened maybe I shouldn't buy lamps for spare parts as some of them don't end up as spare parts. Now I'm begining to understand why it's called lamptitus, they just keep growing oh well I'm just hooked I suppose. Lucky another Tilley saved from the scrap heap.
WOW @Buggerlugs that looks so nice, a great save. How do you get that plating on the fount to shine like you do?
That's a real beauty. I thought that the coating on those tilleys was a bit fragile, must have been tricky to get it so shiny. If they bring fettling into the Olympics, the rest of us will be only looking at the silver. medal.
@Kiwi, well we call it good old fashion elbow grease with some help from a tooth brush and cleaners, first clean with Mentholated Sprits on a rag, 2nd use a tooth brush to scrub with Autosol Metal Life Saver then wipe off with a micro fibre cloth, 3rd use a different tooth brush to apply the Autosol Metal polish scrub again with your 2nd tooth brush and use a different micro fibre cloth to finally finish, make sure you dont mix up the tooth brush its best to use 2 different colours same for the micro fibre cloth. Also I use surgical gloves new ones for each process and that's how it is done. I hope that helps.
Mentholated Sprits - Is that what the Pope drinks ? - sorry old Billy Connoly joke. Top fettle tho - I have never seen that Autosol metal life saver here in the UK. Been using the polish since my first motorbike a long time ago.
Thanks Brian! ... Interestingly the Metal Life Saver doesn't seem to be available over here... Perhaps it's called something else? Is your Metal lifesaver a white paste like the 'normal' Autosol or more like a liquid type please? Thanks p.s. i had a look on an autosol website blog and it said they were bringing out one that will remove heat blueing?
Thanks, I'll have a look around and see if there is something similar.. It certainly gives good results!
What @Buggerlugs didn’t mention is that they have a direct line to the Tilley gods. Not only do they give the them skills to turn junk into gems, they also ‘guide’ them to the hidden boards of lamps... Well, that what looks like from here. Or maybe they’re just very talented and have a good nose for sniffing out lamps. Whatever’s behind it all, those boys certainly know how to turn out a lamp!
I got a Bialaddin 315 for spare parts the other week and it's a keeper! It fired up brightly and didn't need any seals. It's very scruffy looking though.
Thanks @Buggerlugs for sharing your polishing secrets with us all. I have tried to track down the metal lifesaver online it seems that I may have to travel a ways to get some, the stores local don't list it. Interesting that you are using a toothbrush to apply the final polish, I assume it would be a soft one. I have at least one Tilley hanging in the shed that I would consider past it in the looks department. I will try your technique and report the results.
@Kiwi, Its a finny thing because you look at a lamp fount, think yes I can bring this one up for sure but wrong then you look at another one and say now that's to far gone wrong again. So here is also what I do after applying the methylated sprits, look for the worst spot and start there if it comes up okay well and good keep on going but if its bad dont waste your time and effort on the rest. This is why I have a lot of spares parts so I can save the best lamps and not worry about the rest as they can be used for parts, only if the price is right of course. I will buy a cheap lamp for a number of reasons for a Hood, Globe, Bail, Fount, Pump, Upper and lower Bug catchers or even the cock control Valve this is why I believe my lamps look so good, as I add the best parts from the same lamps from my spares. Thanks.
No no no I have given my soul to the Lord, I've been down the Devil side for way too long, besides he always wants a price, the Lord doesn't.
