Hi, Just another quick question.... One of the 246A with a blown bottom.......... has anyone found a way to flatten it out again? thanks Andy
Andy The safest answer is no. Read through this thread: Tilley Guardsman font base ballooning Cheers Tony
In my opinion, it's a waste of time to try and that lantern will be useful for spares. The Tilley X246a is a fairly common lantern, so others will turn up.
I have 3 of them... I have decided to keep 2 of each type so I have reached my quota for the 246a...... just a shame its the best condition one in the middle lol whats the best way to deral with the dull bases, paint or polish or just leave as they are ??? Thanks Andy
That is definitely not easy. You'll need some dedicated sheet metal forming equipment as your basic toolings, technique and most probably professional craftsman-level skills for a decent outcome. The base piece has been basically stretched out-permanently. Even if you have proper equipment to unfold and re-fold the bottom rim seam and re-solder the seam joint, that'll fatigue or stress the metal further, which would render it useless later. Probably, initiate some stress cracks in the process too. But you could still use it as a practice piece. Maybe you could try filling the fount full with some fine salt, seal it and use a nylon head mallet and some dollies to gently tap it back in. After that, you'll need to find some means to wet and fill the seam from the inside with solder to strengthen and stiffen the base and joint. That's pretty tough actually.
I know you can get motorbike fuel tanks resealed with a coating on the inside... I may try the filling it with sand idea then have it sealed inside,,,,, if i can find someone local to do it ??? Just ideas at the moment..........
@Andy-H The tank seal kit you can use to attempt the repair (I’ve used it on irreplaceable lamps) will cost you three times more than a Tilley X246B. Read what people have already said about this issue. Buying a new tank or lantern is the safest and cheapest option - and you get money for scrap metal for the old tank. Cheers Tony
I wasnt sure about the cost to be honest.... I have 2 so that's filled my 246A allocation........ maybe ill bung a bulb in of its not going to make it as a working Tilley ??? (I know that could be a bad thing to say, Sorry)
A lamp that operates with the fount’s base pressure of over 2000lbs force, or 910kgs, a flame on top and a tank of fuel all contained by a stretched and distorted weakened seam ........ what could go wrong?
Well, it's your lamp and you can do with it what you like but I don't think you'd win many friends here - you certainly wouldn't be 'Flavour of the Day / Week / Month / Year / Century / Millennium / All Eternity', especially if you started drilling holes where holes oughtn't to be. Tut-tut, no. Essentially, I think you should find another tank or use it for spare parts or restore it to original appearance as a 'shelf-queen' and chalk it all down to experience...
Don't worry if there was any chance of getting it running I would.... My parts bin has a broken pump, cracked globe and now a blown 246A tank..... just need a empty hood and I'm in business I don't like throwing stuff away, just ask my other half LOL
If you decide to electrify it, try as far as possible, not to remove or damage any original parts. Leave them in. Let it be reversible. In case if you or anyone else wants to later re-convert an electrified lamp back to the original form.
All I was thinking of doing was replacing the vaporizer with a small length of copper tube and putting a bulb on the end,,, the wire would exit the tube (That's what I was looking at 12 volts, it keeps the wire size down) the only salvageable parts would be the cage and the hood, the rest of the parts aren't usable / safe to be a working paraffin lamp
This may sound like heresy but if you have a Tilley with a blown base then drilling a hole in the base for a cable and then drilling out the fuel feed is sensible and perhaps the kindest thing to do. It repurposes a piece of scrap and also prevents restoration to a working paraffin lamp and you may therefore be saving a life at some time in the future. ::Neil::
Mercy killing the lantern maybe, but as Neil pointed out, perhaps saving someone's life in the future. Good advice.
Yes, a very good safety point ....... hadn’t thought of a lamp’s electrocution in that way before. When we need to do this, it could be called Euthanised and Repurposed for Safety, or “URS”. Did I coin a new acronym? Cheers Pete
Let us not forget that a blown Tilley tank is also a useful source of sheet brass and you can craft a fair reflector from the base plate to fettle one of the inspection lamps. It is also handy to cut one open so you can see first hand what haas happened in there and demonstrate to others why a blown tank should be scrapped. ::Neil::
