Fount Dent Removal - Ice

Discussion in 'Fettling Forum' started by AussiePete, Sep 2, 2019.

  1. AussiePete

    AussiePete United States Subscriber

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    Hi All
    At present I’m fettling a Coleman 242K lantern. Unfortunately, in this lamp’s case, it has had the fount pushed in at the top. This is an all too common a malady.

    The following pictures tell the story .......

    The pushed in fount’s top
    561C2125-275D-459A-BC69-7EDDD53E0731.jpeg
    DE73ACDA-151B-4812-8BCA-058659B2F5D7.jpeg

    I used the freezing method to rectify the damaged fount. This time with pictures to be able to share the method with you all.

    Preamble
    Water begins to expand as it drops below approximately 1.5DegC and at freezing, it’s fully expanded. Further the expansion of water is very powerful and it’s known to burst pipes and pump housings. I had to ensure that any use of the ice expansion method didn’t cause the fount’s base to bulge.

    Method
    With all the fount’s openings open, caps and valves removed, I half filled the fount with clean fresh water. I had left in the NRV.
    I then placed the fount in the freezer, which is about -18DegC, and let it freeze. I left it overnight.
    The next morning, I replaced the filler cap’s seal and screw the cap onto the fount.
    With very cold water, I filled the fount up through the top valve stem opening ensuring any trapped air had escaped.
    Into the fount’s valve opening, I screwed a solid brass bung making a water tight seal. The fount was now completely sealed.
    I put the sealed fount back into the freezer and set a timer for 1 hour. I checked the fount after the hour and I could feel that the added water was almost at freezing ....... not long to go so I reset the timer for a further 30 minutes.
    At 30 minutes the water was expanding and pushing out the dented top.
    At a further 15 minutes I judged that the dent had been rectified. I removed the fount from the freezer and put it quickly into a bucket of hot water to stop any further expansion. ...... I didn’t want to go too far and burst something or push it too far causing damage.

    The following is the result of the freezing method .....
    78BA928D-40F8-43A3-844C-BBB268B2B066.jpeg

    DF6FF7D6-AECA-47CB-9D2C-C15AA32A4007.jpeg

    Result
    The pictures speak for themselves. The dent was successfully removed.
    The first step, the freezing of half a fount of water, ensured that there was a solid mass of ice base for the working pressure to work against. Therefore the fount’s base was not distorted or bulged in the process.

    Conclusion
    Ice is good ......... unless you ask Captain Smith (he was the captain of the Titanic).

    Thank you for looking
    Cheers
    Pete
     
  2. Harder Sorensen

    Harder Sorensen Subscriber

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    Geniously well done!

    (I would like you - be a bit concerned over the bottom and the pump housing).
     
  3. BigStevie

    BigStevie United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Well done Pete! You must be feeling very satisfied with your work, great photos too.

    Stevie
     
  4. Norman

    Norman United States Subscriber

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    Well done Pete.

    I've thought about doing this same method but I tend to get side tracked when I get busy so I fear the fount would be ripped open.

    Cheers,
    Norman
     
  5. AussiePete

    AussiePete United States Subscriber

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    @Harder Sorensen
    Yes you’re correct. The first freezing, unrestricted, would put very little, if any, pressure on the pump tube or the bottom parts. The resultant ice base would then protect it against future pressure in the final stages.
    I have used this method over 5 times and in every case, the pump parts or tube has never been damaged.
    Cheers
    Pete
     
  6. AussiePete

    AussiePete United States Subscriber

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    @Norman yes, I’m the same. :shock:
    That’s why I set an alarm, it keeps me on subject ......
    Cheers
    Pete
     
  7. JEFF JOHNSON

    JEFF JOHNSON United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Well saved and a very useful post!:thumbup::clap::clap::thumbup:
     
  8. ROBBO55

    ROBBO55 Subscriber

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    Thanks Pete, good description of the process. :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
     
  9. Digout Australia

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    Great Post, great technique.
     
  10. george

    george United States Subscriber

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    Well done, Pete! :thumbup::D/:content:
     
  11. bp4willi

    bp4willi Germany Subscriber

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    Genius idea and systematic method.
     
  12. george

    george United States Subscriber

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    I have a Coleman 242A with the same problem. Really nice lantern except for that dent. I'm going to try this method as soon as can get wifey to agree ( that could be harder than pulling out the dent) to let me put the font in the frig. Fingers crossed...[-o<:-#:-s
     
  13. paparazi

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    I am wondering whether a common side dent could be dealt with in a similar manner, lining the base as you have done and then tipping the font on its side 'dent up' hmmm interesting.
     
  14. Tony Press

    Tony Press Australia Subscriber

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    Great tutorial, Peter. :thumbup:

    My experience of this method is that it is excellent for a straightforward compression. For creased or awkwardly dented items, it helps but you won’t get a perfect result like the one above.

    Cheers

    Tony
     
  15. AussiePete

    AussiePete United States Subscriber

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    Thank you all for your kind words, I appreciate them very much.
    Cheers
    Pete
     
  16. ASHOK KUMAR United States

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    Congratulations @AussiePete
    Great Job, well done & I am learning every day
     
  17. george

    george United States Subscriber

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    Okay, Pete, I am going to attempt the freezing method this week and see what happens. This is on a Coleman 242B, very early production, March 1936, I'm trying it out on. Fingers crossed...
     
  18. Matti Kucer

    Matti Kucer Sweden Subscriber

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    Please keep us updated
     
  19. MYN

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    That was well done. I'm sure it was very carefully thought out by freezing the lower half of the fount first @AussiePete .
     
  20. george

    george United States Subscriber

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    Okay, Pete and all other interested parties, I put the 242B tank in the freezer, half full of water with the burner valve and font cap removed. Will wait 24 hours and see if it's frozen and then go from there.
    Fingers crossed![-o<
     
  21. AussiePete

    AussiePete United States Subscriber

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    With you all the way @george
    Cheers
    Pete
     
  22. george

    george United States Subscriber

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    No drum roll yet... checked the font and it's frozen. Placed the cap on tightly and filled up the font with cold water and plugged the font where the burner valve came out. Now, I wait one hour and see what happens...
    [-o<
     
  23. Matti Kucer

    Matti Kucer Sweden Subscriber

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    Keep us posted. Fingers crossed!
     
  24. george

    george United States Subscriber

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    Checking in: been an hour since I filled the font completely. No movement, yet. I don't think the additional water has had time to freeze. I've timed it for about 45 minutes and will check again.
    WOW, isn't this exciting?! Like watching moss grow on the bottom of a boat....:mrgreen::doh:
     
  25. george

    george United States Subscriber

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    No movement yet... I could hear some water sloshing around, not a lot, but I decided to just put in more water. I did this and noticed it was just ever so slightly not full... Made damn sure it was full and sealed good. Timed it for another hour. Tic, tic, tic...:-({|=[-o<
     
  26. george

    george United States Subscriber

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    Moved the font to the big freezer in the basement. It's much colder than the one I had it in. Also placed a lead (?) seal on the plug I used where the hole for the burner valve assembly is located. I have a feeling air/pressure is being pushed past it and it may not be sealing properly. [-o<
     
  27. george

    george United States Subscriber

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    Nothing has changed. Sounds like a very small amount of water rolling around. I have a feeling something has not fully sealed.
     
  28. george

    george United States Subscriber

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    Calling it a night.. will set up again later. I think this method will work but something is not air tight. I think it's where the burner valve fits.
    Going to try a dunk test once everything melts and we shall see what happens.
    :cry:
     
  29. ASHOK KUMAR United States

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    Dear @george
    Good & appreciate your patience
     
  30. AussiePete

    AussiePete United States Subscriber

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    @george yes, the bung has to be water/air tight or it won’t happen.
    Cheers
    Pete
     

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