Tilley dipped in...?

I’m working on an old rusty Tilley AL21. Between the rust and the failing paintwork, I decided to strip all the original paint off.

I’d mentioned to a colleague here that the paint looked it had been applied with a brickie’s trowel, but on removing the paint I discovered that the steel fuel tank (outside only) appears to have been dipped in molten solder or lead for rust protection.

Are any members here familiar with Tilley doing this? And is it lead or solder?






Cheers

Tony

 

Maybe it’s been dipped into zinc. Just a thought.
Cheers
Pete

 

Try a scraping a sample in acid (lots of reaction would indicate zinc)

 

These steel EX100s were dipped but they don't look like that with paint stripped.

 

The reason I thought it might be either lead or solder is that it’s reasonably soft, in parts lumpy, an goes dark easily when doing work on the tank.

@AussiePete

How would nickel react to a drop of HCl?

Tony

 

If its soft, its probably tin, lead or solder.
I've known of older metalware being dipped in tin but seldom in lead or solder.

 

From what you have said, my guess would be solder.
We use to dip copper bars at work. They came out lumpy until you wiped them smooth with a rag.

 

I have a steel tank pl53 that was really rough on the outside. Under the paint was some sort of solder coating.
I filled off the high spots and gave it a going over with sandpaper, but it still looks like a really bad paint job but at least it wont rust.

 

I would think it has been Hot Dip Galvanized the process can now produce a much better finish than those I have seen from years ago.

 

It doesn’t react to undiluted HCl...

HCl added to circle.


Cheers

Tony

 

It might if the HCl is diluted, not too concentrated. Lead and some its alloys have such characteristics.

 

If you want it to look better do what @ROBBO55 writes, heat it up and wipe it with a non synthetic rag.

 

I’ll leave it with the drips. It’s the way it came.

Tony

 

Coleman made a model "GS" I think in the 1900's to I guess the very early 1920's (?). The lantern had an ARMCO steel tank/font. It was done to reduce corrosion. It gave the appearance of a rough solder job when you look at it.
Will your tank draw a magnet?

 

My tank draws a magnet. The coating is soft like lead or solder. It does not react to HCl (unlike galvanised steel)...

Tony

 

Judging by the look I woukd say it has been tinned.

 

Iirc, as the material is heated, zinc changes polarity to "nobler" than iron, so the iron corrodes before zinc. This is why high heat-exposed iron/steel is clad with aluminium. It is probably dipped in tin/solder/lead.