Cleaning tilley hoods

Hi Everyone

What is the best way to remove the enamel paint from tilley hoods, i want to strip them bare and re paint them, have bought some nitromors but not having much luck atm.

Thanks tom

 

@Tom_Tilley83
G'day Tom, hoods aren't painted. The material is vitreous enamel (melted glass).
If you want to remove it, heat the hood and drop into cold water. The enamel will shatter, then it can be removed with a wire wheel.

 

Safer and better way have it shot blasted for the sake of a couple of quid.

 

@Tom_Tilley83
As stated by Martin above, the Tilley hoods are enamelled, not painted. The vitreous enamel can withstand the very high temperatures of a running lamp.
As far as l know, there is no commercially available paint that could withstand the high running temperature experienced by the hood. Some paints do make the high temperature claim but after a few hours of sitting on a working lantern they all deteriorate.
Over the years there have been quite a few quests, by us lampies, to find a suitable paint ....... the quest goes on.
So if you intend to use the lantern then it would be better to search for a better enamelled hood. Some of us have 2 hoods, one is in good shape and used for display and the other, perhaps not as good, is used when lightning the lantern.
Cheers
Pete

 

@Tom_Tilley83

… but you won’t find a gloss paint that will withstand being used on a Tiiley for anything more than a short length of time.

There is a member here who does a very professional re-enamelling job on Tilley hoods.

Cheers

Tony

Edit: Crossed with @AussiePete

 

Great, thanks everyone.

 

Here is someone who seems to know quite a bit...No connection but local to me.

Enamelling

 

Wow ... is there anyone in Australia doing enamelling?

 

@AussiePete

Unless you know a ceramic artist (potter, jeweller etc) there are still places that do ceramics commercially.

I’ve had some discussions about getting a job lot of a certain item ceramicised. Individual pieces would be quite expensive, I imagine.

Tony

 

As others have stated, a spray paint that will withstand the temperatures of a Tilley or any pressure lantern hasn't been invented yet - unfortunately. High temperature engine paint will last one or two sessions before it degrades but it's generally matt black and looks pretty bad. Enamel and chrome/nickel plating are the only surface coverings that are capable of standing long term lantern use.

If you've already removed the enamel it can be re-enameled at a price or you can look on eBay for a replacement hood.