I have a lilor model 4500, the tank is quite badly stress cracked although it still holds pressure. I’m of course reluctant to light it like this or ever, I’m interested in using a tank sealer called por 15 it is meant to be a very good tank sealer. Is there any knowledge on it from people using it before also your thoughts and advice would be appreciated. Also when using a sealer of any description I take it you you to remove all pumps and feed pipes? Cheers willie
@willethesteam I’ve used the stuff and it’s been effective. Others chipped in with their thoughts HERE. The two pressure lamps and one pressure stove I used it on were paraffin-fuelled however and I’d be reluctant to rely on its sealing capabilities in a petrol-fuelled device. Yes, it was designed to seal leaking steel petrol tanks on motorbikes, but those tanks aren’t pressurised. I may be being over-cautious … Prepping the tank with the two POR chemicals the manufacturer advocates is important. One’s a highly caustic cleaning liquid and after water rinses a second fluid coats the surfaces with a layer assisting the bond of the POR resin. John
Paint Over Rust, POR 15 was designed as a rust preventative not a tank sealer. It's intended use was for rusted auto parts.
Caswell's fount sealer does a good job but I would only use it with kerosene/paraffin. Is it possible to fit that with a preheat cup or use a Tilley torch?
Thanks for your comments everyone. Is there a better recommendation to use on the tank other than por. I just Googled what would be best and that was what it came up with. Any help is appreciated. Cheers willie
Normally, people would avoid repairing a pressure tank for petrol or other highly volatile, flammable liquids. Many would advise against it due to the high risks involved. If I were to ignore those and go ahead, I'd use soft solder for the primary repairs. Metal-to-metal type repairs(soldering, brazing, welding) are in most cases, the strongest for such a task. As a secondary backup, I might use the Caswell's type of sealer. I mean a sealer that's made of solvent-free Novolac Epoxy resins. These are some of the most fuel, solvent and chemical-resistant sealers/coatings on the market. The sealer would do the job from the inside. I won't trust pressure-tank repairs that are solely dependant on sealers.
Resign yourself to the fact that the fount is a lost cause. As stated above, sealers are meant for non-pressurized tanks. A stress cracked fount is structurally compromised. More stress cracks will appear in the future. Trying to seal them or even solder them is a game of whack-a-mole. The risk involved in a pressurized tank of petrol based fuel leaking while the lamp/lantern is burning just isn't worth the risk.
If it holds pressure is it really stress cracked Vertical scratches from dirty dies can appear to be stress cracks. Just my observation.
I've attempted to seal a stress cracked fount and after chasing one new leak after another I gave up at 6. It's a fools errand in the end. I've sealed a brass paraffin/kerosene tank using thinned epoxy on the inside and that worked but having said that, I don't use that lantern on a regular basis...AND there's no way I'd trust any such technique on a naptha/Coleman fuel pressure lantern. A guy died a couple of years ago from a faulty naptha pressure device that failed. I'd try to find a donor tank from eBay or one of the other auction websites.
