Boot sale £8 Vapalux

I've a few other lamps 6x Coleman's & 3x tilleys, countless camping gaz, but this is my very first Vapalux.
It's a M1 & in a bit of a sorry state, but couldn't refuse for £8 this morning at Errol boot sale.
Any recommendations helpful - Needs a glass & a full clean/check over.
I think a seal kit would be a good starting point.
What glass will I need to find please?

 

A nice find at a good price.

Look here for glass V60/BC Vapalux,& Bialaddin Lantern Spares

 

A fine fettling project!

 

Thanks! Yes, looking forward to a bit of fettling. All my other lamps were fettled so well a few yrs ago that they've needed nothing doing.
Now to choose between a frosted or clear glass; clear to keep original-looking but with glare, or more practical frosted?

 

I've paid more for a lot worse! I reckon that should clean up pretty well and the hood seems OK from what I can see. The tank might need a respray but the aluminium collar looks to be in great shape. It'll need a globe but they can be found at a reasonable price. All in all, I think you've done very well indeed!

 

Cheers Colin, yeah i like to bring stuff back to life, the cheaper the initial cost the greater the satisfaction.
A respray is on the cards once I know it holds pressure, but the cup washer fell to bits, so that'll have to wait until the service kit arrives.
Whatever was left inside it has turned to a green waxy substance that detergent won't shift, so that'll need a soak in some solvent. Fun & games.
Haven't touched a vapalux lamp since 1985 during RAF recruit training!

 

That should be a good one ! - and a very favourable price
Be aware the wick is asbestos. If that bothers you you can find kevlar or fibre glass ones out there. These things are not too bright so I think frosted glass is not needed - but personal preference rules ! - you can get frosted ones with a clear area - best of both worlds ?. Get the small filler cap seal kit.
I have found that caustic soda is good for that waxy gunk - but do it outdoors and before you paint.
Happy fettling

 

Good advice on the asbestos wick, I hadn't thought of that & I see what you mean about the frosted glass. Thank you. Cheers.

 

I've used a pressure washer to clean out a tank and it really got rid of an absolute ton of muck! Once the water ran clear I warmed the tank in an airing cupboard until it was bone dry. Once that was done, the lantern - a Coleman 168K - ran very much better. I'm not aware of any downsides to doing this... I assume it's ok? Any thoughts?

 

I guess you "might" dislodge/bend a fuel uptake pipe (where applicable) - but who doesn't love a pressure washer

 

They are great lanterns and once fettled and new seals settled in will be a reliable lamp

.. bargain :-)

 

Well, a service kit (small cap) is on its way. The interior of the tank cleaned up fine with some naphtha swirled around with some small nuts. The brass bits are all nice & shiny (don't they clean up nice on these lanterns!). Gonna order a glass later.
It's non-standard, but I have some nice 'lawnmower green' 2-pack left over from a previous Atco lawnmower project. I think it'll look nice with the very similar green of the hood. Of course with a coat of 2 pack lacquer as well.
I'm probably going to remove the rust on the hood with a bit of electrolysis & then just leave it as-is; showing its age with some pride .

 

Aw shucks, first screw-up!
Took vaporiser off & the pricker came adrift from the brass retainer.
Could one of you kind Valapux M1owners possibly measure the overall length of the pricker for me, so I can crimp the retainer back on at the correct position?
Thank you.

 

Not an unusual event - but a simple solution: on mine they all seem to it sit flush i.e the wire is at the bottom of the brass retainer. So all Vapalux/Bialaddin lanterns and heaters use this same vapouriser "V40" . They are getting harder to find so worth looking after the one you have.
When the jet pricker is turned all the way up you should be able to feel it poke through the tip.

 

Thank you, I've recrimped it back on flush & all feels good. Sometimes you doubt yourself & I just wanted to make sure before I ruined a vital part! & yes, the tip can just be felt with a rubbed finger now. Phew.

 

Seals kit came today & couldn't get them fitted quick enough. Still waiting on the new glass coming
Thank you for the help & I can confirm she's a lovely runner!

 

Another one saved ! Well done looking like it has just been waiting to be lit.

 

Quick question - first firing had no output, pressure fine, turned out to be the pricker stuck in the hole.
I've exercised it but seems to stick and needs tapping down before pressurising, so I've decided to leave it alone.
Normal for these?

 

Is there a little spring on the pricker ? It might be stuck up inside the vapouriser

 

No spring. I you may have identified the issue!

 

If you run aground getting one let me know, I can probably find one in the "box of doom". If you take vapouriser off, leave the pricker in, then press the base on a flat surface, you should be able to feel any spring working.

 

They do have a habit of staying in the tube, then just as you are reaching over to put it down it decides to let go
Often it goes unnoticed until you feel it underfoot (if you’re lucky)
..or you drop something else and while you are searching for it you find a small spring..

 

Yes - the last point made me smile - got that t-shirt !

 

Nope, there's no springiness from the pricker & the tube is clear.
This is a rarity for me; I've been through every plastic pot/bit box/container looking for a suitably-sized spring...... no joy (& I throw nothing away and sometimes fix clocks & watches too!).
Swept the workshop area in all the nooks & crannies with a magnet sweeper for over an hour.... still nothing.

I'm 99% sure it was never there and a previous fettler has dropped it (probably someone like me who didn't even know it was supposed to be there?).

Should one of you kind Gents have a spare one doing nothing, I'd very much appreciate it. Cheers.

*PS- I'm a giver also, as well as a potential taker
Just popped over from CPL

 

You could maybe try a spring from a ball point pen etc

 

Yeah Paul, I tried everything I could find around the house + garage, from ballpoint pens to tyre valves....... nothing was quite thin enough!
Good news though - I think I may have one coming to me from a fellow forum member.

 

Thanks to Chris (Fireexit1) I now have a pricker spring fitted & a lovely functioning lamp.
Just need to buy a correct glass (bought a m300x one online & it doesn't fit), doh.
Just a millimetre or two too big.

 

I think the 300x and M1 globes are the same, others will correct me if I am talking out of my hat. But I recall interchanging them.

 

I think I got one that must've been at the higher end of tolerance & my lamp is at the lower end of tolerance. It goes about ⅔ down then jams.
Not to worry, it'll come in for another lamp in the future & for this M1 I'll buy one from basecamp when funds allow.
In the meantime, I've cut the bottom off a cafetiere jug & it fits fine as an interim glass.
Someone else had exact same problem....
My glass was from tilleylampsandstoves & specified for m300x, didn't say M1 specifically, so not the vendors fault.

 

Looks nice with the shade on too, but sprayed the shade underneath white to reflect more light.