Like the original Mission Impossible opening, 'your mission Jim, should you decide to accept it' is to fix the rusted steel base on a Coleman 168K fount. Oh how I feel frustrated that a perfectly good and solidly made Coleman brass fount should wither away with a steel base. I suppose we should be happy they have lasted 80 to a hundred years in many cases. BUT not in this case and my poor 9 39 fount should be junked but I am wondering if there is an alternate solution. I may even buy shares in a company that can fix it. Ok so I am only half serious but I have repaired one tin plate hurricane lamp by soldering a plate over the base. Not really great for use if the rusting base is still there. Probably not ideal for a pressure vessel either. I am wondering if it is possible to cut out the bad base and solder in a replacement base though I imagine an engineer might say it wouldn't be good enough. Has anyone else fixed a bad base for usage and I am not talking about a liquid polymer type internal solution but a physical solid brass fix me up for the next hundred years. In the bottom picture I have started cutting the base out but I need a longer jigsaw blade. I really hate losing a fount but I know, maybe this is it. Yours truly 'Half serious'
Ok so I have opened the base up and I am somewhat pleased that there was a fair bit of good metal around most of the rim except where it had obviously been left on its side in some former life. A temporary fix of soldering over the damaged rusted edge may well have worked. Visually with a flashlight what I saw was a good amount of rust occuring which may have been treatable but with the prominent hole on the rim added I still prefer replacement or a more permanent fix. I need complete confidence for lighting these things in front of friends and family. So now to continue the problem resolution.
Watching with interest to see what you come up with Iain. I have a similar situation with this Summit 266B I have acquired a pot with similar dimensions but haven't attempted the transplant surgery, yet.
Hi @Sedgman Think you got a tricky repair there. The steel base is kinda crimped by the brass font sides more than like soldered as well. This is how i would proceed. I would chop the base out maybe leaving 6mm of the base in place. Now you have to remove the remainder of the steel base from the side in the crimp. I think this could be done by heating the crimp with a torch till solder melts then bash it out with a hammer and screwdriver font upside down make it easier. The rusty steel needs to go so you can solder in a new base plate. Sèe what you think Cheers pete See this repair Unic no 7
