Having given an old lamp a lease of life with a wee basic service I've bought this lamp for a bit more of a challenge. Planning to give the tank a good polish, new hood and globe and paint the cage. Anyone have any tips?
High-temperature paint isn't necessary - the cage doesn't get that hot. You can use car aerosol rattle-cans from Halfords or Humbrol Project Paint - Brass (No.29?) from the likes of B&Q. Won't this lantern look odd with a painted cage and a polished tank? Tilley didn't make it like that...
What do you recommend instead? I thought they were painted silver, no? The cage on my other lamp which has never been touched looks to be painted silver, its rusty and flaky but I thought thats what it was.
Have a look at the X246As shown in the Lamp Reference Gallery - http://www.classicpressurelamps.com/forum/showgallery.php?fid/159/ - tank, cage and handle sprayed gold...
So instead of polishing and getting carried away I've decided to try to get the lamp back to (as close to) original condition. I've found an almost perfect hood and globe, I've a spare vapouriser and I'll clean up the control cock. Plan now is to paint the tank as per original and paint the cage the gold/bronze colour as close to original all as possible. I've seen this lamp and that's what I'm aiming for. Any tips as to priming the tank? I remember a friend using acid etch primer on a motorbike tank which was aluminium because paint wouldn't take to it, will I have to do anything like this on the tilley tank?
I would. Just use metal primer for the tank after you've given it a 'key' with a Scotchbrite pad, or similar...
Once back to bare brass I give it a good clean with methylated spirit prior to priming, this removes any grease. After painting bake it in the oven at no more than 150C. Don't handle it after this until it has completely cooled down. You will then have a rock hard fuel proof finish.
All primed up now since the photo was taken, maybe another wee rub down then the final coats go on. The cage has been wire brushed and is also ready for paint. I didn't bother with pics of it, it probably will never be perfect but its as good as I will get.
I discovered tack rags a few years ago. Even after you've wiped it all down prior to painting, it's amazing what sticks to the tack rag. Get them from wherever you bought the paint etc. I've no idea why there are two photos - I can't see any image code, so how you're posting pics escapes me for the present. No text either - what are you using to access the forum - 'puter, tablet, phone or what?
OK will do! Using a tablet, I've figured out why there were two pics in original post and I think the blank post was my error.
All painted up now, and ready to go into the oven. Just wondering though there's a few different notions on time and temperature. Some say 150c and some 90, some for an hour some for an hour and a half. Anyone done it before? I don't want to roast the fresh paint clean off!
Finished, the paint isn't an exact match for my other x246a but I think it looks great so I'm not worried. A couple of wee bubbles rose on the paint after coming out of the oven (90C for 45mins), must have been grease or oil under the paint somehow. As you can see from the image of the new one lit beside the other lamps its not going so well, its the one on the far right. I'm blaming it on the burner as the one 2nd in from the left is burning exactly the same, with an orange dull glow, and I've tested it with another hood which is running well. I'm using Base Camp mantles and I don't know whether to blame them or not but they have burned into a very bad shape!
Yes a few times, but like lots of things everyone will have their own methods and the temperature will depend on the paint type... I tend to use standard car paints from Halfords which so far have been fine at 140C (acording to my oven) for a full hour, hence I advised no more than 150C. Much above that and given the probable tolerance on domestic ovens you would risk the solder joints. Bubbles are most likely caused by previous coats not being fully cured or grease from fingers on the surface. Once cleaned I don't handle the tank again until after the final coat has been applied and set prior to baking. From the pictures it looks like you have done a great job
Yeah I used Humbrol model paint and as it was acrylic I decided to go lower and I was almost able to watch as the paint took on a gloss in the oven. Lesson learned with keeping the tank clean, I was sure it was perfectly clean. It seems a good job, although. not an exact match for my other x246a but still looks well. Now needs a bit of fettling to get it running 100% again! P.S - thanks all for the advice!
If you want your lamp to look like the ones in those pics, you have a lot of work to do. How is it going, would be cool to see how you fare with this project, from what you write, you seem to be almost finished.
I have it on good authority that the colour changes with age... Besides even Tilley couldn't match paint colours from one year to the next.
So this wee lamp arrived today, hopefully needs a lot less than the last one. Some seals and maybe some t-cut. Apparently hasn't been lit in twenty years, by the looks (and smell) of everything I'd say that's true! Dated 456XA.
Can you check that date stamp please. The earliest date stamp I know of for Tilley is 1156. 456 is 8 months earlier so is significant if it is corect. ::Neil::
