I recently acquired via an Auction site, a wonderful Bialaddin 300X. I cannot wait for it to be up and running, but that won't be until after Christmas. However as warned, i now have the "bug" and now I am now eagerly awaiting the chance to go to sales, markets and Boot sales with the aim of finding more lamps and to start bringing them back from the dead myself. I normally have the usual situation of being asked what I would like for Christmas and having no idea, and then generally ending up with socks. I thought I would ask here, what experienced members would deem as "essential" to fettling. So equipment, chemicals and those other odd tools the beginner would not normally think about.
Lots of views, no answers.... Can i start? How do i get paint off? How do i remove ground in grease and dirt and paraffin. How can i polish? How do i hold the lamp? Vice? etc etc... Come on don't be shy
Use paint stripper (e.g. Nitromors) to remove the paint although it doesn't work very well since they banned methyl chloride. I would just use washing-up liquid and water to clean the dirt off. Some people soak the parts in citric acid but be careful with plated parts as it will take the plating off if left in too long. Polish on a bench grinder converted to a buffing machine. You'll need to buy some arbors, mops and polishing compound e.g. this. Don't use Brasso as the ammonia damages the brass.
Wickes own label paint stripper is cheaper than Nitromors and seems to work better. Once the paint is off you can re-paint or polish, but the lamps were never polished originally. If you do polish it, it is a lot of work to get a mirror shine, but as James says, don't use Brasso. A good pressie would be one of Ross's 'Washer & Seal Kits' from Fettlebox which would keep you going for a while. Terry
Hi Manlee I agree with James and Trojan Dog. Mackburner also recommended using a 50-50 mix of citric acid and automatic gearbox oil as the best releasing agent, far better than WD40. It works for me! Also on your "stocking" wish list should be Jim Dick's book: Tilley, The Versatile Vapour Lamp, and Ian Ashton's book: Vapalux And Bialaddin Pressure Lamps. Both books available from: http://www.base-camp.co.uk/books.htm All the best, Jeremy
I think you mean acetone, not citric acid. Atleast that's the old standard recipe for home made penetrating oil: ATF oil and acetone. It works allright.
G'day Manlee, Start with a good NRV removal tool. Loco7lamp makes and sells one that is better than the commercial ones. Or find someone local to make one. A delux washer kit from the Fettle Box Link Or a set of hole punches to make your own washers. Then you will need some sheets of Viton. 1,2 and 3 mm. Some small spanners starting from 3mm And the list goes on
My most frequently used tools are a couple of BAHCO adjustable wrenches, a pair of slip jaw pliers and a selection of screwdrivers. A big screwdriver will unscrew a Bialaddin pump valve but you will need a specialist tool for most other makes except Tilley. Some small bottle brushes for cleaning out air tubes and such. Over time there will be other things that can help. I find a dental pick pretty handy for digging out some old hard rubber seals and various bits of wire for reaming out narrow tubes. A bisic tool kit will do most jobs and you will add specialist stuff as the need arrises. ::Neil::
Christer, congratulations on spotting the deliberate error and also for pointing out the correct mix. Guess I was having a bad morning. Many thanks. Regards, Jeremy
I got one of those from ebay for either 99p or £1.99p but the price has gone up recently to £9.99! I tend to use it on my teeth, not lamps, because I got a set of four stronger picks from either Lidl or Aldi for £2.99. They are excellent for what Neil suggests. The former is far more easily obtainable and much cheaper...
Thanks all for the considered replies. I bought a lamp today, and not really sure what it is so far. I thought it was a Petromax, but has Butterfly on the control known and what appears to be an Indian Globe, in that it is made up of slices of Glass. I will take some pics and post on the relevant forum here for your thoughts. However, for the steel (and rusted) parts of a lamp, whats the best way of removing this rust?
Thats the Job!, but the lantern itself IS a Petromax, but it does not have the blowtorch pre heater, but does have part of it?, a nub sticking out of the fount. I will get some pics tomorrow and post, would love peoples thoughts.
If it's got Butterfly written on it, then it's what's known as a Petromax clone i.e. a copy, generally (but not always) made in Asia to varying standards. Best not to let it get wet...
