One of my FL6 lights needs repainting, so two questions; What's the best paint for the job? As both my lights are silver, how wrong would it be to paint one black? Thanks, Stevie
Stevie I would keep it the same colour, but that’s my view only. Do your silver ones have date stamps on the base plate of the tank? The date stamp is difficult to see sometimes. See here: Tilley FL6 (1960; NOS; 2nd example) And what control cock do they have (photos will do)? Cheers Tony @BigStevie
@BigStevie I believe paint colours are indicative of production period. Personally I would keep them as near to original as possible, then when you fall upon a black one it will be complemented by its younger silver brothers. Regards Jeremy
I painted mine with car spray paint, but used matt black VHT paint for the chimney, hope it will survive the heat a little longer, that being said it was a black FL6 to start
Hi Tony, The FL6 on the stand has the base code 159A, my other FL6 has the code 863XA. I noticed that the lamp marked 159A has a sprung metal clip securing the lens bezel. Whereas the lamp coded 863XA has a thumb screw securing the bezel. Below the cock on the 159A coded lamp. Below spring clip for bezel on 159A Below, cock on the 863XA coded lamp Stevie
That is very interesting, Stevie. The spring clip for the door seems to me, by logic, to be younger than the old-style thumb screw. The tank is the only specifically dated component. So Tilley was either using a mix of older and newer parts in 1963, or they had re-introduced the thumb screw. Cheers Tony @BigStevie
Hi Tony, Even with no knowledge, it seems to me that the thumb screw fastening appears to be the older design. I don't think that either of the lamps has been faffed with, so perhaps using up parts? Thanks for the guidance mate, Stevie
If they came from the same source, Is it possible the lamps were fettled and re-assembled with incorrect tanks
Hi Graham, The two lamps came from opposite ends of the country. They're both totally original and have had very little use, non of the nuts show any sign of having been undone. They have all the factory decals on and no overpainting. One of the lamps has become quite rusty, so am going to repaint. The other I'll keep original. Stevie
Don't think VHT paint will hold up on the hood. They get so hot that over time even the enamel fried off.
