thanks for the compliment.., if I can add to the car filler dilemma, a dent in the position mine is in would probably be ok to fill with car (polyester) filler as it wouldn't suffer much expansion/contraction or be that hot (polyester resin softens with heat) further up the tank (am I allowed to call it a tank!?) differential movement might be an issue. The biggest issue will be "feathering" out the repair, unless a filler/primer is used then you will always see where it has been filled (compound curves the filler sanding quicker than the brass etc etc) I suppose how critical an eye you have and I doubt most "show" lamps are lit often enough to disturb the filler and a bit of "mapping" through the paintwork of a "working" lamp wouldn't bother anybody (and repainting is an easy task if it did offend) incidentally "stopper" has a finer "talc" than "filler" so feathering the repair would be less of a problem (though still obvious to somebody with a trained eye). my tank will be etch primed then primed then given a coat of silver basecoat and 2 coats of 2pack lacquer.. only because I can (always use etch primer even if its out of a rattle can) I will leave the dent ! the lamp is old it has a history (unknown) and I like it because its old... besides there is nothing(as far as I know) I can do to the green enamel finish at the top
I've never noticed that - you also have to remember that car bodywork can get bloody hot in direct summer sunshine, even in the UK. Please do - you're British and that's the proper word for it...
I agree, if the tank was hot enough to soften the filler... it would probably be on fire . And soft filler would be the last thing on your mind! And anyway paint responds the same to heat as filler...and none of us use high temp paint ! (I paint classic outboards with normal 2k paint and they get hotter than a lamp base) I imagine a well keyed repair could be done to a standard that would satisfy the needs of most of us... next time you use filler clean your (metal) tools with a hot air gun or dig out filler from an old repair using one .. anyway I think I am generally rambling , off point and late for work
Your right, feathering the filler is difficult but not impossible. It takes several re-applications after the first and accurate sanding. Just don't take it out in the sun as it shows up every previously invisible imperfection!! Steve
I think you fellas are just too pernickety - get it near enough, then primer/filler is your friend...
