You were talking about touching the back of the reflector to demonstrate it becomes only warm, Henry. No-one would be happy to touch the front of the reflector, surely. That's all I was saying. Sheesh... (Gallic shrug and wanders off shaking his head).
@Henry Plews You may well be right, Henry. My observation, correctly stated, is that I’ve never seen a copper faced reflector that has been lacquered, even though I’ve cleaned a few. I’ll check my unfettled ones and see, but I think they are mainly plated. I might clear coat one and see what happens. Cheers Tony
Hum.. I think the older ones may have been lacquered or coated with something (oil?).. even only if from new? Just makes sense as even a few spots of moisture would cause discolouration fairly quickly?
I’ve been in the shed... Aside from the copper/brass-faced reflectors I’ve restored in the past that showed no signs of lacquer, the ones in the shed don't, either: Reflector 1: Reflector 2: Reflector 3. Reflector 4. The above observations don’t mean that the reflector cannot be clear coated. I just haven’t seen it. Cheers Tony @Henry Plews @podbros
The more I thought about this, the more I became convinced that I'd seen a lacquered reflector. Boy did this one take some digging out.
@Henry Plews , no the reflectors are different like this photo, smaller around the control cock valve. First photo Kayen. Second photo Tilley.
@Henry Plews, my fault i didn't have my glasses on, you said torch i thought you said reflector. Whoops i must remember to wear them.
@Buggerlugs, no worries. My question about the torch was an afterthough, perhaps if I'd asked it BEFORE posting images of the reflector, confusion would have been avoided.
@BigStevie, see what happens to the lacquered reflector that's why i said dont waste your time or money.
To be fair, that reflector is getting on 70 years old at it's youngest. I think it's held-up rather well.
@Henry Plews, that's a great point you make there mate, I have 5 R1 complete plus 3 in parts and none of mine have ever been lacquered.
@Henry Plews This question is based on nothing but ignorance(!) We’re the reflectors lacquered or not depending on age of manufacture or even perhaps their intended market?
@Henry Plews Thanks for the confirmation that some reflectors are lacquered. I’ll post that ore-heater separately. It was in that Tilley heater, but it’s not a Tilley pre-heater. It’s from Australia, but I have no proof it’s Kayen. If I post it, it might flush some more out. Cheers Tony
Well, yes, they were - but not clear-coated. And I notice some of the copper lacquer behind the mantle appears to have deteriorated, perhaps with the heat, I don't know...