For quite some years now wire mesh globes have been available for the common gas lantern sizes. The problem though is that whilst some of these fitted certain pressure lanterns it was more just good luck. The problem with collecting every old Tilley lantern is that sooner or later you run out of spare globes. So being bored today I decided to make a stainless steel mesh globe for a Tilley X246. Upon reflection now I would say, "Buy the glass globe!". For me I had some fine mesh stainless steel so there was no cost. If you had to buy it you need a length of about 400 mm * say 85 mm. The actual height needed to be made though is 75 mm and the 85 mm figure is to allow for folding two 5 mm edges. The length has to end up being suited to the circumference of the 120 mm cage internal diameter. This is less than the 400 mm but again you have to allow for some overlap. I used steel pop rivets with a small steel washer on each and on the inside. I drilled 3.2 mm holes to join the ends after I had folded one end and then rolled it into a circle. See photos. I used an old Makita cut-off disk metal box and cut the lid down to a flat piece of thin metal. Thicker metal might push your wire globe up higher and the hood may then not fit correctly. One issue is that by using a metal base you loose some light from the bottom; ah you could always drill lots of holes if worried. I did consider using the stuff they put on security doors here but that is often aluminium and I'm dubious about that metal for the base or even as a globe. Anyway the end result was acceptable but counting time and if I had had to buy the mesh as well I would probably say either to not worry about a globe if it's just another lantern but if it was special then I would buy a globe. The lantern I fitted it to is a Tilley X246 1954-56 (undated). I did a first fold by gentle tapping on a 2 mm thick steel bench top and then turned it around and tapped it fully down as per this picture. The ends were overlapped slightly and the outside edge was aslo folded. I then pop rivetted them together after drilling a 3.2 mm hole. I used a Makita tin lid as it was about 120 mm and I took the sides of it off, leaving a flat disk. I drilled and cut an opening of around 48 mm to allow for preheating. The finished globe fitted with the metal globe lower part also in place. Note the pump knob is home made too.
@Buggerlugs I’m interested to know too, however I would imagine it’s not too dissimilar to a Pyrex globe. @Sedgman, please can you put us out of our misery. Regards, Jeremy
@X246A @Buggerlugs Couple photos of it going. Very hard to get accurate comparison because ideally same mantles needed on same models at same pressure. All too hard to get that all right so here are some photos. I actually thought the lantern's brightness stacked up very well and frankly it surprised me and I reckon it could well be my choice for camping as it least the globe won't break. The mantle on the second lantern was different and a bit whiter compared to the slightly yellow from the mesh globe unit. Mesh globe left and glass globe on right Overall I'd say mesh globe was perfectly usable. Iain
Hi ... not been on for a while ... " Explorer Mike " shows us how fettle his Coleman dual fuel lamps with the same techniques .. I have netted and wired a few up also ... enjoy
